Step 1 Goal Setting. The crucial thing to do when you’re starting to study is to set your goals....

Step 1

Goal Setting

The crucial thing to do when you’re starting to study is to set your goals.

Knowing your goals helps you see WHY you’re putting yourself through the hard work that study involves. Goals get you motivated to study, and will keep you going when others begin to lose heart.

Goal Setting

What’s in it for me?

Goals should be SMART!

Specific


Specific

ie. Your goal shouldn’t be “wanting to do well in the Leaving Cert”


Specific

ie. Your goal shouldn’t be “wanting to do well in the Leaving Cert” – it’s too vague.


Specific

Your goal might be something like “to get 3 A’s, 2 B’s and 2C’s at Higher Level in the Leaving Cert”


Specific


SpecificMeasurable


Measurable

Fortunately, with exam results this is straightforward – the grades you get are a very clear measure of your performance


SpecificMeasurableAttainable


Attainable

Don’t aim for something impossible


Attainable

Don’t aim for something impossible – you will become depressed and quickly give up.


Attainable

Think about what you could set as a reasonable target for YOURSELF.


SpecificMeasurableAttainable


SpecificMeasurableAttainableRealistic


Realistic

At the same time, your goals should challenge you.


Realistic

At the same time, your goals should challenge you. There’s no point in setting goals that are pathetically easy.


SpecificMeasurableAttainableRealistic


SpecificMeasurableAttainableRealisticTimed


Timed

Outline exactly when your goals are going to be achieved.


Timed

Outline exactly when your goals are going to be achieved.(Again, with the Leaving/Junior Cert this is straightforward)


SpecificMeasurableAttainableRealisticTimed


Goals will also be short, medium and long term

Your Long Term Goals …


It’s hard to be specific, especially if you’re many years from the Leaving Cert, but think about what you want to achieve in life.



Do you want to go to college?



Do you want to go to college? What type of job would you like?



Do you want to go to college? What type of job would you like? What sort of salary would you like?



Do you want to go to college? What type of job would you like? What sort of salary would you like? What sort of Leaving Cert results will you

need to get a decent college offer?


These questions have nothing to do with your next test, but by thinking about them it can help start you getting motivated to study.


These questions have nothing to do with your next test, but by thinking about them it can help start you getting motivated to study.

If you haven’t already answered the questions in the last slide, spend a few moments doing so now, before moving on to the next slide.

Your MediumTerm Goals …


Let’s move on now to the next time you will sit State Exams (Leaving Cert or Junior Cert)


List out all your subjects.



Beside the list, write your target result for each subject - the results which you hope to achieve.




Now compare this list to your results in your last EGS exam in each subject.




Now compare this list to your results in your last EGS exam in each subject.

Where do you need to improve? Are there any glaring gaps or problem areas?


Are there any subjects where your recent results indicate you could perhaps aim a little higher?


Are there any subjects where your recent results indicate you could perhaps aim a little higher?

Finally, do the set of results that you are aiming for give you enough points for the college course you want? Or do you need to push yourself to aim a bit higher?


These questions should help you decide on realistic and attainable targets for each subject.


These questions should help you decide on realistic and attainable targets for each subject.

If you haven’t already planned your target grade for each subject using the system outlined in the last few slides, spend a few moments doing so now, before moving on to the next section.


Now you have to make sure that your STAY ON TARGET throughout the course!

Your Short Term Goals …


It’s all very well wanting to achieve a certain grade in a subject, but you’ve got to actually DO it! You’re not going to make a sudden improvement at the very end.


For each subject, now take the next two weeks…



What do you hope to achieve in the next test?




What do you want from the next homework?





How are you going to understand/learn/make notes for this chapter?





How are you going to understand/learn/make notes for this chapter?

How are you going to get so on top of this chapter that it’s a really strong one for you when it comes to exams?


Again, it’s worth giving a little bit of thought on a week by week basis to what you are doing at that point in time. If nothing else, it will help you stay motivated and concentrating in class.

Once you’ve set your goals, you can now move on to other aspects of planning your study

Step 1 Goal Setting. The crucial thing to do when you’re starting to study is to set your goals....

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