Exams How to survive an exam - PowerPoint Presentation

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ExamsHow to survive an examFor more information, see OWLL: : http://owll.massey.ac.nz/main/tests-and-exams.php, andBecker, L. (2010). 14 days to exam success. Pocket Study Skills. Palgrave Macmillan

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Learning outcomes

What to take in with you

Six steps to surviving the exam

Strategies for answering different questions

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What to take in with youIn a clear plastic bag or ziplock bagStudent ID Card (or other photo ID if you do not have a student ID card)

Several pens that work for examsHighlighterCalculator and other

permitted

equipment

Clear plastic water bottle

No food

If open book, text and

permitted

notes

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What to take in with you

If you are feeling stressed, try breathing in and out slowly – it works!

Sense of calm

Sense of confidence

Think positive

Remind yourself of what you

do

know

Avoid panic

Find the exam room ahead of time, check the time

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What to Expect: The Exam RoomYou will be allowed in 15 minutes before the start Time to get settled

Listen to the instructions10 minutes reading timeDesks are allocated according to papers, not peopleLikely to be several different papers being examined at the same time

Clock clearly visible

On the desk

Exam paper/s

Answer booklet

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What if... What if I go blank?What if I get writer’s cramp?

Distract yourself: take a sip of water, change position

Relax

: take some deep breaths

Free writing

: brainstorm ideas on a blank piece of paper

If these techniques don’t help, move on to the next question

Practice writing before the exam

Try gripping your pen loosely (or using a fatter pen)

Put your pen down and flex your hand in between questions

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Six steps to surviving the exam

During the ten minute reading timeStep 1:

Check the exam paper

Step

2:

Read and re-read the instructions

Step 3:

Allocate your time

Step 4:

Choose your question order

At the start of the exam

Step 5:

Memory dump

Step 6:

Start writing

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During the 10 minute reading time Check the exam paper

Are you in the right room? Does your exam have all the pages it should have?

Can ask the invigilator for a blank piece of paper

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During the 10 minute reading time Read the instructionsHow many questions do you have to answer?

are all sections compulsory or do you get to choose from different options?check for words that indicate options (“either”, choose two”)

Check for other specific instructions (“all working calculations must be shown, etc.)

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During the 10 minute reading timeAllocate your timeYou want to complete all the compulsory questions

You don’t want to run out of timeAllocate your time for each question based on:how much it is worth the type of question

whether the section is compulsory

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During the 10 minute reading timeAllocate your timeOne way is to turn the marks the section is worth, into the percentage of time you’ll spend (e.g, a section worth 60 marks, spend 60% of your time)But remember that multiple choice often take less time (another option is to allocate 1 minute for each question).

Remember too, that you might: plan, write, and check. (If you have 45 minutes to write an essay, you might: brainstorm points for five minutes, write for 35 minutes, and spend 5 minutes at the end checking what you’ve written). Allocate your time is so that you can move from question to question and get through the entire exam

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During the 10 minute reading timeChoose your question orderIf you can, consider deciding what order you are going to complete your questionsIt’s a good idea to attempt the questions you feel most confident about firstCan also choose which sections to answer first – do you want to write your essays first or last?

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At the start of the exam Memory dumpWrite down all the information you can remember for the questions you are answering

Start writingDon’t leave until you have checked your answers and attempted the right number of questions

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Strategies for answering questionsEssays

Multiple-choiceShort answer questions

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EssaysChoose the questions you will answer during reading time

During the first 5 minutes write down the relevant points you can remember (if you haven’t done this during the memory dump)No need to provide references

do acknowledge theory and research using relevant names

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Essays Understand the question examine keywords and command words understand what aspect of the topic you’ve been asked to write aboutFor the structure of the essay, follow the structure of the question

develop a thesis statement from the question and include it in your introductionAs a general rule: one paragraph = one pointsupported by an example, explanation, evidence

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EssaysExample Question: In this essay, identify and describe both the institutional and the personal bases of the power of the New Zealand Prime Minister.

“New Zealand’s Westminster system of government means there are core institutional bases of power for the Prime Minister, however, there are also crucial personal bases of power

”.

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Multiple choice2. According to Cantor and Harlow, successful problem solving requires: 1. self-regulation.

2. clearly defined behavioural plans. 3. a personal value system. 4. constant feedback.

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Multiple choiceDo not read through the test during reading time

If the correct answer looks obvious, still check to make sureRead the questions carefully and highlight key words

Go through and answer the easier questions first – come back to the tougher ones later

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Multiple choiceTry and choose the most correct answer

- Sometimes they all mostly right, but there is no “all of the above” choiceTop two tips:

Cover the answers and try answer the question yourself

Look at the options and choose the one which most closely matches your answer

Try eliminating answers you know are definitely wrong

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Short answer questionsKeep your answers short Usually a paragraphSometimes only 2 or 3 sentences (7 lines max)Answer the question givenThink of what points, key words, phrases and ideas the examiner will be looking forDon’t fall into the trap of writing everything you knowBe aware that short answer questions are sometimes allocated different marks

marks ranging from 2 to 6, for example

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Short answer questionsSometimes can fit this pattern:Statement: answer to the question/definition/ descriptionSupport: evidence/explanation, the why, the becauseApply: provide examples or case studiesExample: Name the three countries that are said to have ‘unwritten’ constitutions.

The three countries that are said to have unwritten constitutions are ***. This is because… For example…..

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Short answer questionsTop three tipsLeave 1 or 2 lines after each answer in case you remember something else important later on

Stick to the time you have allocated Keep your answers short, sharp and to the point

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Open book and seen examsFor open book: check what information you can take in with youmake sure you are familiar with the book and the material before the exam you’ll need to be able to retrieve information quickly and efficiently. don’t just copy from the textbook

For seen exams: don’t try to memorise entire essayspractice writing a intro and conclusion, and leave the rest in plan form

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As the exam proceeds…Check you are keeping to timeIf one question is taking too long – leave a gap and move onYou are likely to get more marks by starting another question than adding to one that you have already written some information onIf time is very short – write an answer in brief notes.

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Mini quizWhat sort of question is it?

How would you go about answering it?

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You would not expect covered in an exam seminar how to:

Answer essay questions

B) Prepare for the exam

C) Cook dinner

D) Be strategic in your response to multiple choice questions

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Define the terms exam and panic, explaining how they can be differentiated (5 marks).The term exam can be defined as a method for assessing the level of knowledge a student has about a paper or course. The term panic can be defined as feelings of extreme anxiety often eliciting a “fight or flight” response. Exam and panic can be differentiated in that while sometimes people experience them together, with careful preparation and good study habits, “panic” can be reduced to “productive stress”.

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Why is calmness considered to be such a valuable commodity during an exam?Calmness is considered to be a valuable commodity during exams for four main reasons: it aids memory, helps with the writing process, being relatively calm helps get you through if you’ve got more than one exam, and it increases your overall enjoyment of life.

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Good luck with your exams!

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Individual Support: Want to discuss your assignment before you hand it in? Want to discuss study skills (e.g. how to manage time)? Book an appointment at massey.ac.nz/ctlcontacts or drop in. Pre-Reading Service: Submit a draft assignment and receive individual written feedback on your assignment’s structure, focus, referencing, and use of sources. This service is available to first year internal and all distance students. You can access the forum through the Academic Writing and Learning Support site on your Stream homepage.

Workshops: Seminars and workshops are run on campus and online, which can help you with writing and study skills, such as essay writing, referencing, and writing research proposals. See here for programmes and registration details. See

http://owll.massey.ac.nz/about-OWLL/workshops.php

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forum

:

Ask our consultants a question about academic writing and/or study

skills.

The Q & A forum is a place for students to receive help with quick, study-related questions. You can access the forum through the Academic Writing and Learning Support site on your Stream homepage.

OWLL

: Information about academic writing and study skills, including assignment planning,

essays, reports, and referencing. Go to

http://owll.massey.ac.nz/index.php

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Pasifika@Massey

: Whether studying as an internal or distance student, you can also access Learning support from the Pasifika Learning

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