Lesson 12 Preparation for Exams
Remember building better exam performance based on
80% effort in preparation
20% effort in exam technique
We can improve our exam technique by better methods of answering questions, better time management in exams and stress control but without effective preparation methods you will not see a significant improvement.
Look at the quiz questions and see where you answered no. Improving in these areas by setting goals, saying what you will change and gradually making the changes and improvements for each set of exams leading to A level will see an improvement in your results.
Recommendations
Question Spotting
Question spotting involves checking past papers, looking at the form of questions, deciding what to study clearly based on the syllabus and the form of the exams. Short questions, essays, multiple choice and other types of exams need different types of preparation. You need to prepare sufficiently for each type of exam. Remember short answer questions call for breadth of knowledge, essay type questions call for depth.
Topic List
Preparing a list of topics you are going to revise after question spotting rather than an elaborate revision timetable ensures that you will cover enough material. Work out how much time you need to spend on each topic. This will give you an idea whether you will have enough time to complete your goals. If you will not be able to put in enough hours then reduce the topic list by further question spotting or spend less time on each topic.
Remember the first 50% marks in any exam question are the easiest to achieve so it is vital that you have enough material to make those important first 50% marks. It is pointless being able to score 80% plus on one question and not being able to adequately answer the other 4 in a 5 short essay question exam.
If you do nothing else to improve your performance, make a topic list for revision for each subject and set goals based on the topic list for each time you sit down to revise.
Celebrate your successes at revision by taking breaks and doing a short but relaxing activity such as watching a TV programme, listing to music or talking on the phone to a friend (but don't interrupt their revision!.
Study timetable
This is usually recommended as the key to successful revision. I say not necessarily if you make it too detailed. It puts you under a lot of pressure, if you don't stick to the time table you are more likely not to revise and feel a failure. This sets up a negative cycle and then is more likely to drain your motivation.
Getting down to revision is hard. It is better to make a study timetable where you identify times when you will sit down to revise but not what you revise. Use the topic list to keep an eye on your progress. Make it your goal to sit down to revise at the times you set for yourself rather than what you will revise.
Use both review and recall strategies
Review strategies involve reading through notes, making notes and other preparations. However review strategies alone create the "illusion of knowing" - that awful sensation when you know you have revised the topic but cannot call it to mind in the exam. Sometimes this is caused by anxiety however often it is caused because you have not used any recall strategies when revising.
Recall strategies include such things as covering notes and reciting, practicing previous exam questions, quizzing each other in study groups, writing down all you can recall on a certain topic, using cards with questions on them and answers on the back.
It is vital to include recall strategies in any revision session.
Start early but not too early
You need to be able to perform in the exam so too much too soon and early cramming can leave you stale and lacking the performance anxiety needed to motivate. Use your topic list to realistically see how much time you need to revise for each exam and then make a start.
Although the exams are not as serious as the real thing good preparation now in Lower Sixth will make your revision much easier when you come to the real thing.
Good luck!
80% effort in preparation
20% effort in exam technique
We can improve our exam technique by better methods of answering questions, better time management in exams and stress control but without effective preparation methods you will not see a significant improvement.
Look at the quiz questions and see where you answered no. Improving in these areas by setting goals, saying what you will change and gradually making the changes and improvements for each set of exams leading to A level will see an improvement in your results.
Recommendations
Question Spotting
Question spotting involves checking past papers, looking at the form of questions, deciding what to study clearly based on the syllabus and the form of the exams. Short questions, essays, multiple choice and other types of exams need different types of preparation. You need to prepare sufficiently for each type of exam. Remember short answer questions call for breadth of knowledge, essay type questions call for depth.
Topic List
Preparing a list of topics you are going to revise after question spotting rather than an elaborate revision timetable ensures that you will cover enough material. Work out how much time you need to spend on each topic. This will give you an idea whether you will have enough time to complete your goals. If you will not be able to put in enough hours then reduce the topic list by further question spotting or spend less time on each topic.
Remember the first 50% marks in any exam question are the easiest to achieve so it is vital that you have enough material to make those important first 50% marks. It is pointless being able to score 80% plus on one question and not being able to adequately answer the other 4 in a 5 short essay question exam.
If you do nothing else to improve your performance, make a topic list for revision for each subject and set goals based on the topic list for each time you sit down to revise.
Celebrate your successes at revision by taking breaks and doing a short but relaxing activity such as watching a TV programme, listing to music or talking on the phone to a friend (but don't interrupt their revision!.
Study timetable
This is usually recommended as the key to successful revision. I say not necessarily if you make it too detailed. It puts you under a lot of pressure, if you don't stick to the time table you are more likely not to revise and feel a failure. This sets up a negative cycle and then is more likely to drain your motivation.
Getting down to revision is hard. It is better to make a study timetable where you identify times when you will sit down to revise but not what you revise. Use the topic list to keep an eye on your progress. Make it your goal to sit down to revise at the times you set for yourself rather than what you will revise.
Use both review and recall strategies
Review strategies involve reading through notes, making notes and other preparations. However review strategies alone create the "illusion of knowing" - that awful sensation when you know you have revised the topic but cannot call it to mind in the exam. Sometimes this is caused by anxiety however often it is caused because you have not used any recall strategies when revising.
Recall strategies include such things as covering notes and reciting, practicing previous exam questions, quizzing each other in study groups, writing down all you can recall on a certain topic, using cards with questions on them and answers on the back.
It is vital to include recall strategies in any revision session.
Start early but not too early
You need to be able to perform in the exam so too much too soon and early cramming can leave you stale and lacking the performance anxiety needed to motivate. Use your topic list to realistically see how much time you need to revise for each exam and then make a start.
Although the exams are not as serious as the real thing good preparation now in Lower Sixth will make your revision much easier when you come to the real thing.
Good luck!
posted by Miz John at 9:03 AM
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