Transcript How to Prepare and Approach an Exam

How To
Prepare
and
Approach
Examinations
Tony Chirico
Deputy Principal
(Personal Development & Administration)
THE IMPORTANCE
OF BEING PREPARED
“You can map out a fight plan or
a life plan, but when the action
starts it may not go the way
you planned, and you’re down to
your reflexes – which means
your training.
That’s where your road work
shows. If you cheated on that
in the dark of the morning, well
you’re getting found out now
under the bright lights.”
Joe Frazier – World Heavyweight Boxing Champion
WHY SHOULD I STUDY?
Performing in examinations is an
important skill. Study helps you to:
Recall information learnt during the
Semester;
Prepare for different styles of
examination questions;
Reinforce techniques used to answer
questions;
Maximise your performance under
examinations conditions.
WHERE SHOULD I STUDY?
Choose a quiet, private place.
Always study in the same place;
Well lit room;
Poor lighting may increase fatigue, headaches & eye strain.
Comfortable room temperature;
Comfortable chair with a straight back;
Do not sit on a sofa, couch, floor or bed.
Spacious study space - tidy & organised;
Notice board to display information;
With little or no distractions;
Quiet instrumental music but no television or visual
distractions.
GETTING FIT FOR STUDY
Operating at peak performance
when studying is achieved by
living a balanced lifestyle:
Aim to sleep 8 hours each night;
Eat regularly – don’t skip meals;
Enjoy a balanced diet avoiding fad
diets and snack foods.
Exercise regularly & drink plenty of
water;
Make time for relaxation;
Spend time with family & friends;
Seven Tips
On
How To Study
HOW DO I STUDY?
1. Be Organised:
Use the time leading up to the
examination allocating sufficient
time in the study timetable for
each subject;
Ensure that study notes include a
full set of class notes & handouts;
Spend time studying the most
difficult subjects first;
HOW DO I STUDY?
1. Be Organised:
Begin by revising the work learnt
earlier in the Semester;
Vary the material to be studied,
not spending too long on one topic
or activity.
HOW DO I STUDY?
2. Identify Key Information:
Date, Time & Venue of each examination;
Ask your subject teacher for assistance
with:
A summary sheet of what content
will be assessed on the examination;
Information about different types
of questions & mark allocation;
HOW DO I STUDY?
2. Identify Key Information:
Ask your subject teacher for assistance
with:
A Timeline to complete different
sections of the examination in the
set time;
Guidelines to complete study sheets;
Revision sheets to cover all content;
List of materials to bring into the
examination.
HOW DO I STUDY?
3. Understand the content:
Take an active role in the learning
process;
During class listen to teacher
instructions, be attentive, involve
yourself in class discussions and ask
questions.
Do not hesitate - Get Help Early
Don’t be too shy or afraid to ask the
teacher for assistance both in class and
for extra help outside scheduled class
time.
HOW DO I STUDY?
4. Understand the terminology:
Become familiar with the key terms to be
used in each examination;
Terms such as: List, Explain, Outline,
Discuss, Define, Describe, Analyse,
Compare & Contrast, Illustrate.
Learn to carefully read instructions in order
to answer questions correctly;
Learn about the importance of effectively
using reading time as a time to prepare and
plan responses.
HOW DO I STUDY?
5. Set Achievable Reasonable Targets:
Example 1: “Read 2 sections of Chapter 6”,
rather than “I’m going to spend all day
Saturday studying”
Example 2: Each hour give yourself a 10
minute break rather than sitting at the
desk staring blankly at a textbook for 3
hours.
HOW DO I STUDY?
6. Learning Better By Doing:
Don’t just read from the book;
Complete exercises or revision
questions;
Make notes & brief
summaries;
Write comments;
HOW DO I STUDY?
6. Learning Better By Doing:
Complete learning exercises;
Use Mind/Concept Maps &
Diagrams;
Use sticky notes to summarise
ideas;
Use colour to highlight key points;
Re-type notes, use audio tape, make
flash cards.
PRACTISE the writing of key ideas and
the calculation of key questions;
HOW DO I STUDY?
7. Concentrate:
Keep your mind focused on the task at hand;
Work out optimum study time;
Early morning?
Late at night?
Set realistic study periods;
Each hour set a maximum 50 minute study
block with 10 minute breaks.
Use a reminder pad to jot down key
information;
Avoid PROCRASTINATION.
GET STARTED NOW!!!!
Study Strategies
That
Work
HOW DO WE LEARN?
We need to remember that:
Learning takes time;
Very few of us have photographic
memories;
No one method works for all as we
all have preferred learning styles;
But it may help to:
Learn through repetition;
Use diagrams to learn more difficult
content.
LEARNING STYLES
VISUAL LEARNERS
Relates to Visual/Spatial intelligence;
Approximately 35% of people are
visual learners;
They learn best by:
Seeing;
Picturing;
Reading & Imagining;
Watching;
Visualising information;
Drawing concept maps, flow charts or timelines.
LEARNING STYLES
AUDITORY LEARNERS
Relates to Linguistic intelligence.
Approximately 30% of people are
auditory learners;
They learn best by:
Talking & Discussing;
Rewriting ideas in their own words;
Listening to others;
Reading list aloud;
Explaining diagrams to themselves;
Associating with sounds rather than words.
LEARNING STYLES
KINAESTHETIC LEARNERS
Relates to Physical intelligence
Approximately 40% of people are
kinaesthetic learners;
They learn best by:
Doing activities for themselves;
Being active in their learning;
Watching body language;
Writing the information on place cards
and move around them as they learn
and memorise them;
Connecting information to familiar
objects in a room.
LEARNING STYLES
We learn best when we combine
the three learning styles –
seeing, hearing and doing.
We remember:
10% from reading;
25% from hearing;
35% from seeing;
50% from both seeing & hearing;
75% from discussing;
85% from experiencing an activity;
95% from teaching someone else.
MEMORY TOOLS~ MNEMONICS
Use the first letter from key words to make up
a word or phrase to help remember the content.
Examples:
ROY G BIV (The colours of the rainbow)
PIPOC (The qualities of a scientist)
Perseverance
Intelligence
Patience
Originality
Curiosity.
What other examples of mnemonics
do we know or use?
MEMORY TOOLS~ MIND MAPS
Produce mental pictures that visually
link concepts and areas of knowledge.
Using space, colours, headings symbols
& arrows, draw these links as:
A
A
A
A
A
A
flowchart;
concept map;
table or grid;
diagram;
list;
matrix.
MEMORY TOOLS
SUMMARY CARDS
Produce cards containing summaries
of the main points and key ideas;
Recite them aloud at every
opportunity to remember them;
Produce the cards as posters – A4 or
A3 size and pin the cards in central
positions in your house – the study,
bedroom, kitchen;
You may also record these notes on a
tape, CD or ipod and listen to it
regularly.
QUESTION STYLES
1.Multiple Choice Questions
Requires selection of a correct
answer from a number of
alternatives.
Carefully read all parts of the
question;
Underline key phrases in the
question;
Eliminate incorrect answer/s .
Chances of a correct answer
increase with every alternative
eliminated;
QUESTION STYLES
1.Multiple Choice Questions
Requires selection of a correct
answer from a number of
alternatives.
Remember that research shows
that often the first choice is
correct;
Don’t spend time agonising over a
question. Come back later if you
have time;
But don’t leave any question
unanswered.
QUESTION STYLES
2. Short Answer & Essay Questions
Questions to demonstrate
knowledge with supporting
arguments.
Read directions carefully to
understand the question &
underline key words;
Check how much each question is
worth and divide your time
accordingly;
Answer the easier questions first;
QUESTION STYLES
2. Short Answer & Essay
Questions
Questions to demonstrate
knowledge with supporting
arguments.
Make a brief plan jotting down main
points;
Don’t waffle & write legibly;
Support arguments with evidence;
If running out of time, write an
introduction and outline your main
points and arguments in note form;
Succeeding On
The Day
Before, During & After
the Examination
EQUIPMENT KIT
Prepare an equipment kit with all
the equipment you will need for the
examinations.
Ask your class teacher for equipment
required for each examination;
The kit should include:
Your ID Card;
Writing tools – pens & pencils (spares);
An eraser;
A Ruler;
A Calculator with spare batteries;
A clear water bottle – no labels attached;
A watch;
Bring a novel in case you finish early.
Before The Examination
Aim for at least 8 hours of sleep
per night;
Eat a healthy breakfast - fruit &
cereal. Drink plenty of water
throughout the day;
Avoid stress - arrive early at the
College;
Avoid students who make you anxious;
Briefly review notes (if necessary);
During The Examination
1. Entering the Examination Room
Sit down and relax ~ the preparation
work should have been done by now!
Inhale deep breaths & organise the
materials you brought into the
examination;
Remain seated in silence & await
teacher instructions to commence.
During The Examination
Keeping Calm for Best Performance
Full yoga breathing can be used to
calm down before or during an
examination. Inhaling is done by:
Take 4 counts to fully expand the
diaphragm muscle;
Use a further 2 counts to expand the rib
cage;
1 count completes the breath into the top
of the lungs;
Pause a moment.
During The Examination
Keeping Calm for Best Performance
Exhaling is done by:
Use 4 counts to retract the
diaphragm up into the bottom of
the cage;
Use 2 counts to contract the ribs;
1 final count to expel the last bit
of breath from the top of the
lungs.
During The Examination
2. Reading Time
Read ALL the instructions first;
Read each question carefully & begin
planning the answer in your head;
Decide which questions to answer
first;
Mark answers to Multiple Choice
with thumb nail;
Use ALL the allocated reading time.
Don’t just sit there looking around
and staring at others.
During The Examination
3. Writing Time
Read instructions at beginning of each
section or group of questions. “Circle
the correct response on answer sheet”;
Reread question & identify key words
that provide clues on how to answer the
question:
Questions asking to “describe” and “explain”
require more detail “list”;
Look for highlighted words, eg. incorrect,
not, give two reasons;
Underline key terms which are related to the
subject.
During The Examination
3. Writing Time
Make sure you understand what the
question is asking before answering;
Check allocated marks for each
question & write the appropriate
amount. For example 3 marks = 3 parts,
steps or key words to the answer;
Interpret diagrams and tables
carefully, and look past the numbers;
“What do they tell you?”;
Check spelling and grammar.
During The Examination
3. Writing Time
Keep an eye on the time;
Show all working for calculations;
Don’t forget to include correct
UNITS – cms, gms, volts;
Attempt every question, even if it is
with an educated guess. Look back
at other questions (especially
Multiple Choice) for clues & key
words;
Take care and use a pencil for
graphs and drawings;
At the End of The Examination
Check:
That you have written your name;
That you have answered ALL questions fully &
according to the marks allocated;
That you have included correct units.
For each question, cover your written answer
and answer again in head, then compare.
Wait … take deep breaths … and read over it
again!!! Avoid silly careless mistakes.
And then … Read over it again!!!
MOST OF ALL…
ONCE THE HARD WORK HAS BEEN DONE
RELAX AND GOOD LUCK !!