Karen Sudu, Gleaner Writer

LINSTEAD, St Catherine:

JULENE BROWN has intensified her studying over the last month, as she readies herself to sit the 2013 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).

The 12-year-old Linstead Primary and Junior High School student dedicated extensive hours to social studies and language arts - the two subjects she finds most challenging.

"I am going to extra classes and I started going to Saturday and Sunday classes. I have been studying a lot and focusing on social studies, reading more, and making sure that I understanding what I read," she shared with The Gleaner.

Her parents have also been playing a critical role in ensuring that she maximises her time.

"Now and then, they will just call me up and ask me some questions, catch me off guard to see how much I know, and what new stuff I learn," she said laughing.

ELIMINATING DISTRACTIONS

Jerol Brown, her father, said he wants to eliminate distractions, so he limits the time she spends watching television and talking with friends.

For him, contributing to his daughter's success in the high-school entrance examination is important.

"Well, the first thing I did was made sure I bought all her textbooks from in the holidays, and I give her all the support I can give because I know this is very important if she is to get a good mark, so that she can go to Campion like she said," he told The Gleaner.

Her teacher, Althea Smith, believes she can score higher that the 90 per cent she averaged at the end of grade five.

"She has the potential to do very well, but sometimes she wastes time in class. She just needs to settle down some more, and once she does, she will perform well in GSAT," Smith said.

Julene is cognisant of her weakness and promised to work harder to ensure that she doesn't miss out on the opportunity to be on top when the GSAT results are published next June.

rural@gleanerjm.com