Preparing effectively for Examinations

1. Preparing effectivelyfor Examinations

2. Aims & learning outcomes • To evaluate your revision working habits and strategies • To become aware of the resources needed for revision • To be able to practise strategies for different note-taking approaches • To become aware of different memory strategies

3. Where are you? • What sort of learner are you? • What sort of environment do you revise in? • What is your level of stress? • Are you comfortable with your revision plans? • Remember: ‘if you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always got’.

4. Revision location • Where do you revise? • Is it noisy? • Are there comfort factors involved? • Do you prefer to revise alone or with friends/both? • What is likely to distract you? • What time of day do you prefer to revise/study?

5. Writing out notes again to remember facts Reducing/condensing information to shorter notes Memorising essay answers Writing out essay plans from past questions Writing essay answers or working through past papers under timed conditions Using mind maps/spider diagrams/branch notes Audio-taping information Pairs/group revision with friends Being active in learning Using colour e.g. highlighters Reading lecture notes Spending long periods revising in the week prior to exam Using memory triggers to help Preparing flash cards with key words as a basis for understanding Any other methods Revision techniques

6. Look at your learning outcomes Consider/understand the assessment criteria for all units Start a system for organising your lecture notes at the ‘start’ of your unit e.g. file dividers, coloured floppy discs. Select important theories and evidence Goals of self-expectation should be realistic Note-making – develop an efficient organisational strategy Learning thoroughly promotes greater retention of facts and a deeper understanding of your subject Get ‘past’ exam papers and answers Go to revision sessions if offered Join an examination writing group – practise questions with others to make the process interactive Read your exam timetable early and make own plans Make sure you know the format of the exam Get a good nights sleep Take several pens and a working calculator with you Enjoy (if not then its not working!) Preparing yourselffor examinations

7. Notes for revision Your system should provide you with ‘useful notes’ and be an ‘efficient’ use of your time and effort. Good notes will help you: • Understand new/difficult concepts • Get an overview of the topic by changing written text into diagrams/flow charts/mind maps • Remember new terminology (highlight words)

8. Mind map example • Common difficulties: • productive working • making changes • The right mind set: • Preparing for effective • revision REVISION • Revision Notes: • About revising • Organising key concepts • Revision techniques • Aids to Memorising: • Developing strategies • Your memory strategies • Examination Techniques: • Tips and hints

9. Organisation • Gather all notes relevant to the topic/examination. • Decide how you are going to code each section/topic • Look for connections between topics e.g. methodological approaches to different or similar topics.

10. Memory strategies Rote learning: memorisation by heart Deep learning: connecting material to understand it and later recall it. • What was your first day at school/college like? (episode) • What is your home postal code? (fact) • Where did you have your last lecture? (episode) • How do you open a document on the computer? (procedure) • A key concept in your favourite topic/subject (knowledge)

11. Practise examination skills • Analyse exam questions • Plan essays • Write appropriately and accurately • Argue effectively using concepts/theories • Analyse texts/evidence • Select areas of knowledge • Synthesise and reach a conclusion • Decide what questions you are good at answering • Time yourself answering questions • Prioritise questions during an exam and the information in an exam question

12. Coping with stress • Take care of your mental, emotional and physical state • Continuous stress can be counterproductive but a little is motivating. Adrenaline at the right levels is good for exams • Include relaxation and periods free from work • Include some physical activity • Don’t drink alcohol the night before exams • Seek help if it becomes too difficult

13. Academic Skills Guides • Further guides at: http://www.academic-skills.soton.ac.uk/develop.htm and include: • Learning styles • Reading academically • Writing effectively • Writing technically • Referencing your work • Getting the most from lectures • Working in groups • Giving a talk • Preparing effectively for examinations • Search Strategy • Writing your dissertation • Endnote – bibliographic software • Approaching mathematical problems systematically