Student Learning Development

Student Counselling Service

Trinity College Dublin

student.learning@tcd.iehttp://student-learning.tcd.ie

Your Personal Best Examination Performance

Get Ready – Exams are Coming

Learning Objectives• Explore ways to prepare

for exams

• Review active revision strategies

• Build self confidence

• Establish exam prep plan

Examinations as Events

Sporting performance• Content

– Physical skills - basic to advanced

• Fitness– Health– Strength– Stamina– Flexibility

• Event– Performance

rehearsal

Academic performance• Content

– Knowledge - basic to advanced

• Fitness– Health– Revision– Workload– Tolerance of ambiguity

• Event– Performance rehearsal

Know Yourself

• What are your exam concerns?

• Why do you have these concerns?

• What do you do well?

• What could you do better?

• Have friends developed strategies that you can use?

• How do you manage your stress?

Get Organised The keys to your personal best is preparation and control

• Focus on the subjects you are sitting

• Remove distractions• Make a study program and

timetable• Revision checklists

Learn from the past

• Get detailed information about what your exam paper looks like

• Identify and revise topics you do not know well

• Course handbook and marking criteria

Where is my exam timetable and my past exam papers?

Active Revision Strategies• Condense your notes

– Chunk– Memorable– Concept maps, grids, etc.

• Focus• Answer past papers &

problems• Flash cards for memorisation• Test yourself

Develop a Structure for Your Answers

• Understand what is being asked• Only answer the QUESTION• Do not include material that is

irrelevant to the QUESTION• Understand the format in which

your answers are required• Practice and practice answering

previous exam questions using the required format

More Active Revision

• Make revision fun– Use revision strategies where you move

around– Draw pictures, maps, cartoons, diagrams, etc– Put key points around your walls– Teach “someone” else and ask them key

questions (answer the questions yourself)– Listen to tapes or view video/DVD versions of

the material

• Make exam preparation a social occasion

Play to your strengthswww.vark-learn.com

Learning and recall

• Two processes not one• Recall is triggered by physical situations and

emotional states• Material learned in one physical situation or

emotional state will not necessarily be easily accessible in another physical situation or emotional state unless revised in that state

• Conclusion?

Personal Exam Prep Plan

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Building Self Confidence

• Your objective is to do your personal best• Think of exams as an opportunity for you to

show what you know• Get familiar with the examination space• Exam outcomes are proportionate to the effort

you put in• Set learning targets and rewards for yourself• Compare what you know now with what you

knew at the beginning of the year

Managing Stress

• Read up on stress and time management on http://student-learning.tcd.ie

• Establish habits that support concentration and examination preparation

• Go to the new Sports Hall and get involved in stress management physical activity

Summary: The Keys to Your Personal Best

• Preparation– Organisation– Intelligence/information– Active revision– Stay focused– Structure and content

• Control– Manage your emotional and physical

responses– Think positively

• For all your study skills needs:

http://student-learning.tcd.ie