First Year Theology Students after a hard day in the Exam Hall

Preparing for Examinations in Preparing for Examinations in TheologyTheology

Workshop 21 November, 2008Workshop 21 November, 2008

Before we begin …Before we begin …

Take two minutes to jot down a few Take two minutes to jot down a few thoughts for yourself (not for sharing) so thoughts for yourself (not for sharing) so be honest be honest – What most worries me about the exams is ….What most worries me about the exams is ….

Outline of the SessionOutline of the Session

1.1. A general overviewA general overview– Why examinations?Why examinations?– Revision –what and howRevision –what and how– On the dayOn the day– An examiner’s view of examinationsAn examiner’s view of examinations

2.2. Subject by Subject Subject by Subject Systematic TheologySystematic Theology

Moral TheologyMoral Theology

Scripture Scripture

3.3. Questions and CommentQuestions and Comment

Why examinations?Why examinations?

Examinations are part of the learning Examinations are part of the learning processprocess– An element in assessment An element in assessment

The assessment has already started – Continuous The assessment has already started – Continuous AssessmentAssessment

– Stimulus to order your thoughts Stimulus to order your thoughts – Help you to think under pressureHelp you to think under pressure– Satisfaction of knowing that you have studiedSatisfaction of knowing that you have studied– Step on the way to your degree and future Step on the way to your degree and future

career career

Revision –what and howRevision –what and how

Revision: a.Revision: a. The action of revising or The action of revising or looking over again; esp. critical or careful looking over again; esp. critical or careful examination or perusal with a view to examination or perusal with a view to correcting or improving. Also correcting or improving. Also spec.spec., the , the action of going over a subject that has action of going over a subject that has already been learnt, esp. in preparation already been learnt, esp. in preparation for an examination.for an examination. (Oxford English (Oxford English Dictionary)Dictionary)

““going over a subject that has already going over a subject that has already been learnt” been learnt” – You are (well, should not be) not seeing it You are (well, should not be) not seeing it

for the first time! for the first time! – Reviewing – putting into order all the Reviewing – putting into order all the

material at your disposal e.g. material at your disposal e.g. Course outline Course outline

Lecture Notes – lecturer’s handouts and your Lecture Notes – lecturer’s handouts and your ownown

Text BookText Book

MOODLE MOODLE

Notes of your reading and studyNotes of your reading and study

Get a framework! Get a framework! – What was the aim of this course? What was the aim of this course? – If in doubt, look at the aim in Course Module If in doubt, look at the aim in Course Module

in in KalendariumKalendarium– WhatWhat were the main sections – how do they were the main sections – how do they

relate to one and other? relate to one and other?

Test yourself! Test yourself! – Try to write outline answers to possible Try to write outline answers to possible

questions without consulting the textbook or questions without consulting the textbook or notesnotes

How to ReviseHow to ReviseWhat works for you What works for you

We are all different and work to different rhythmsWe are all different and work to different rhythms

Spread it out – don’t leave it to the endSpread it out – don’t leave it to the endRevise activelyRevise actively

Note-takingNote-takingLearning – e.g. definitionsLearning – e.g. definitionsSynthesizing – making connections Synthesizing – making connections Test yourself e.g. questions in text-book Test yourself e.g. questions in text-book Half hour of active revision better than two just Half hour of active revision better than two just turning over the pagesturning over the pagesIf you get stuck, take a break – walk, coffee etc If you get stuck, take a break – walk, coffee etc

Practical Tips Practical Tips Time of Day Time of Day

We are all different and work to different rhythmsWe are all different and work to different rhythms

Alone or with others? Alone or with others? What works for youWhat works for youIf working with others, need discipline! If working with others, need discipline!

– e.g. time, place, how long will we work, what method will e.g. time, place, how long will we work, what method will we use … we use …

A Balanced LifeA Balanced LifeDon’t let the other bits of your life disappearDon’t let the other bits of your life disappear

– Socialising, sport, familySocialising, sport, family– Fresh air helps the brain Fresh air helps the brain – Adequate sleep Adequate sleep – Drink and study don’t mix Drink and study don’t mix

A Word to Mature StudentsA Word to Mature Students

Your first exams are another adventure – enjoy Your first exams are another adventure – enjoy it! it!

Your fears are reasonable e.g.Your fears are reasonable e.g.‘‘I’ve never done a written exam before’I’ve never done a written exam before’

– You’ve done lots of new things since September! You’ve done lots of new things since September!

‘‘The old memory lets me down’ The old memory lets me down’ – but it is not just memory work but it is not just memory work

How will I get through so much?How will I get through so much?– Take it in stages and pace yourself Take it in stages and pace yourself

Talk about them to your mentor or lecturersTalk about them to your mentor or lecturers

At the ExaminationAt the ExaminationRead the instructions you will get before the Read the instructions you will get before the examination carefullyexamination carefully

Check the time-table for Check the time-table for – exam dates exam dates – TimesTimes– Place – Ist Theology exams usually in Top LoftusPlace – Ist Theology exams usually in Top Loftus– First day check your seat on the plan First day check your seat on the plan

Arrive on time but not too earlyArrive on time but not too earlyComparing notes with others can make you nervousComparing notes with others can make you nervous

Fill out all the details at top of the script, Fill out all the details at top of the script, and each subsequent one fully and and each subsequent one fully and correctlycorrectly

Follow the instructions of the invigilatorsFollow the instructions of the invigilators

Follow instructions on the question paperFollow instructions on the question paperIf it says ‘two questions’ do two, not threeIf it says ‘two questions’ do two, not three

Take some time to plan the answer – rough workTake some time to plan the answer – rough work

Keep an eye on the clock Keep an eye on the clock

Read the final product before the end Read the final product before the end

What do I do if I get a What do I do if I get a blank? blank? – Pause for breath and Pause for breath and

relax relax – Look at your rough Look at your rough

workwork– Try writing a couple of Try writing a couple of

sentences at the end sentences at the end of your rough workof your rough work

– Continue Continue – only in very extreme only in very extreme

cases should you start cases should you start all over again all over again

What are What are they looking they looking

for?for?

An examiner’s view An examiner’s view of examinationsof examinations

Examiner’s View of ExamsExaminer’s View of Exams

1. We are on your side! 1. We are on your side! – An exam not an attempt to trip you upAn exam not an attempt to trip you up– We love to see you thinking! We love to see you thinking! – We do not have to meet a ‘failure We do not have to meet a ‘failure

quota!’quota!’– Failing you means more work for us!Failing you means more work for us!– We DO like you and want you to do well We DO like you and want you to do well

I need to be able to read your I need to be able to read your paper, so write clearlypaper, so write clearly keep your handwriting neatkeep your handwriting neat use space intelligentlyuse space intelligently skip a few lines between answersskip a few lines between answers number answers as on exam papernumber answers as on exam paper you are not illuminating the Book of you are not illuminating the Book of

Kells, so no colours please Kells, so no colours please

Answer the question as it is set, not Answer the question as it is set, not as you wish it had been setas you wish it had been set

Exam questions are never set in Exam questions are never set in the ‘tell everything you know about the ‘tell everything you know about …’ format …’ format

Make sure you understand what the Make sure you understand what the question means – note words likequestion means – note words like

‘ ‘Outline …’ Outline …’ ‘ ‘Discuss ..’Discuss ..’ ‘ ‘Compare …’Compare …’ ‘ ‘Give examples …’Give examples …’

Three examples from past papersThree examples from past papers– Comment on the two versions of the Comment on the two versions of the

Covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15 Covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15 and 17, highlighting any important and 17, highlighting any important points of theological interest. (Scripture) points of theological interest. (Scripture)

– Outline the teaching of Dei Verbum on Outline the teaching of Dei Verbum on the the transmissiontransmission of divine revelation. of divine revelation. (Systematic)(Systematic)

Underlining in the original paper. Underlining in the original paper.

– Write a short note on each of the Write a short note on each of the following (a) principle of double effect, following (a) principle of double effect, (b) intrinsically evil acts (c) formal and (b) intrinsically evil acts (c) formal and material norms. Give examples of each. material norms. Give examples of each. (Moral)(Moral)

It helps to have a beginning, a It helps to have a beginning, a middle and an end!middle and an end! A logical order to your presentation A logical order to your presentation

– spend some time marshalling your – spend some time marshalling your ideas ideas

A good introductory paragraph is A good introductory paragraph is essentialessentialIt should be an advance summary of what It should be an advance summary of what

you intend doing in the answer you intend doing in the answer

Round off with a brief conclusionRound off with a brief conclusion

Be sure you understand the Be sure you understand the technical terms of your subject technical terms of your subject

Do not write out long biblical Do not write out long biblical quotations (they are easier to read quotations (they are easier to read in the bible). Just give the in the bible). Just give the reference (Chapter and verse) and reference (Chapter and verse) and enough to make your pointenough to make your point

Please re-read your paper for Please re-read your paper for spelling and writing mistakes spelling and writing mistakes

Common errors in exam scripts Common errors in exam scripts over-use of apostropheover-use of apostrophe

Apostrophe is a sign of possession, not Apostrophe is a sign of possession, not plural. plural.

But ‘it’s’ means ‘it is,’ not ‘of it’ But ‘it’s’ means ‘it is,’ not ‘of it’ confusion of ‘where’ and ‘were’, confusion of ‘where’ and ‘were’,

‘there’ and ‘their’‘there’ and ‘their’ using past participle for past tense – using past participle for past tense –

e.g. ‘she done’ for ‘she did,’ ‘he rung’ e.g. ‘she done’ for ‘she did,’ ‘he rung’ for ‘he rang’for ‘he rang’

do not use ‘textese’ do not use ‘textese’

Do your own work! Plagiarism is against the rules

After the Exams …After the Exams …

Take a rest! Take a rest!

We look forward to seeing you back for We look forward to seeing you back for second semester – begins 2 Februarysecond semester – begins 2 February

Interim results (letter grade A, B, C etc) Interim results (letter grade A, B, C etc) will be posted on the notice board will be posted on the notice board according to numbers according to numbers

‘‘interim’ because all results need to be passed by interim’ because all results need to be passed by Examination Board – in your interests Examination Board – in your interests

If you have a query, there is a Consultation Day If you have a query, there is a Consultation Day

What it is all about – roll on November 2011!

A student’s prayer A student’s prayer

O wise God, I pray that my mind might be rested, O wise God, I pray that my mind might be rested, my body energized, and my spirit inspired for the my body energized, and my spirit inspired for the exam I must write. Grant me peace and exam I must write. Grant me peace and assurance so that I might do the best I am able, assurance so that I might do the best I am able, regardless of what that might be. Be with my regardless of what that might be. Be with my fellow students and may I be a good example to fellow students and may I be a good example to them, offering reassurance and confidence them, offering reassurance and confidence regardless of how I feel. May I be honest and regardless of how I feel. May I be honest and insightful, and able to give a true record of what I insightful, and able to give a true record of what I have learned. In the end, may any have learned. In the end, may any disappointment be borne with grace, and any joy disappointment be borne with grace, and any joy accompanied with humility. I write this exam with accompanied with humility. I write this exam with you, O Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.you, O Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.