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EXAM WRITING STRATEGIES: Tips for April Exams

An Academic Success Lecture

TODAY’S LECTURE

Pre-Exam: The Next Few Weeks

Exam Time: Tips for Exam Success

Post-Exam

Health and Wellness

3/29/2016

Take a healthy mental approach to exams.

Manage your time. Study smart, not hard.

Consider what worked and what didn’t work in December.

Focus more on syncretic studying than on catching up on missed readings.

Create study aids and cheat sheets: Creating each document helps you organize,

memorize and master the course material.

They’re meant to quickly jog your memory during the exam, not substitute for knowledge!

Don’t expect to have much time to refer to them during the exam.

PRE-EXAM: THE NEXT TWO WEEKS

1. Did the parties enter into a K*?

• Was there an offer?

• Was the offer revoked? Did it lapse? (Dickinson v Dodds)

• Was it accepted?

• Was there consideration? (Dalhousie College)

• Was there an intention to create legal relations?

2. Was the K void for some reason?

3. Was the K voidable?

4. What terms were included in the K?

5. Was there a condition precedent to performance of the K?

6. Was the K modified?

7. Did a party break the K?

8. Does the breach entitle the injured party to terminate the K?

9. Can the injured party get specific performance?

10. What damages can the injured party recover for breach?

*K = Contract

Example: Contracts Checklist

PRE-EXAM: THE NEXT FEW WEEKS

Practice writing exams: Exam writing is a skill! Past exams are available on Law

Library website.

Time yourself and be honest!

Use your CANs/cheat sheets.

Practice by hand if you intend on handwriting the exam.

Review material and exams with others, as one student’s weakness is another’s strength. But observe study group

etiquette.

PRE-EXAM: THE NEXT FEW WEEKS

Attend review sessions.

Clarify your professor’s expectations; draw on what you have learned from December exams.

Ask for help. Your professors want you to succeed!

Choose study locations that maximize your productivity. The Lawbrary isn't for everyone.

EXAM DAY:

TIPS FOR EXAM SUCCESS

TOP 10 EXAM TIPS

1. Read the exam carefully.

2. Sort out your timing and order.

3. Make an outline.

4. Verify you’re not missing anything - use checklists.

5. Make it easy for the reader/marker to give you marks.

6. Identify each issue, explain the law, and apply it to the facts.

7. Explain each step in your reasoning.

8. Argue both sides and highlight strengths/weaknesses.

9. Know when to move on.

10. Stay positive :).

ESSAY / POLICY QUESTIONS ● It generally makes sense to study for essay and policy questions last, after

you’ve learned the core course material really well.

● Think and talk about policy matters or controversial subjects that have arisen in the course.

● Think about the arguments and case law supporting both sides of the major issues you’ve identified.

● In a policy question on an exam, you should take a definite position—but you don’t need to argue for what you actually believe. You should argue whatever side will best allow you to demonstrate your legal knowledge, recognizing that whichever side you choose you must engage with the arguments available to the other side.

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Introduction

Body

Conclusion

When writing, follow a keyhole structure: precision and clarity of language is more important than style.

ESSAY / POLICY QUESTIONS

April vs December Exams

● April exams are 3x longer than December ones, so:

● Take time to read the fact patterns, questions, and instructions carefully.

● Take time to prepare an outline / plan of action / structure, especially for fact pattern answers.

● Time invested in reading the fact pattern and questions correctly and organizing an outline is well spent and saves editing/error-catching-and-correcting time down the line.

– BUT, don’t panic if you make a mistake! Breathe, think it through and correct what you can. If the time allotted to that question is finished, make a quick note acknowledging the mistake and move on to the next question. It’s better to do well on the next question than try to re-do the whole answer for the previous question.

April vs December Exams

● Come April, profs expect even more analysis/ application, not just regurgitation of the law.

● You can do some of the work on your exam answer before the exam!

● Statements of law, concise descriptions of a case, thoughtful policy statements, etc are all things you can write in point form or full sentence form BEFORE THE EXAM and can include in your CANs/cheatsheets/etc.

● This frees up time for thoughtful analysis and application of the law to the facts during the actual exam.

MISC. TIPS

Ear plugs (especially if writing in a computer room)

Snacks (not noisy or odorous) and water - 3 hours is a long time

Bring lots of pens/highlighters! (even if using a computer)

Dress in layers

Bring a watch

Phone off!

Don’t take the exam book with you when you leave!

Update your computer and ExamSoft well before the exam.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU PANIC

Take deep breath

Consider taking a bathroom break

Start writing (your instincts are a surprisingly good place to start)

One suggestion: bring in a small reminder of the larger (and more important) context of the rest of your life—e.g., a picture of a place you love. This can help steady your mind if you get into an anxiety spiral.

POST-EXAM Do not discuss your exam with your classmates when you

leave the exam room. Not even a little bit!

Most conversations about exams and grades leave at least one person unhappy :(.

Also, most exams are such that a variety of different approaches can work very well. The fact that you approached the exam differently than someone else isn’t necessarily good or bad news for either of you.

**Take a break**, relax, and remove the last exam from your mind…. Then begin studying for your next exam.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Know your coping techniques and use them during the exam period

If you are feeling overwhelmed or are in distress, please let the Assistant Dean, Students know (Allard 152) – there is always a solution.

Plan ahead, pace yourself and come to the exam alert and well-rested

Counseling Services in Brock Hall is free to students. The Assistant Dean, Students can provide referrals to gain quicker access.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

If you are able to, while reading, look away from the text and towards the distance for one minute every half hour to allow your eye muscles to readjust and rest.

If you are able to, rest/close your eyes for 30 seconds to a minute every 1-2 hours.

If you are able to, stand up and stretch every half hour during long hours of seated studying.

EXAM INFO Your exam code is available for pick up from Reception;

remember it for each exam.

Susan Morin and Veronica Uy may be found in Allard 151 & 150 if you have any urgent exam questions (or are late for an exam).

Deferrals of exams/papers must be requested through the Assistant Dean, Students (Allard 152) using the proper form, with supporting documentation. Need a doctor’s note for illness

Do not write an exam if you are ill!

QUESTIONS

(We will stick around if there’s anything you’d rather ask more privately.)