Year 7 Study Guide: Academic Preparation and Goal Setting Tips

1. Session 4: PREPARE FOR TESTS Year 7 Life Skills ResourcesAcademic Teacher Student Wall Planner and Study Guide

2. The first thing to do … • Goals Setting from the beginning of the year... • How are we going? Did you take them seriously ? Did you reach your targets? • Do we need to reassess our goals for next semesters? • Were they realistic? • Are they measurable/ specific enough?

3. Goal Setting examples… • I am going to write out all my definitions for Science into a exercise book. • I will set aside 1 hour a week – on Tuesdays from 4 – 5 pm and Thursdays 7 – 8 pm for doing specific study for Maths.

4. Study Schedule – Programme • Yes in Year 7 you must be prepared to do more than just your homework. • Sorry this is what high school is all about !!! • This means plan study periods for each subject. Remember … “Studying is an action” It requires thinking and reflecting on what you are learning.

5. Start your preparation NOW! • Don’t let the mountain get too big! • Start chipping away now! • Do something ! • Commit to the programme you set up. • Don’t delay or stress. • Don’t let things build up before the test.

6. Your Home and Study Environment Your study area needs to: • Be a quiet area of your home that is clean and tidy. • Have no distractions This means NO... • Computers • Mobiles phones • Play station /Xbox • Radios • No iPods!!!!! • Get support from your family and friends. • Let them give you the space to get on with it!!

7. Review the Full Course • Review the course objectives and complete the revision sheets given to you. • Make up a checklist of what to learn. • Ask your teacher what they feel is important to go over • Listen for hints!!!!

8. More Tips… • Write out definitions • Talk about the work and explain the ideas to someone else. • Maintain effective notes – colour code different types of information. • Make up a study group – this is one of the most effective means to learning. Why?

9. What is a study group? • A group of your friends or class mates that meet regularly to … • Do some study on a subject. • Compare notes. • Discuss issues/ difficult topics related to the course. • Help each other when doing assignments but not to copy. • Very effective study mechanism that comes more important as you get older.

10. Performance Tips and Other Advice Put your notes into other forms, such as … • A concept map • A table to compare/contrast • Venn diagrams that allows you to compare and contrast • Diagrams • Colour code important info

11. Example of a Concept Map

12. Do you need help? • Never be scared to asked from your teacher. • Believe it or not teachers think its great when students come up and ask for help! • It makes them feel wanted.  “Sorry but you must see them before the test - mobile phones are not allowed in tests and exams!!!.”

13. Remember to get a really good mark, you need to go below the surface . Read around about your subject or topic – the Library/Internet are good sources

14. The Night Before • Do not spend the night before doing last minute cramming. • Be relaxed - just go over areas of the course you feel may need a second look. • Do a couple of past paper questions • Look through revision sheets • A prayer may help!! • Get a good nights sleep!!

15. The Day Arrives - Are you prepared? • Be focused! • Go for it and Be Positive! • Be Confident . • Set your mind, body and heart. • You can do it! • I hope you did some study!

16. Here we go…Lets see what Mr Bean does? Please view video on YouTube using the following link: http://youtu.be/98V9cEYe6-A

17. During the Examination • It is vital that youread the instructionscarefully. • Not like Mr Bean!!

18. If you are finding the exam challenging • Then usually every one else is also. • Do not give up. • Maintain your efforts until the end. • Give it a try and attempt to answer all questions the best you can.

19. The Test • Do not spend too much time on one question. • Make sure you finish the test. Have an answer for each question.

20. Handy Hints • Read every question carefully. • What is the question really asking me? • Is the question asking to describe or explain? There is a difference. • Look for hints about the correct answer. Look at other items on the test. • Do not change your initial answer unless you are sure another answer is truly correct.

21. Handy Hints continued… • It is essential to show your workings or explain your understandings. • In essays and short answer questions directional words are used. EG. compare / contrast/ describe . • It is often useful to include diagrams /tables in your extended answers.

22. Hints for Multiple Choice Tests • Never leave a multiple choice question unanswered, • unless there is a penalty for wrong responses. • At worse… Guess! • Circle or underline important words in the question. • Read all the choices before selecting one. • Cross out answers you are certain are not correct.

23. Hints for Short Answer Questions • If a question is worth 2 marks then mention two points. • Read the question carefully and fully. • Pause and think before you start writing. • Ask: Am I actually answering the question? • Explain fully.

24. Use the Full Time! People who finish early are either geniuses or fools.

25. Use the Full Time • Most exams are constructed to be finished just before the time limit. • If you should finish early you can always check over your work again and again! • Re-reading sections will help you see and correct careless errors. • Don’t just sit there – all this says is that you don’t really care!!!

26. During the Examination • It is a good idea to occasionally: • Stretch fingers and hands • Roll your shoulders and • Stretch your neck. • But don’t distract others !!!

27. Oh Yes… • Make sure you give yourself enough time to finish the exam! • There is nothing worse than having five minutes to go and you still have two questions to do!

29. Finally… • Remember three things: 1. Be prepared 2. Be confident 3. Be Determined Good Luck