At 9 a.m to 11 a.m, this morning, all grade six students of SD AL Hikmah did ‘tryout’ as part of National Exam Rehearsal. Started on Monday (two days ago), today was the third day of ‘tryout’ series where students were to sit on  a mock test of science. Last Monday and Tuesday, they took on Bahasa and Maths respectively. Each of the tests lasts two hours and is invigillated by grade six teachers.

This three day ‘tryout’ is organized by FOKSI (Association of Islamic Schools) which also facilitates UNAS tryout to many other Islamic schools in and out of Surabaya. It not only aims to get the students accustomed to a variety of problems and tricky questions that may appear in the real test, but also to prepare the students with technical matters such as how to fill in the answer sheet, students’ unique number, etc.

“I am positive, most of our students are already familiar with types of questions, how to fill out their biodata, and how to transfer their answers onto the answer sheets as we have given tryouts 6 times including today’s,” said Ustad Gatot Bambang Sutrisno, the coordinator of grade six team.

“However, we are focussing on many other aspects as well, like: time management and accuracy. Some of our students felt like doing it with too much hurry that they didn’t read the questions or the instructions properly. This is not a race to finish something as fast as possible. No! Obviously not. Two hours is adequate ,” he went on.

Since it uses scanning machine to correct students’ works, students are to be very careful handling their answer sheets. They must keep them clean and not to damage them. And this means proper sharpness of their pencils.

“We dont want anybody to make unnecessary mistakes. That is why we always remind them about these technical matters over and over again, so that on the day of the real exam they are focussed optimally on the test itself,” said Ustadzah Dewi Mustikawati, a senior Maths teacher in grade six.

In SD Al Hikmah, ‘tryouts’ are not the only treatments given to prepare the students for the national exam. We implement the so called ‘recomposition class’, where in daily learning activities students are regrouped based on their academic achievement in order that the teachers are easily adapt to their pace of learning. We also appoint almost all teachers regardless of their disciplines of subjects and grade team to become spiritual mentors to whom grade six students go for consultation not only of academic but also spiritual and even personal issues.  

“In our school, UNAS is not under the responsibility of grade six teacher team only. We involve all faculty members to support it. Moreover, every teacher here is an educator as well as a Murabbi (spiritual guide) for all students,”said Ustad Halim, Vice principle of Academic Affair for higher grades.