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EXAM SKILLS Workshop

How to be better prepared & do well in exams.

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Welcome to the workshop

• Speaker: Jonny Wells

• HELPS Centre

Download:

Presentation can download from HELPS website • UTS HELPS • Daily workshops > RESOURCES FOR DAILY WORKSHOPS

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Today’s program

• Discussion / Ice breaker • Effective exam preparation • Effective revision tips & skills • Time Management & study management • How to remember & memorise material • How to achieve your best

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Discussion Questions

• Ask your partner these questions

• How many exams do you have this semester?

• What type of exams are they, multiple choice, essay writing/ case studies etc.

• What are you most worried about regarding these exams?

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Do what works for you…………

Everyone studies differently Everyone learns differently Everyone revises differently Find techniques that WORK for you! There’s no magic solution!

Bear In Mind

Today will give you: • General strategies that can be applied to most exams

• Won’t be going into specific exams of individual subjects

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Doing well in exams

• Requires 2 things

TIME & EFFORT

• Input usually determines output ‘the more you put in—the more you get out’

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Subject Knowledge

• Recognise what is significant and what’s MUST KNOW information

• Be able condense the whole subject into relevant information/parts

• Be able to identify links & connections between the different aspects of the subject

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Exam Practice

• Best ways- is to ‘practice’ under similar conditions: • Mock exams (in class & at home) • Timed conditions • Focusing on questions/ getting to the meaning • Knowing what you know and what you don’t • Learning ‘efficient’ time management skills

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Group Question

• What good tips & pieces of exam advice do you have to

share?

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Characteristics of good exam papers/essays by students

• Answers the question precisely • Has a clear argument /perspective • Is critical and analytical • Is well structured into clear paragraphs • Evaluates different perspectives • Refers to key theory and concepts • Has references • Written clearly & in legible handwriting • Has been proofread before submission

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Characteristics of good exam papers/financial

• Answers the set question • Has a clear calculations • Is well structured & comprehensible • Demonstrates how you arrived at this final figure/calculation • Refers to key theory and concepts & applies them • Show deduction & investigation to the problem • Written clearly & legible figures/answers • Calculations & figures have been checked before submission

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Tips for Multiple Choice Exams

• Scan paper first • Read each question carefully • Work quickly • If not sure, leave it…& come back to it • Use a process of elimination if not sure of answer • Leave time at the end to fully double check your answers

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Tips for Case Study Exams

As a general rule…

• Organise your case study well / use headings • Ensure you fully understand the case & what’s at stake • Don’t try to over-simplify the problems & solutions • Perhaps offer a few alternative solutions? • Keep to report style in presentation • Write neatly & clearly throughout • Tie in theory and academic concepts to support any recommendations

you’re making

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Tips for Short Answer Questions

• Scan paper first • Read each question carefully • Note marks awarded • If not sure of an answer, leave it…& come back to it • Give enough detail without being over ‘wordy’ • Leave time at the end to fully double check your answers

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Time Management

• Work on developing good time management skills in exam settings

• Divide your time within the exam

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GETTING STARTED

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Getting Started

• Draw up a revision timetable

• Have some revision methods in place

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Question Discuss

• What revision methods work well for you?

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Plan a revision timetable • Start at least 3-4 weeks in advance for each subject

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Effective Study revision techniques

Time management for revision

• Set yourself goal/target of what you want to revise/ read or review

• Study in 50 minute focused blocks • Give yourself a 10-15 break • Repeat if necessary • Try different time of the day/night –see what works best

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Your Revision Plan

Needs to include: • Draw up a plan of what you intend to revise • Organise your notes so you find what you need • Organise your study area/environment • Revise using the focused 50 min blocks (monitor how this works for you)

• Start revising the less challenging/accessible things first • Read through your subject outline –12 weeks

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Your revision plan… (cont)

• Also read around your subject to build knowledge

• Talk to your lecturer to get full information about the exam and what it covers (questions to ask your lecturer(s): • What do we need to revise? • What do we have to know? • What will the exam cover? • What type of questions will be asked?

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Stopping the Worry

• Stop worry kicking in • Be strategic • Note down the worries as and when they arise –then note

next to them a solution for how to fix it.

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26 Stop the worry

How much revision is enough?

• How are your confidence levels? • Do you know the main concepts/topics/ themes in your

field? • Are you aware of the main points of view/ calculations/

theories? • Can you apply these to practical exam question examples

/ text book questions?

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Self Test your knowledge

• Cover the answers • Set yourself a quiz • Get friends/family to test you • Review on bus/train • This will let you know your strengths & weaknesses

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Use cue cards 29

Revision Strategies

• Revise the easy stuff first • Build your confidence and power of recall • Self teach new concepts theories and information • Go back to the more challenging info and try to

learn/memorise this • Try to find easier versions of this if still too difficult • Keep testing yourself • Get friends/ family to test you also.

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Access Past Exam papers 31

Memorisation Techniques

• Rote learning (learning off by heart) • Frequent Exposure -Read-cover-repeat • Make lists – learn them • Use Mnemonics (neh-mon-ik)

e.g Never Eat Shredded Wheat (NESW) Spring forward, Fall back Righty Tighty, Lefty loosey

• Make more complex & appropriate ones for your information!

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Memorisation

• Group Ideas together SWOT / 6p’s (marketing theory)

• Record Key & difficult to remember information on MP3/ sound recorder. Very effective tool to help retention. Play before bed, first thing in morning & during the day

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Practical Example

This Marketing Theory – want you to remember the headings

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Source: UTS, 2010

Memory

• Is developed over time • Needs frequent self-testing • Needs to keep reviewing info -1 hr later, 5 hrs later &

24hrs later • Question, self test, reflect. • Mix memory techniques to help you remember

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Memory Test: • 1. Which way do you untighten a screw?

• 2. What in Marketing Theory are the 5 Psychological variables of

Buyer Behaviour?

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Common Mistakes & Ensuring Success

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Common Mistakes

• Leaving revision to the last minute • Putting it off • Revising ONLY by yourself • Not testing yourself –to see HOW MUCH you know &

remember • Revising too little • Not being able to recall key information

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How to increase your chances of success

• Start revising early • READ WIDELY about your subject and use other sources to help build

knowledge. • Find easier versions of more challenging concepts/ideas/calculations • Plan & practice the more obvious questions • Know what the examiners are looking for • Build breadth & currency of knowledge • Practise, Practise, Practise • Get help and support from lecturers, subject coordinators & support staff

early on

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Exam Technique

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Exam Q: 41

The Importance of ‘However’

• Exam answers generally gain strength from considering other alternative viewpoints.

• Using the word ‘however’ or ‘in contrast’ is an ideal way to develop differing opinions and become CRITICAL in your exam paper.

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Calming Nerves

• Visualisation – walk yourself through the exam day

• Deep Breathing – 4 sec breaths in & out

• Exercise – raise your heart rate – brisk walk / jogging /swim /

climb the stairs 3 -4 times

• Talk to yourself/build confidence – I can do it!!

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Advance Preparation

• Visit the room/place of exam beforehand –so you’re prepared and can help visualise sitting there.

• Avoid people who are ‘taking your confidence away’ – those who are super confident, negative or panicky types.

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The Day Before The Exam

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The day before

• Briefly review your notes • Sleep well • Do some exercise which raises your heart rate (brisk

walking, star jumps, jogging) • Visualise techniques – walk through the exam in your mind

• Prepare materials needed for the exam – jacket, calculator, pens, snacks, water, student card etc.

• Ensure you eat well before an exam –this is the energy for your brain!

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Help & Support Services

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Help & Support Services

• Maths Support Centre – Tower Building • The Mathematics Study Centre is located on both UTS City Campus, in

room 1615, level 16, building 1 (tower) and in room 520 and 523, building 2, UTS Kuring-Gai Campus

learningsupport@uts.edu.au

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Counselling Unit 49

Access Past Papers / Library 50

Study Support

• HELPS Centre Develop your writing skills / speaking skills / critical thinking skills

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In the Exam

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When sit down in the exam....

• Calm yourself • Use your breathing techniques to clear your mind • Set watch in front of you/divide your time • Open the paper & scan questions • Notice marks awarded to each section • Divide your time accordingly

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Problems?

• If mind goes blank – close eyes – BREATHE – refocus • Ask yourself questions –Who? When? What? Where? How?

• Move on – come back to difficult questions later • Build confidence with the easy stuff first and gain max

marks • Try to answer ALL questions • If all else fails –make an estimated guess

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What gets better marks in exams?

Work that shows…. • Evidence of background learning and research • Understanding of the key theories and concepts • Meets the set exam criteria & answers the question • Develops a logical and structured argument & draws conclusions • Organises relevant info into a structure • Gives and shows relevant and supporting arguments • Correct deduction of calculations /financial analysis • Shows thought and reflection • Is well presented at university standard.

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Further resources / help

• Lecturer/ Faculty staff • HELPS Centre • Internet • Books / Bookshop – Co-Op/Abbeys/Bridge

• Library –Exam papers • Your Classmates/Friends/Peers

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Useful Further Resources 57

Published by Palgrave Macmillan Approx $40

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Any questions?

• Do you have any questions about today’s workshop?

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Thanks for your time

• Good luck with your exams this semester!