Exams
OK, so you have worked hard and now exams are looming, don't panic!
Exams, with the exclusion of MCQ's, are basically essays written under time constraints and without access to text books or notes. So how do you best prepare for exams? I will refer you back to the VARK learning styles section, if you are aware of your preferred learning style you will be better able to develop a study strategy that suits you.
One of the easiest way to get an idea of what you are expected to do in a given exam is to look at the past exam papers. This will usually give you an indication of the general topics and concepts that come up in a given course. Next look at your course syllabus and decide what topics would seem to be most likely to arise on the paper. If you have been doing as suggested, (work smarter - not harder), you will have tried to base some or your essay and report writing assignments on general exam topics. This will mean that you already have a more in depth knowledge in these areas. Now is the time to re-visit your essays and notes and generate essay outlines that you can use during the exam. Some of you will prefer to write out a series of essays, others will do well with general outlines containing main concepts and theories and a listing of theorists that back up your work. Spider-grams linking thoughts and ideas work for some students, while Aural learners may do well to record their exam notes on MP3 and listen to them.
Whatever means you use to get the information in your head, there are three main things to remember when you sit down to do your exam.
Above all, don't panic. And if being around other students before an exam makes you nervous, just avoid them and maintain your calm.
MCQ's (Multiple Choice Questions)
MCQ's can be difficult to study for. Generally your lecturer will have a bank of questions based on your text book, and you can access sample MCQ's online at the textbooks website. One thing to be aware of in MCQ exams is whether negative marking is used, your lecturer should make this clear. This means that, generally, you get one point for each correct answer, but are deducted a quarter point for every wrong one. So be careful, first answer all the questions you are sure of, then go back and see which of the others you can figure out. It is better NOT to guess, as you risk losing marks you have already gained.
Exams, with the exclusion of MCQ's, are basically essays written under time constraints and without access to text books or notes. So how do you best prepare for exams? I will refer you back to the VARK learning styles section, if you are aware of your preferred learning style you will be better able to develop a study strategy that suits you.
One of the easiest way to get an idea of what you are expected to do in a given exam is to look at the past exam papers. This will usually give you an indication of the general topics and concepts that come up in a given course. Next look at your course syllabus and decide what topics would seem to be most likely to arise on the paper. If you have been doing as suggested, (work smarter - not harder), you will have tried to base some or your essay and report writing assignments on general exam topics. This will mean that you already have a more in depth knowledge in these areas. Now is the time to re-visit your essays and notes and generate essay outlines that you can use during the exam. Some of you will prefer to write out a series of essays, others will do well with general outlines containing main concepts and theories and a listing of theorists that back up your work. Spider-grams linking thoughts and ideas work for some students, while Aural learners may do well to record their exam notes on MP3 and listen to them.
Whatever means you use to get the information in your head, there are three main things to remember when you sit down to do your exam.
- READ THE QUESTION and then ATFQ!
- Structure your answer as you would an essay, if it helps to draft a quick essay outline before you start to help you stay on track, then do so.
- Watch the time, If you have one hour, allow 5-7 minutes to read the question and make notes before you start, and 5 minutes to read it over at the end. If you have a two hour exam and two questions to answer, the same applies. Don't continue on the first essay when the first hour is up, if you have not finished ask for another answer book and start the second one. If you have time at the end to go back, then continue it. You have a better chance of passing if you can gain marks from both essays, because you will only get a maximum of 50% of the marks if you present just one to be marked.
Above all, don't panic. And if being around other students before an exam makes you nervous, just avoid them and maintain your calm.
MCQ's (Multiple Choice Questions)
MCQ's can be difficult to study for. Generally your lecturer will have a bank of questions based on your text book, and you can access sample MCQ's online at the textbooks website. One thing to be aware of in MCQ exams is whether negative marking is used, your lecturer should make this clear. This means that, generally, you get one point for each correct answer, but are deducted a quarter point for every wrong one. So be careful, first answer all the questions you are sure of, then go back and see which of the others you can figure out. It is better NOT to guess, as you risk losing marks you have already gained.