Transcript Slide 1
Successful preparation for exams
study
(verb)
The act of texting, eating and watching TV with an open textbook nearby.
Research based advice to help reduce stress, promote motivation and preparation
Bribes, treats and rewards
• Research suggests that offering cash or gifts to achieve good grades is not a good idea as it implies that the only worthwhile reward for hard work is money and that you don’t trust your child to work hard. • Although bribery isn't advisable, it's fine to provide small treats by way of encouragement. The end of exams can be celebrated with a treat that everyone can look forward to, such as a meal out or a trip to the cinema.
Bribes, treats and rewards
• Exams aren't an end in themselves but a gateway to the next stage of life.
• Good results are themselves the best reward for hard work and will make your child proud of his or her achievements.
If you place your two fists together, with your inner wrists touching, your brain is about this size and shape. In contrast to the rubbery pink models we have seen, the brain is amazingly soft, composed primarily of fat and water. It is greyish and pudding-like - composed of 100 billion brain cells - called neurons, that drive our thinking, learning, feeling and states of being. Neurons need good fats, protein, complex carbohydrates, micronutrients vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients - and water. These nutrients are used to drive the learning functions of neurons.
Diet
• Make sure there are plenty of healthy snacks in the fridge and try to provide good, nutritious food at regular intervals. Encourage your child to join family meals, even if it's a busy revision day - it's important to have a change of scene and get away from the books and computer for a while. •
Drink plenty of fluids, eat a good healthy breakfast. The fresher and more energetic you feel, the more it will support your ability to tackle the cognitive challenges.
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Oily fish
– promotes good brain function
Wholegrain
– releases energy slower
Blueberries
– delays short term memory loss
Blackberries / Vitamin C
– boosts mental agility
Pumpkin seeds
– boosts memory and thinking skills
Broccoli
A great source of vitamin K, which is known to enhance cognitive function and improve brainpower
• Water is necessary to maintain the tone of membranes for normal neurotransmission.
• It enhances circulation and aids in removing wastes.
• Water keeps the brain from overheating, which can cause cognitive decline and even damage.
• Dehydration most commonly occurs because children go long periods of time without drinking water.
• By the time thirst is felt, there may be a loss of body weight up to 2% from water loss, and a 10% cognitive decline may be present.
Exercise and Rest
Encourage your child to take regular exercise. A brisk walk around the block can help clear the mind before the next revision session.
It's important to get a good night's sleep before an exam, so discourage your child from staying up late to cram.
Revision
• The secret to doing well in exams lies in planning. You can help your child to create a clear revision plan and method of studying that will make them feel in control of their work. • There are many websites available with ready made revision plans.
• The time to revise will vary. Some people concentrate better at night, others prefer to be up with the larks. What ever is decided, it is important to stick to a consistent working pattern so the mind and body can adjust.
• Try not to nag or make too many demands on your child during exam time. Arguments are counter-productive and will only add unnecessary stress and distract from revision.
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Revision
Make home life as calm and pleasant as possible. It helps if other members of the household (younger siblings for example) are aware that your child may be under pressure and that (reasonable) allowances should be made for this.
• Make sure your child has all the essential books and materials.
• Encourage them to condense notes onto postcards or post it notes to act as revision prompts. These can be placed in various locations.
• Consider buying new stationery, highlighters and pens to make revision more interesting .
• Go through school notes with your child or listen while they revise a topic .
Mind maps
• Work out a revision timetable for each subject. • Break revision time into small chunks , 40 – 60 minute sessions with short breaks at the end of each session often work well. • Make a list of the subjects that need to revised for between now and the exams. • Concentrate on the specific topics or modules that you are weak on.
• Do not leave the most difficult or hardest subjects till the end of the day. Instead try to get these out of the way early on.
• After completing a revision period cross it off from the timetable. This will help to instil a sense of accomplishment. • At the end of each week assess performance and change plans accordingly. Consider using different coloured pens to highlight specific classes or rank subjects according to importance. • Keep the timetable flexible and be ready to change it if circumstances change. Try not to spend the whole day revising one subject.
Past papers Mark schemes
• Go back over recent years and consider the kind of questions that came up. Don't assume that these will be on the paper, but look at the relationship between the questions and course content.
• Is there a question per topic? Are topic areas combined in different ways? What is the style of the question – single focus or direct question, or does the examiner go in for questions with two or more bits?
• It may be an oversimplification to assume that if the question carries five marks there need to be five points, but this isn't a bad start.
• Marks are allocated for something.
• Sit a practice paper and time it.
• Always check the back page!
Be prepared
• It is easy to forget practical details, so be clear about simple things like start times, venue, equipment, material you can or cannot bring, and so on. • Being on top of all these can make a huge difference in your poise and performance and will help avoid unnecessary last-minute jitters.
• Clear pencil case with everything needed.
• Clear drinking bottle and sweets.
During the Exam
• Listen to the invigilator.
• Read the instructions.
• Read all of the question at least twice.
• Answer the question, don’t repeat it back.
• Use a pencil and ruler to draw diagrams.
• Include units (eg. cm, Kg).
• Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar.
• Where there is a choice of questions, read them all more than once and choose the one that can be best answered.
• Watch the clock.
Watch the clock
• Doing practice papers will have helped with this but be careful of timings.
• Be aware of what you can realistically do in the allotted time. • If you have one hour per question, you might allow around 10 minutes to consider the question and jot down notes, then 45-50 minutes writing time. • Don't be tempted to skimp on one question to lavish time on another. The first 50% of marks in any question are much easier to pick up than the next 20%.
Don’t dwell on mistakes
• As soon as one exam is over, move swiftly to focusing on the next one. • Dwelling on an exam that you have completed wastes energy and time, and will drive you crazy. • Remember, be positive, stay calm, and mobilise your energies to do the best job possible on the day.