- The writer has drawn on the Golden Verses of Pythagoras and Kaizen principles to outline how Form Four candidates can self-assess their KCSE readiness.
- The 2019 KCSE content was drawn 25% from across Forms 1 to 4; candidates have been urged to revisit past papers and prior coursework.
- Victor has proposed tailored strategies for both top achievers and struggling students, alongside broader advice on expanding learning time and eliminating distractions.
In the recent past, I was prompted to reflect on how Form Four candidates should engage in self-reflection as they prepare to sit and write KCSE exams. So, I dug deep into The Golden Verses of Pythagoras. These are a colourful collection and collation of moral and spiritual teachings, attributed to faithful followers of the great Greek mathematician, Pythagoras, whom most of us remember as the proponent of Pythagoras’ Theorem.
For risibility reasons, just in jest, while we were growing up at Yala, in Gem, Siaya, we tried to joke about Pythagoras’ Theorem in Dholuo as “paro thago nyathi ong’er,” which in Lep Luo may mean the young one of a monkey is disturbed by thoughts. Being both epistemic and poetic, I believe less is more. So, the only important bit I know about Pythagoras’ Theorem is that it is a universal rule used in right-angled triangles: the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides.
Notably, modern scholars generally believe that the Golden Verses of Pythagoras were penned long after Pythagoras travelled to that land which both William Shakespeare and Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) aptly described as the distant land from which, in worldly standards, no traveller returns. So, the valuable verses carefully capture key ideas and ideals of the Pythagorean Tradition of self-discipline, virtue, harmony and purification of the soul (mind or intellect, emotion and will). Withal, great thinkers such as the charioteer Hierocles Elagabalus compiled comprehensive commentaries on The Golden Verses of Pythagoras.
Actually, in the writs, mere mortals like you and I are instructed to review their day every evening through self-assessment questions such as: What have I done wrong? What have I done right? What duty have I left undone? For by asking yourself such a shedload of quality questions, you point out faults, reinforce virtue, and align yourself to the famous Kaizen Principles, more so the Principle of Continuous Improvement. For true growth in any sphere of life does not come in just a jiffy, but from small, simple steps: practised through diligence, discipline and consistency of purpose. Kaizen teaches that tiny daily improvement, sustained over time, creates greater change than one giant leap. In a heroic book I am reading at the moment titled Grit: Why Passion and Resilience Are the Secrets of Success, Angela Duckworth, a Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, argues that effort counts twice: 80% of success in life leans on showing up daily. Any successful person has to decide what to do in part by also deciding what not to do.
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Back to basics, the bottom line is, while in bed at night, never allow deep sleep to close your mortal eyes before you examine your actions of that day. Therefore, in that regard, Form Four candidates conscious of climes and times audit themselves through thorough soul-search and in-depth introspection. Somehow, Form Four candidates can pause and pose self-assessment questions to assist them in preparing adequately for KCSE. I can say in this essay that a meta-analysis of the 2019 KCSE established that content tested was 25% distributed across all forms (1–4). So, for the sake of content mastery and memory, every Form Four candidate should interject questions related to reading, revision, review and repetition. On cyclic reading: Have I read Form 1–4 notes? Have I attempted more than 10 Paper 1–3 past papers? Have I also tried to go through KCSE past papers to have an idea of what final exams look like? Have I corrected all the mistakes I made in previous exams?
Advisedly, for the sake of proficiency and profundity in languages, English and Kiswahili, a focused Form Four candidate should pause and ask: Have I read KCSE set books as advised by subject experts and examiners? Have I read the passages in approved course books to help me hone my reading and comprehension skills? Those taking CRE and IRE should also ask: Have I read portions of the sacred scriptures complementing content taught? Again, on content mastery and memory, every Form Four candidate must remain awake and aware by asking themselves these quality questions: Have I pored over Form 1–4 files? Have I responded to end-of-topic questions in approved textbooks? Have I taken affirmative action in subjects where I am registering poor performance?
Additionally, while preparing for KCSE, there is the art of exams. For the sake of self-assessment, every Form Four candidate should pause and ask: Have I mastered the art of exams in Papers 1–3? Have I implemented all the raft of recommendations made by subject experts and examiners? Have I mastered the Table of Specification (ToS) in every subject? The art of exams encompasses: exam terminologies, format, trends, skills, breadth, depth, test blueprint, presentation, unpredictability, integrity, et cetera. Moreover, while preparing, a conscious KCSE candidate can pause and ask: Have I sealed the crying cracks and crevices related to learning? The learning gaps may include: gaps in content mastery, gaps in correct interpretation of questions, gaps in trends in setting and marking of KCSE, gaps in exam presentation, gaps in mastery of Form 1 and 2 content, gaps in morale and motivation, and gaps in character, discipline and diligence.
Likewise, Form Four candidates assess their preparedness for KCSE when candidates at the extreme ends of ability pause and ask: Have we put in place stupendous strategies for top achievers? Have we put in place stupendous strategies for struggling students? For top achievers to score more, they should focus on straight A’s, join academic villages, engage in peer teaching, try self-evaluation or individual exams, consult more, avoid stupid pride, dodge tempting traps of comfort and complacency, improve continuously and fill learning gaps.
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Then, struggling students prop themselves up by pairing up with top achievers, re-visiting Form 1 and 2 work, identifying simple areas to score free marks, consulting more, taking extra lessons seriously and never choosing to give up. For with great effort, God can repair their despair. Form Four candidates gauge their preparedness for KCSE by asking the question: Have I expanded my learning time? This underscores the essence of paying the price and sacrifice — for no price, no prize. Then, it underpins the essence of going the extra mile, for Napoleon Hill rhapsodises, in most of his phenomenal treatises, that the pot of gold is always found where the rainbow ends.
Finally, Form Four candidates expand learning time through the long haul of lessons, lectures and personalised study sessions. Sometimes, they retire to bed late, but wake up early. They shorten breaks, lunches and games. They sacrifice non-academic programmes. They arrest thieves of time such as procrastination, complacency, gossip, laziness, lassitude, hebetude, and attitude of finitude.
By Victor Ochieng’
Victor Ochieng’ speaks to Form Four candidates on Homestretch: Finishing the Last Lap and Long Haul While Strong. Going for Top Grades with Great Grit and Grace. He trains principals and teachers on Best Academic Practices and Programmes, with a special bent on Great Management of the Candidate Class. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704 420 23
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