Cape Town - Matrics in Cape Town have told Western Cape Department of Education MEC Donald Grant that the first written matric exam this morning was fair and covered the sections of the syllabus they had studied.
The MEC visited Grade 12 learners at Groote Schuur High School following the first English paper.
In the Western Cape, over 26 000 learners sat for English Additional Language, while 15 000 wrote English Home Language. Over 9 000 learners are preparing to write Accounting tomorrow.
Grant encouraged the learners to use their time wisely during the marathon examinations and avoid burning out.
"Well done on your exams. I hope all of you will cope... use your time wisely."
The MEC hoped the province would achieve an 80% pass rate and that the 35 000 matrics would pass with good grades.
He said he would be monitoring the situation and visiting different schools to check on progress during this period
Learner Bradley Botts told BuaNews the English paper was "reasonable".
"An exam is a challenge but it covered the syllabus," he said, indicating that English was his mother-tongue.
In preparation for the examinations, he said he had set himself a timetable which he would stick to.
Bradley, who dreams of studying quantitative maths at the University of Cape Town, said he wanted to work in the financial industry. He said once the exams were over, his biggest worry would be the results.
Schoolmate Danielle Chantrain found the English paper easy as she had revised previous papers dating back from 2008.
She said her favourite subject was Maths, and she would like to study medicine at the University of the Western Cape.
