Effective Revision

Strategies

Dr. Mark Matthews

Student Learning

Supplemental Exams 2010

Examinations as events

Sporting training• Content

– Physical skills - basic to advanced

– Rules

• Fitness– Health– Strength– Stamina– Flexibility

• Performance rehearsal– Practice and simulation

• Event– execution

Academic training• Content

– Knowledge - basic to advanced

– Rules

• Fitness– Health– New knowledge– Workload– Adaptability

• Performance rehearsal– Practice and simulation

Event– execution

4 Stages in Preparing

1. Planning

2. Revising

3. Practicing

4. Performing

Building Self Confidence

• 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 now know about

examination preparation with what you knew at the end of last year

Maximum gain-for-effort

Your objective is to do your personal best• Examination performance is a combination of:

– knowing your material and– being able to recall and write it down in an exam

• If you are confident that you know your material (or will by the exam), your biggest gain-for-effort will be maximising learning generalisation to the exam itself

Planning

Organise your notes

Admin time / Study time

Check your handbook

Get the past papers

Remove Distractions

• ‘Study mode’

• Environment

• External distractions

• Internal distractions

Active Revision

• Make revision fun– Use revision strategies where you move around– Draw pictures, maps, cartoons, diagrams, etc– Use walls– Teach “someone” else – Listen to podcasts

• Make exam preparation a social occasion

Exam Papers

• Put aside the questions you can answer for revision at a later time

• Identify the topics you do not know, check that they are still in the course

• Go back over these and learn them using multi-modal revision strategies

• Practice Answering Questions

Develop your technique

• 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

Learning for maximum recall

• Select a component part of the topic you are revising

• Work it into a short presentation– note form– 5 minutes only– prepared questions every 60 seconds

• In your study space set up a teaching space– flipchart, use felt pens, and aids– A chair for your “student”

Simulate exam conditions

• Memory and recall are two different processes

• The key to both intellectual and emotional preparation for exams is simulation

• The closer a simulation is to the actual event the more likely it is that preparation will be effective

• A simulation engages both intellectual and emotional responses

Study Space / Exam Space

Make the exam space like your study place

• Water bottle

• Watch

• Clothes

• Pens and pencils

• Smell

• Visualisation

Managing stress is key

Regular Breaks, Sleep and Eating

Relaxation & Exercise

Focus comes with rhythm

Set Specific Realistic Goals

Use Rewards

Find out what works for you BUT:

1. Set goals

2. Prioritise Effort

3. Play to your strengths

Exam CentresDozens of exam centres

Find out where your

exam is.

How will you get there?

How long will it take?

Visit the venue before

Organise your notes

Admin time / Study time

Check your handbook

Get the past papers

Emergencies

SU Education Officer 01-6468437

education@tcdsu.org

SU Welfare Officer 01-6468437

welfare@tcdsu.org

Personal tutor

Student Learning

Upcoming Workshops

Exam taking Strategies for Supplemental Exams Thursday, August 19th, 1 - 2 pm Room 3126, Arts Building

Managing Exam NervesThursday, August 26th, 1 - 2 pmRoom 3126, Arts Building

Summary: The keys to your Personal Best

• Preparation– Organisation– Intelligence/information– Active revision– Managing time– Structure and content

• Control– Manage your emotional and physical

responses– Think positively

Exam Revision Workshop

http://www.empowertheuser.com:8080/ASPIREv4SC/

Student Learning Development

Thank you for your time

Visit our website at: http://student-learning.tcd.ie