Step 1
Goal Setting
Goal Setting
The crucial thing to do when you’re starting to
study is to set your goals.
Knowing your goals helps you see WHY you’re
putting yourself through the hard work that
study involves. Goals get you motivated to
study, and will keep you going when others begin
to lose heart.
What’s in it
for me?
Goals should be SMART!
Goals should be SMART!
Specific
Goals should be SMART!
Specific
ie. Your goal shouldn’t be “wanting
to do well in the Leaving Cert”
Goals should be SMART!
Specific
ie. Your goal shouldn’t be “wanting
to do well in the Leaving Cert”
– it’s too vague.
Goals should be SMART!
Specific
Your goal might be something like
“to get 3 A’s, 2 B’s and 2C’s at
Higher Level in the Leaving Cert”
Goals should be SMART!
Specific
Goals should be SMART!
Specific
Measurable
Goals should be SMART!
Measurable
Fortunately, with exam results this is
straightforward – the grades you get
are a very clear measure of your
performance
Goals should be SMART!
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Goals should be SMART!
Attainable
Don’t aim for something impossible
Goals should be SMART!
Attainable
Don’t aim for something impossible
– you will become depressed and
quickly give up.
Goals should be SMART!
Attainable
Think about what you could set as a
reasonable target for YOURSELF.
Goals should be SMART!
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Goals should be SMART!
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Goals should be SMART!
Realistic
At the same time, your goals should
challenge you.
Goals should be SMART!
Realistic
At the same time, your goals should
challenge you.
There’s no point in setting goals that
are pathetically easy.
Goals should be SMART!
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Goals should be SMART!
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timed
Goals should be SMART!
Timed
Outline exactly when your goals are
going to be achieved.
Goals should be SMART!
Timed
Outline exactly when your goals are
going to be achieved.
(Again, with the Leaving/Junior Cert
this is straightforward)
Goals should be SMART!
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timed
Goals will also be short,
medium and long term
Your Long Term Goals …
Your Long Term Goals …
It’s hard to be specific, especially if you’re many
years from the Leaving Cert, but think about
what you want to achieve in life.
Your Long Term Goals …
It’s hard to be specific, especially if you’re many
years from the Leaving Cert, but think about
what you want to achieve in life.
Do you want to go to college?
Your Long Term Goals …
It’s hard to be specific, especially if you’re many
years from the Leaving Cert, but think about
what you want to achieve in life.
Do you want to go to college?
What type of job would you like?
Your Long Term Goals …
It’s hard to be specific, especially if you’re many
years from the Leaving Cert, but think about
what you want to achieve in life.
Do you want to go to college?
What type of job would you like?
What sort of salary would you like?
Your Long Term Goals …
It’s hard to be specific, especially if you’re many
years from the Leaving Cert, but think about
what you want to achieve in life.
Do you want to go to college?
What type of job would you like?
What sort of salary would you like?
What sort of Leaving Cert results will you
need to get a decent college offer?
Your Long Term Goals …
These questions have nothing to do with your
next test, but by thinking about them it can help
start you getting motivated to study.
Your Long Term Goals …
These questions have nothing to do with your
next test, but by thinking about them it can help
start you getting motivated to study.
If you haven’t already answered the questions in
the last slide, spend a few moments doing so
now, before moving on to the next slide.
Your MediumTerm Goals …
Your MediumTerm Goals …
Let’s move on now to the next time you will sit
State Exams (Leaving Cert or Junior Cert)
Your MediumTerm Goals …
 List out all your subjects.
Your MediumTerm Goals …
 List out all your subjects.
 Beside the list, write your target result for
each subject - the results which you hope to
achieve.
Your MediumTerm Goals …
 List out all your subjects.
 Beside the list, write your target result for
each subject - the results which you hope to
achieve.
 Now compare this list to your results in your
last TCG exam in each subject.
Your MediumTerm Goals …
 List out all your subjects.
 Beside the list, write your target result for
each subject - the results which you hope to
achieve.
 Now compare this list to your results in your
last TCG exam in each subject.
 Where do you need to improve? Are there any
glaring gaps or problem areas?
Your MediumTerm Goals …
 Are there any subjects where your recent
results indicate you could perhaps aim a little
higher?
Your MediumTerm Goals …
 Are there any subjects where your recent
results indicate you could perhaps aim a little
higher?
 Finally, do the set of results that you are
aiming for give you enough points for the
college course you want? Or do you need to
push yourself to aim a bit higher?
Your MediumTerm Goals …
These questions should help you decide on
realistic and attainable targets for each
subject.
Your MediumTerm Goals …
These questions should help you decide on
realistic and attainable targets for each
subject.
If you haven’t already planned your target grade
for each subject using the system outlined in
the last few slides, spend a few moments doing
so now, before moving on to the next section.
Your MediumTerm Goals …
Now you have to make sure that your STAY ON
TARGET throughout the course!
Your Short Term Goals …
Your Short Term Goals …
It’s all very well wanting to achieve a certain
grade in a subject, but you’ve got to actually DO
it! You’re not going to make a sudden
improvement at the very end.
Your Short Term Goals …
For each subject, now take the next two weeks…
Your Short Term Goals …
For each subject, now take the next two weeks…
What do you hope to achieve in the next test?
Your Short Term Goals …
For each subject, now take the next two weeks…
What do you hope to achieve in the next test?
What do you want from the next homework?
Your Short Term Goals …
For each subject, now take the next two weeks…
What do you hope to achieve in the next test?
What do you want from the next homework?
How are you going to understand/learn/make
notes for this chapter?
Your Short Term Goals …
For each subject, now take the next two weeks…
What do you hope to achieve in the next test?
What do you want from the next homework?
How are you going to understand/learn/make
notes for this chapter?
How are you going to get so on top of this
chapter that it’s a really strong one for you
when it comes to exams?
Your Short Term Goals …
Again, it’s worth giving a little bit of thought on
a week by week basis to what you are doing at
that point in time. If nothing else, it will help
you stay motivated and concentrating in class.
Once you’ve set your goals, you can now
move on to other aspects of planning
your study