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
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Presentation can download from HELPS website
• UTS HELPS
• Daily workshops > RESOURCES FOR DAILY WORKSHOPS
Download:
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Today’s program
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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!
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Today will give you:
• General strategies that can be applied to most exams
• Won’t be going into specific exams of individual subjects
Bear In Mind
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• Requires 2 things
TIME & EFFORT
• Input usually determines output
‘the more you put in—the more you get out’
Doing well in exams
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• 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
Subject Knowledge
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• Best ways- is to ‘practice’ under similar conditions:
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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
Exam Practice
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• What good tips & pieces of exam advice do you have to
share?
Group Question
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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
Characteristics of good exam
papers/essays by students
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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
Characteristics of good
exam papers/financial
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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
Tips for Multiple Choice
Exams
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As a general rule…
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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
Tips for Case Study Exams
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Tips for Short Answer Questions
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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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• Work on developing good time management skills in
exam settings
• Divide your time within the exam
Time Management
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GETTING STARTED
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• Draw up a revision timetable
• Have some revision methods in place
Getting Started
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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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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
Effective Study revision
techniques
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Needs to include:
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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
Your Revision Plan
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• 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):
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What do we need to revise?
What do we have to know?
What will the exam cover?
What type of questions will be asked?
Your revision plan… (cont)
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• 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.
Stopping the Worry
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Stop the worry
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• 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?
How much revision is
enough?
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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
Self Test your knowledge
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Use cue cards
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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.
Revision Strategies
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Access Past Exam papers
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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!
Memorisation Techniques32
• 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
Memorisation
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Practical Example
This Marketing Theory – want you to remember the headings
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Source: UTS, 2010
• 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
Memory
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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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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
Common Mistakes
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• 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
How to increase your
chances of success
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Exam Technique
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Exam Q:
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• 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.
The Importance of
‘However’
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• 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!!
Calming Nerves
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• 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.
Advance Preparation
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The Day Before The Exam
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• 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!
The day before
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Help & Support Services
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• 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
Help & Support Services
[email protected]
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Counselling Unit
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Access Past Papers /
Library
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• HELPS Centre
Develop your writing skills / speaking skills / critical
thinking skills
Study Support
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In the Exam
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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
When sit down in the
exam....
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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
Problems?
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Work that shows….
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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.
What gets better marks in exams?
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Lecturer/ Faculty staff
HELPS Centre
Internet
Books / Bookshop – Co-Op/Abbeys/Bridge
Library –Exam papers
Your Classmates/Friends/Peers
Further resources / help
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Published by Palgrave Macmillan
Approx $40
Useful Further Resources
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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!
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