CramPuppy - Free Revision Notes » Revision-tips » Revision and Exam Technique
by: Admin
Total views: 496
Word Count: 2276
Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 Time: 12:00 AM
0 comments
Rating: Not yet rated
Login to vote
Comments
No comments posted.
Revision and Exam Technique
Share View PDF | Print View | Views: 496 |
The Purpose of Exams
- Exams look at any combination of the following factors:
- Amount of work done.
- Amount you can write in a given time.
- Whether you can cope with exam pressure.
- Factual information.
- Whether you understand the exam question.
- Accuracy.
- Ability to apply conventions, e.g. referencing, scientific terms.
- Presentation.
- Application of knowledge to a particular situation.
- Underlying concepts and principles.
- Whether you can argue a point of view.
- The criticism and analysis of information.
- As a guarantee that the work is the students own.
Revision - starting off
- Spend an evening organizing all your notes - this will give you an overview of the topics to revise and you will have an idea of how much and what material you have. Use highlighters and folder dividers to make the organization of your notes clear.
- Identify gaps in your notes, and replace if necessary.
- Get hold of old exam papers, and attend revision lectures and seminars to identify possible subject patterns.
- Identify the central questions at the heart of the subject and what material you will need to revise.
- Plan a revision timetable - detail for each day the topic to be revised, the techniques to be used (note taking, reading etc.), the time to be spent on each topic area, and a box to tick when completed.
- It is best to revise in small chunks, for no more than one hour, then to rest for 10 minutes before moving onto another topic area or activity.
- Try to mix the revision techniques used, and build in time for fun and unexpected events.
- Put this timetable up on your wall, so you can watch your progress leading up to the exams.
- Make sure your revision environment is calm, quiet and free from distractions.
Revision Methods
- The key to good revision is making the process active - this way the information you are revising has more chance of staying in your head. You are also more likely to remember a fact if it is relevant or associated with something else you know well, or organized in a sequence. It is easier to remember information if you do something with it.
- A good starter is to summarize the notes you have on each topic:
- Try to reduce your notes down to key words and phrases.
- This will then form the basis of your revision notes.
- Reduce these notes further, so that information on each topic fits on one side of A4 or an index card (portable).
- A useful exercise is to then try to re-build your notes from memory by writing something under each key word and phrase on a piece of paper. To save time spent writing, use a tape recorder or speak to someone. Use your original revision notes to check where there are gaps in your memory.
- Use spider diagrams and flow charts for notes if you memorize material more easily in a visual form - or use colours and highlighting or different coloured paper to make the notes distinctive.
- Use a tape recorder to record notes to listen to.
- Set yourself questions from your revision notes to answer in written form or orally, check your answers by using the original notes. If written rather than verbal, then fill in forgotten facts with another colour pen, and repeat the process until all the gaps have disappeared.
- It is very useful to discuss the revision topic with friends and course mates. Explaining concepts to others and checking their understanding, helps to reinforce the knowledge in your own mind.
- Once the knowledge starts to stick, try to answer questions on past exam papers:
- With essay questions, practice writing essay plans for past exam questions as this is quicker.
- Set yourself one or two mock exams to practice writing for a set time, and to check you can do it.
- Examine past exam questions with others on your course, and discuss the answers.
- Avoid cramming just before the exam. Ideally you should try to avoid taking in new material the night before the exam.
- Remember the key to good revision is planning, and keeping it active.
Before the Exam
- Gather together material you will need for the exam, e.g. pens, ruler, calculator, sweets, lucky gonk, etc.
- Familiarize yourself with exam procedures, the number of questions, time, and location. How much the exam mark counts towards the final work.
- If you have a disability, let your tutor know in plenty of time before the exam, so that they can organize extra provision, if necessary.
Day of the Exam
- Arrive in good time.
- Listen to invigilator's instructions.
- Fill in your personal details on the answer booklet/script.
- Common exam errors to avoid are:
- Failing to read and follow instructions.
- Failing to read or interpret questions properly.
- Writing lots of irrelevant material.
- Poor answers give the impression that the question set was ?
"Write down whatever you can think of about this topic, in the order you remember things. Do not structure your answers. Include irrelevant material and if you can't think of anything better, abandon all intellectual rigour. Draw no conclusions."
(Habeshaw, T., Habeshaw, S. and Gibbs, G. (1987) in Sauders, D. (ed.) The Complete Student Handbook. Blackwell Publishers, 1994.)
- Read the instructions carefully, taking note of the number of questions you need to answer.
- Spend 5 minutes reading through the questions, underlining key words and making brief notes to help you to decide which to answer.
- Avoid questions with words you don't understand, as there is more chance of you losing marks.
- Identify the questions to answer in any order as long as they are numbered.
- Plan how long you will spend on each question (You may want to think about this before the exam). Based on 4 essay questions in 3 hours:
- 10.00 read questions.
- 10.05 plan 1st answer, underline key words, jot down relevant key notes.
- 10.15 write 1st answer, start with one you feel the most confident with.
- 10.50 finish 1st answer and plan other 3 (by this time brain has warmed up).
- 11.05 write 2nd answer.
- 11.40 write 3rd answer.
- 12.15 write 4th answer.
- 12.50 check for spellings, grammar, number questions, cross out plans etc.
- Essays - the key to a good essay answer is actually showing you have understood the question, it is therefore important to plan an outline answer first. To do this:
- Read question carefully 2 or 3 times.
- Underline key words and phrases.
- Jot down key points (5 to 10 word list).
- Look carefully at what you are supposed to do with information (analyse, evaluate etc).
- Think about how key points written relate to question.
- Order the key points.
- Write up relating to the question.
- If you run out of time when writing up an essay question, remember that the first 50% of marks for a question are the easiest to get, the next 25% are harder to get, and the final 25% harder still. Two half answers are therefore better than one complete answer.
- If you overrun on allocation time, jot down rough notes while the ideas are fresh in your mind and move onto the next question. If you have time, return to the question later.
- Organize your answers and cross out notes after use. Draw lines between the notes and essay, so it is obvious which is which. Remember to number each answer correctly.
- At the end of exam, avoid commiserating with your classmates if this panics you. Clear your mind and focus on the next exam.
Stress
- Organize and plan well, start your revision in good time.
- Research exam details well - where it is, when, length, number of questions, toilet arrangements, etc.
- Find out the criteria against which the exam is assessed, and what percentage of the overall mark it comprises for your studies.
- Chat to others if this helps.
- Keep routines during revision and exams, keep eating, sleeping and some socializing.
- Try yoga, relaxation techniques or exercise to reduce stress and focus the mind.
- Take chewing gum or sweets into the exam, as these are useful for de-stressing.
- Panic attack - If your mind goes blank and you panic during the exam, put your pen down, close your eyes and shout 'stop' in your head. Then take several deep breaths slowly and calmly. When you are ready, pick up your pen and continue.
- If you forget what to write, go on to a question you feel more confident about.
About the Author
by: Admin
Total views: 496
Word Count: 2276
Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 Time: 12:00 AM
0 comments
Rating: Not yet rated
Login to vote
CramPuppy - Free Revision Notes on Facebook
