Exam Information and Advice

Rachel Studd

Key dates in the academic year 08/09• SEMSESTER DATES AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE• Revision/examination period 19 January 2009 to 30 January 2000

• Second Semester 2nd February 2009 to 12 June 2009• Revision/examination period 21 May 2009 to 10 June 2009

• Deadline for submission of claims for mitigating circumstances 12 June 2009

• Resit examinations 24 August - 4th September 2009

• VACATIONS• Christmas vacation 19 December 2008 to 16 January 2009• Easter vacation 27th March 2009 to 20 April 2009

• School intranet (www.manchester.ac.uk/materials)• http://www.campus.manchester.ac.uk/ssc/examinations/exampoliciesinformation/datesofexa

mperiods/

Exam Revision

• How much time is available for revision?• How much material is there to cover?• What is the examiner looking for?• What topics might you do best at?• What topics might you do worst at?• What topics are the crucial ones for the subject?• What do you like/dislike doing?• What other demands on your time will there be?

Drew and Bingham (1996)

http://www.campus.manchester.ac.uk/ssc/pastpapers/EPS

http://www.campus.manchester.ac.uk/ssc/pastpapers/EPS

Revision Tips• Sort out material so you know exactly how much and what you have;• Revise as you go through the semester making additional notes in a

different colours;• Check the required learning outcomes of the unit which you are

being examined;• Test yourself – read, write down notes, reread, then see what you

have remembered;• Use patterns – write a theme word then link related topics to this –

visuals can be more memorable;• Work with a friend;• Practice in advance;• Discover what environment you work best in;• Build in breaks and give yourself treats.

Prior to the Exam• You must ensure that, via Campus Solutions,

you are enrolled on the correct units – to the value of 120 credits – for your programme

• You need to take your library card to the examination for both ID and your student number;

• It is your responsibility to look at the examination timetables and note the details – double check these for changes and always check these.

Attendance

• Arrive in good time for the start of the exam – at least 20 minutes early;

• You will be admitted up to 30 minutes after the start time but you will not be given any extra time at the end;

• If you are absent from the exam without a valid excuse you will be deemed to have failed exam.

Mitigating Circumstances

• Let someone know if you have any problems that you are at all concerned about prior to the exam –programme director, member of admin team or another academic member of staff;

• Don’t keep a problem quiet until it is too late;• Submit a letter explaining your circumstances with

supporting evidence;• Mitigation Committee - cases are dealt with

anonymously;• We are here to help – let us!

What to bring to Exams

• Your current University Registration Card (swipe card)

• Suitable Clothing – (layers!)

• Pens and Pencils in a clear pencil case or plastic bag;

• Calculator – only if required;

• Clear bottle of water and small packet of sweets are allowed.

What NOT to bring to Exams

• Electronic calculators (see University policy in handout – blackboard)

• Electronic Devices ie mobile phones and MP3 players;

• Dictionaries (see University policy in handout – blackboard)

• Notes, Books or blank paper are NOT allowed at your desks and must be left at the front of the examination room.

Examinations• Make sure that you are given the correct paper;• Make sure you fill-in the identity slip with your

name and ID number;• Make sure you fill-in your name and student ID

number on the front of all the answer books that you use;

• Make sure you use a separate answer book for each question;

• Make sure, if you draw graphs or diagrams on separate pieces of paper, that these are securely fastened to the answer books and include your ID number;

• Make sure you write clearly so that you answers can actually be read!

Getting Started

• Read front cover of exam to check paper;

• Check times of exam;

• Check what is required – how many questions need answering;

• Read the whole paper;

• Decide which questions you are going to answer.

Time Management in Exam• How long is the exam?• Divide your time into appropriate sections• Spend 5 minutes reading the exam paper• Decide how long you will allocate to each question• Spend a few minutes planning your answers, can jot

down notes then cross them out• For essay questions write a strong intro and

conclusion to show that you understand the question• Monitor your timekeeping• Allow 10 minutes at the end for checking• If you are running out of time………

Drew and Bingham (1996)

Time Management cont…• First 50% of marks for a question are the easiest to

obtain, then next 25% is harder, the last 25%is very difficult. If you are running out of time two half answers may be worth more that one whole:

– 15/25 + 15/25 + 12/25 + 10/25

is better than:– 20/25 + 18/25 + 10/25 + 1/25

• If you do overrun on your allocated time, write down rough notes of the main points, move onto the next question and then return if you have time at the end.

Drew and Bingham (1996)

The Questions

• What do the questions mean? Underline the key words in each question– compare/contrast (implies looking at two or

more different perspectives)– evaluate (implies offering criticisms or making

judgements)– analyse (implies asking asking why, looking at

two underlying factors)– explain (implies laying out each stage in a

process or argument in a logical way)

Drew and Bingham (1996)

DON’T PANIC

• STOP, close your eyes and breathe in to a count of six and out to a count of six, 10 times

• STOP, reread the question and jot down any ideas you have, then sort them into some sort of order

• STOP, and move on to another questions, returning to the questions with which you are having difficulty later

• STOP, and do a question you CAN answer to get a ‘success’ under your belt

Drew and Bingham (1996)

Stress

• Institute of Stress Management» www.isma.org.uk/exams.htm

– General exam stress-busting tips– Tips for revision– Tips for the exam itself

• University Counselling Service» http://www.campus.manchester.ac.uk/ssc/» 0161 275 2864

• University Student Services» 0161 275 5000

Exam Boards and Regulations

• What are the Exam Regulations?• Where they can be found:

» Student handbooks on Intranet» www.manchester.ac.uk/materials/

• Procedure of Exam Board• Examination Results• Examination scripts are not returned to

students after examinations • Resits!

Communication of Results• Results for the year as a whole will be sent to your HOME address

after the end of year meeting of the Board of Examiners. • If you want these results to be sent elsewhere, please give

administrative staff the details by early May. • If you live outside the UK please collect an envelope from

Reception and CLEARLY write your address on the front and student registration number, year and programme on the back to ensure speedy delivery.

• DO NOT PHONE THE OFFICE FOR YOUR RESULTS. ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DISCLOSE OR DISCUSS RESULTS AT ALL.

• ANY QUERIES ABOUT YOUR RESULTS CAN ONLY BE DISCUSSED WITH YOUR PROGRAMME DIRECTOR IN PERSON.

• Results will be displayed on the notice boards using your student number only – your name will not be shown. If you do not want your results to be published on the notice board, please contact your local office (SSB C58 / MS B1) with your name and student number.

The Honours Degree classification system & its linking to grades is shown in the following table.

Honours Degree Classification

Grade Mark Band / %

First class hons (1) A 70  

Upper second hons (2.1) B 60 but < 70  

Lower second hons (2.2) C 50 but < 60  

Third class hons (3) D 40 but < 50  

Fail E < 40