Preparing for and taking exams CQU STUDENT SUPPORT

Preparing for and taking exams!!! CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

Remember: • Preparation • And • Organisation • Are the keys to • Success!! CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

Preparation • Attend lectures – they may have important information about exams • Mark regular revision times in your weekly timetable • A time for each course plus more time for difficult subjects • Eat well, exercise, relax and sleep well CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

Preparation - Time Management Exam timetable = Hours x weeks subjects – Break down each subject into topics. – Make a checklist of each topic and pin it up on the wall. – Tick off each topic as it is done – shows progress, helps motivation. CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

Preparation • Know what’s expected of you • If in doubt ask! • Know your dates, and location of the exam CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

Preparation • Avoid cramming • Use past exam papers • Test yourself, practice writing essays and short answers • Join a study group or get a partner to help with questioning CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

MEMORY ASSISTANCE Poor memories don’t exist – they are just untrained • Thinking must occur before memorising to assist the process • Use more than one sense – sight (words, colour, image), sound (say it, rhyme), feel (trace with finger); the more hooks, the better the memory • Breaks help the brain process information – aim to stop intake of any new information for 10 -15 minutes – relaxation, sleep • Follow the break with a few minutes of mindless activity • Recall, check and repeat (optimum 3 times) CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

MEMORY ASSISTANCE • We learn better if we like or are interested in the information • Eat your favourite food while studying something that you don’t like to trick the brain • An important key to memory is association – associate the new information with something already known • Make your associations stand out/unusual/ weird CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

MNEMONIC DEVICES Learning strategies to assist memory • They provide a structure for our memory • Using images, rhymes and other associations assist in cementing the information • Assists with retrieval by providing cues CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

MNEMONIC DEVICES • Method of Loci – images of information attached to physical locations • Peg word/number – information is attached to a pre-remembered set of words/numbers Ø you need to attach an image permanently to the number or word Ø peg the new information to the image Ø the more bizarre your images the better CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

amples of ormation charts d diagrams Decorate the walls in your house with your notes CQU STUDENT SERVICES CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

Three Ways to Manage Stress • Mental stress management techniques • Physical stress management techniques • Lifestyle management techniques CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

Lifestyle Stress Management • Sleep • Diet • Exercise • Good interpersonal communication CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

Physical Stress Management • Deep breathing • Neck exercises • Progressive relaxation • Imagery CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

Mental Stress Management • Avoid catastrophising • Avoid personalising • Challenge negative thoughts • Develop a positive mind set CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

How to Reduce Exam Anxiety • Eat before you come to the exam – energy to concentrate • Come prepared – pens, pencils, calculators, watch etc • Be punctual – don’t arrive too early or late • Don’t listen to others • Relax CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

Reducing Exam Anxiety • • Don’t forget to breathe! Use thought stopping to counter fears Think positively (ABC’s) Calm yourself – take a few minutes to breathe slowly and deeply, stretch arms and legs and then relax them. Close your eyes and visualise yourself somewhere safe and comfortable CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

During the Exam • Check you have all pages, questions, answer sheets, scrap paper etc • Read instructions carefully • Make a time schedule – divide time according to question weightings • Begin with answers you know best CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

Multiple Choice • If there’s a penalty for incorrect answers, leave a blank – don’t guess • Read carefully – don’t add things like an “always”, “all” or “every” that’s not there, to a question • Underline qualifying phrases • Pick the alternative that is more ‘true’ than the others CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

Exam Anxiety Symptoms • Feeling tense • Fear of failing before arriving at the exam • Physical symptoms such as – increased heart rate, shortness of breath, perspiring etc • Negative thinking • ‘Blanking out’ – inability to recall information CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE you have learned

Multiple Choice Questions • Include a “stem” or phrase followed by 3 -5 options, eg. – Question stem: – “Which one of the following is the currency unit used in Albania? ” • Dinar • Rouble • Kwacha • Lek • Rupee CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

Strategies • Cover the options and read stem carefully • Identify key words in the stemunderline CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

Strategies • Eliminate distracters • Try using the true/false technique • Be careful selecting “extreme” answers e. g. always, never, all, none. CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

Strategies • Is there a penalty for incorrect answers? • None of the above is usually not the correct choice • Do easy questions first CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

Strategies • Don’t waste time on questions you don’t know – come back later • Pick the alternative that is more “true” than the others • Don’t change your answers unless sure! CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

Essay Questions • • • Make a plan first Note the weighting of each question Write legibly Use diagrams where appropriate If short of time, write an introduction, outline your argument in note form, and then if you have time write a conclusion • Answer easy questions first CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

Other Types of Exams • Open book exams • Online exams CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

During the Exam • Keep an eye on the time • Don’t spend too long on one question • If the exam is more difficult than anticipated – don’t panic! Focus and do your best – it might be enough to get you through CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

After the Exam • Don’t stress about what you may have missed • Relax • Reward yourself CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

CQU STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE