introduction to exam skills
DESCRIPTION
A learning object on preparing for exams. A Birkbeck College production.TRANSCRIPT
Preparing for Exams – Part 1
This presentation will
• Explore how you can best use your time to prepare for exams
• Show the usefulness of a revision timetable
• Explore ways in which you can anticipate exam content
• Consider different learning styles
Preparing for Exams
There is no right
and wrong way
to prepare for
exams, it is
largely a
personal choice.
What is revision?
• This is when you learn things thoroughly in preparation for the exam.
Why do we need to revise?
• To try and remember what we have learned on the course
• To improve our memory
• To become more confident
• To succeed in our exams
How should we revise?
• Long-term planning
– Set your goals
– Organise a weekly timetable
– Identify your time wasters
Revision TimetableRevision Planner
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
W W W W W Breakfast D
O O O O O Management
Studies A
R R R R R Break Y AM
K K K K K Management
Studies
12 – 1 pm
W W W W W Lunch O
O O O O O Introduction to
Accounting F
R R R R R Break F
PM
K K K K K Introduction to
Accounting
5 – 6 pm Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner
6 – 7 pm
7 – 8 pm
Introduction to Accounting
Management Studies
Introduction to Computing
Quantitative Methods
Management Studies
Quantitative Methods
8 – 9 pm
9 – 10 pm
Free time Free time Free time Free time Free time Free time
Why do we procrastinate?
• Waiting for the ‘right’ time or mood
• Underdeveloped decision-making skills
• Poor organisational skills
• Perfectionism
Organise your notes
Write out your course notes neatly and clearly, then file them so you can find them easily
Your Learning Style
• Visual
• Auditory
• Kinesthetic or Active
Tips for Visual Learners
• Copy out your notes
• Use colour to highlight important things
Tips for Auditory Learners
• Read your notes aloud.
• Revise with other students if you can.
Tips for Kinesthetic Learners
Make use of all your senses - sight, touch, taste, smell, hearing
hands-on approaches trial and error
exhibits, samples, photographs... solutions to problems, previous exam papers
Try to anticipate what will be on your paper
Look at exam questions from previous years: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/elib/exam
Bad revision practice
• Revising the whole syllabus
• Concentrating too much on the first exam
Effective revision practice
• Make a timetable
• Look at past papers
• Organise your notes efficiently well before the exam.
The End of Part 1
Good luck with your exam preparation
With thanks to: Katerina Mantouvalou, Birkbeck CollegeSarah Boynton, University of Portsmouth