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Exams 5: Revise and de-stress6th May 2015
Adam Sandelson Neil McLeanLSE Student Wellbeing Service TLC
The format of the Workshop may differ from this powerpoint
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Preparing for exams – the last few weeks
Neil McLeanTeaching and Learning Centre
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Overview
Time available Best use of time Resources
‘Team spirit is an illusion created by winning.’Parker (2009)
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Time available
Exam session starts on 14th May Exams run until 13th June For an exam on 15th May, you have 96 working
hours (no weekends or evenings) Dividing this up into essay plans, for instance,
you could make 68, you probably need to make 12 – 15 to be ready)
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Time available
Planning – divide time based on the scheduling of your exams
Where possible focus on the next exam in the few days leading up to it
In an 8 hour day, break time up into 1.5 hour blocks, working on answering different questions
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Best use of time You need to be good at the exam tasks – these
tasks include performance and time
(e.g. for 1 hour essays, most people write 800 – 1000 words, therefore an introduction and 4 or 5 paragraphs and a conclusion. The introduction answers the question and outlines the argument in support of this answer, each paragraph begins with a clear statement that helps answer the question and combines reference to the literature and other sources to justify and support the main idea of the paragraph in a detailed and convincing manner.)
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Best use of time Complete and practise exam tasks, using texts
/ lecture notes etc. as you get stuck
Look to produce answers that Show you can think (answer the question) Show you’ve done the reading
(references / context) Show expertise (detailed knowledge, real
world context or use, locate the debate etc.)
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Resources
Each other – read each others essays, try the same questions and talk through the solutions (good end of day task)
Revision sessions – examiner’s mindset, marking preferences etc.
Office hours – take answers / plans rather than questions of detail
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Exam Psychology
Practical techniques for revision and exams
Common psychological issues Stress management skills
Adam SandelsonLSE Student Counselling Service
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Part 1
Techniques for dealing with revision and exams
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Revising well Don’t compare yourself to
others Work out your own schedule,
be flexible if necessary Explore ways/ places to work Don’t be obsessive! Talk to others, ask for help
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Time and Targets
Set realistic and achievable goals Break down huge tasks Short term targets and longer term
strategies Recognise short term achievements Revise study skills, time management
skills
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Focussing on the task Concentrate on the task, not the
outcome
Remember past successes Recognise you are likely to pass Be methodical, and allow time for
breaks and space to breathe and think Use mind maps, scribble ideas Go for a walk, talk out loud
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On the day of the exam Don’t cram, sleep Relax, visualize it being OK Read the question Sketch out thoughts, mind
map Plan answers Keep notes for later questions After – avoid show-offs
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Part 2
Psychological Issues in
approaching revisionand exams – Family Dynamics Procrastination Perfectionism Change
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Underlying dynamics
The family / historic context for your success, eg keeping the family together
Trying to please others Wanting to be the best Setting yourself impossible targets Repeating past anxiety, trauma, failure
…
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Dynamics of study, work, life ...
Pastrelationships
Relationshipwith LSE or
exams oror work or …
Currentrelationships
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………Procrastination
Putting off tasks Anxiety, stress, guilt, shame Disguise avoidance by being
busy We may find things to do that are
interesting or even useful, but don't contribute towards the main goal
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Why do we procrastinate?
time management inability to prioritise,
task overload Anxiety/ boredom fear of failure/ success perfectionism all-or-nothing thinking
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Overcoming revision blocks
Stop new reading if this is avoidance make notes, summarize ideas, list key
quotes… Practice questions Practice drafting bullet points Break work down into chunks Take a break/sleep on it/talk to someone Talk to the computer or your hand? Acknowledge your procrastination!
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Challenge perfectionism
Perfectionism can reduce achievement. Experiment with your standards for success
try for 80% or even 60% Focus on the process of doing an activity
not just the end result evaluate success in terms of what you
accomplished and whether you enjoyed the task Challenge ‘all or nothing’ thinking
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Thinking about life after LSE
Not everyone knows what they want to do afterwards - it’s OK to wait
Transition and change are stressful Going home Losing Social Network How to keep in touch with others Preparing for work; the Rat Race
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Preparing for change
Don’t deny endings Be willing to say
goodbye Don’t obsess too much
about endings Remember that
endings are part of life
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Part 3
Review your Stress Management Skills
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Stress Management Skills Regularly switch off
Good self care – sleep, diet, caffeine, alcohol, physical activity
Time management
Take regular mini-breaks to relax
Breathing or relaxationexercises
Allow yourself time out without guilt
Anxiety is normal – don’t deny it!
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Cognitive Strategies
Challenge negative thinking Distract yourself from negative
thoughts Difficulties and setbacks can be good
for learning and personal growth? Tolerate not knowing – try to see
shades of grey, not black and white!
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Challenging negative thoughts Apply ‘Socratic reasoning’ or imagine
this being tested in a Court of Law
Identify the negative thought Eg, I am going to fail all my exams
Ascertain the evidence For and Against Ask if you are making a ‘thinking error’ Propose a more reasonable alternative
thought
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Thinking errors
All or nothing thinking Discounting the positive
Only seeing the negative side of things
Over - generalizing because it happened in the past it
will happen again in the future Catastrophising Emotional Reasoning
If I feel it then it must be true
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Part 4
What sources of advice and help are available?
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Sources of advice and help Academic Adviser/
Departmental staff TLC Learning World
Website Student Services
Centre Deans
Don't wait until problems have grown impossibly large!
Student Union and Advice Centre
Medical Centre Mental Health and
Wellbeing Advisor Disability and
Wellbeing Office
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Further resources
Learning World - http://moodle.lse.ac.uk/See powerpoints on:
Exams 1: Planning and Preparation Exams 2: Last Minute Preparations and Sitting the Exam Exams 3: Using Past Exam Papers Exams 4: Quantitative Exam Preparation
Student Counselling Service websitehttp://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/studentCounsellingServiceSee powerpoints/ video podcasts on:
Good Writing Psychology Overcoming Perfectionism Overcoming Procrastination
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LSE Student Counselling Service Free and confidential Mainly offers short term counselling Appointments need to be booked in
advance See Website for
Stress management handout Self help resources on study – related and
personal difficulties Relaxation MP3’s
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Final thoughts
Focus on the task, not the outcome Transition can be stressful, but
also allows us to grow as a person Imagine looking back in 5 years Talk to others (if not yourself)