Passing Your Exams

Overview

Playing the GameWorking towards better answers

Preparation

Playing The Game!Exams are marked to find outWhat you knowWhat you can expressWhat you understandWhat you can do

Credit is given on evidence of your abilities

Practice

Practice Past Papers – Don’t see Mock Examsas punishment

Ask for model answers to PastPapers from Lecturers

Make sure you understand whatthe correct format is to questionsfor each of your subjects

Points to Remember!You get more points when you start answering a question than towards the end of one.

Read the whole of the question (candidatessometimes forget to answer parts of thequestions, for no apparent reason)

If you do something wrong don’t worry justcross it out with one line, the examiners willnot bother to read them they haven’t time.

Put notes in margins if you need to andanything you don’t want marking cross out

Yet more Points to Remember!

Work out which question is likely to get you themost marks

Do the easiest questions first, no need to dothem in the order they are printed. It boostsyour confidence and can help reduce anyfeelings of panic. You will also be ahead of time another confidence booster.

Four marks for a question usually means fourkey points. Don’t write a lot for two points

And Yet more Points!Never leave the exam early!

Go over work adding information in the

margin, it will be marked

Find Out Basic Information

How many exams will you have?When are the exams?What are these exams?How will you be assessed?Are any mock exams provided?Where can you get past papers?

Activity: Exams Checklist to be completed handout

ActivityIn pairs come up with a definition about what

you think thefollowing mean.

AnalyseAssess

ContrastDemonstrate

Hand out ‘What’s in a word?’ for reference.

Types of Exams

There are two types of exams:

Objective (ie. multiple choice, short answer etc.) Subjective (ie. essays and extended responses)

Objective ExamsObjective exams should be approached as

follows:

Answer all questions. No answer means no mark, even if you are unsure it is better to make a choice rather than to leave a blank.

If you must choose from 4 or 5 multiple choice answers, eliminate those that are obviously wrong and choose from those remaining.

Try and avoid words like "always" and "never".

Subjective ExamsSubjective exams should be approached as follows: Read directions and questions carefully, take note of questions

where there is a choice, allot time per question according to the value of the question.

Read all the questions first and then decide on your preferred options.

Make certain you answer the questions asked (ie. analyse, discuss etc.)

If important points jump into your mind as you are doing the initial reading of the paper, jot them down on a piece of paper, then continue reading.

Organise your answers before you write them, plan the essay, make certain you know what you want to say, think more and write less.

Be brief, concise (ie. don't waffle around the point) and accurate and be as complete as possible in answering the questions.

Working towards better answers

Understanding the question (I)Finding out what you knowUnderstanding the question (II)Key points to make in the answer

Getting things togetherUnderstanding the question (III)

Understanding the Question (1)

Deconstruct the question

First and foremost, you need to read the question. Under the stress of the exam, many students can lose marks by missing out a vital word in a question, or misreading the question. The easiest way to avoid this common error, is to deconstruct the question. All this means is to take the question apart, for example, if we were to deconstruct into bullet points; the following question:

Deconstruction of Question

“Critically assess the techniques used in employee selection”

So the question is about Employee Selection Techniques and I have to critically assess them…so as a starting point I need to realise what “employee selection” is and what “techniques” are used in it…

Understanding the Question (1)Employee selection is about how

companies evaluate potential employees and are considered against the job specification

It’s how companies decide who they want to employ out of all the people attracted by the companies’ recruitment activities

OK, so I know that bit; what about the “techniques” used?

What do I know about this topic?

Employee Selection (Techniqu

es)

CV / Biographical info

Interviews

Psychometric Tests

AssessmentCentres

References

Graphology

Understanding the question (II)

Critically assessing something is like asking about “strengths and weaknesses” so what are the strengths and weaknesses of each employee selection

technique I have thought of?

Key Points:Strengths and Weaknesses of

each EST

Employee Selection (techniqu

es)

CV / Biographical info

Interviews

Psychometric Tests

AssessmentCentres

References

Graphology

Generally good predictors of job performance (Hough and Oswald, 2000)

Candidates like them (Salgado, 1999)

Range of tests

Do any exist?!

Key Points:Strengths and Weaknesses of

each EST

Employee Selection (techniqu

es)

CV / Biographical info

Interviews

Psychometric Tests

AssessmentCentres

References

Graphology

Cost

Bad assessment centres can also be designed!

Low construct validity (Goldstein et al, 1998)

Getting things together

From my notes and wider reading I know that each approach has a number of strengths and weaknesses

I need to show the strengths and weaknesses of each Employee Selection Technique

Then, show which ones seem to be (relatively) stronger/weaker as I get towards my conclusion

Getting things together

Of the techniques I’ve got, and thinking about their strengths and weaknesses, which ones seem to be the weakest and which the strongest? I will order them in my essay with the weakest first

For each technique I will state the strengths but then show the weaknesses and say whether, on balance, this seems like a good technique

Getting things together

How could I conclude this exam answer?

The question says:“Critically assess the techniques used in employee selection”

Understanding the question (III)

So perhaps I just need to indicate that I’ve covered some of the main employee selection techniques and by looking at their strengths and weaknesses I have critically assessed them

I could then suggest which (overall) seem to be the strongest employee selection techniques (include reasons why)

A word on preparation

Revise from my notes and then test yourself a lot

The planning diagrams featured earlier in this presentation come from my exam preparation activities

Allow yourself time to plan in the exam

Don’t ‘Stress Out’!

Help yourselves byfollowing a few simple steps.

Take the weight of theworld off your backs

The Week Before

Drink plenty of water in the week before the exam so that you are not dehydrated.

Work off excess adrenalin by doing exercise or go for a walk.

Avoid people who may make you feel unsure of yourself – those who are super-confident, and those who panic!

Try and visit the exam room and get the feel of it.

The Night Before

Check over any exam details you havePrepare what you will need – pens, ruler,

water, a snack, the exam room number, your identity card, a jumper and so on.

Avoid people who panicHave a snack and a hot, relaxing bath

before bed. Leave plenty of time to sleep

The Day of the Exam

Eat well before the exam, to keep up your stamina.

Slow-releasing carbohydrates, such as bread and cereals, are best.

Leave plenty of time for the journey in case of delays.

Plan to arrive at the exam room as it opens: it may take time to find your seat.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!