How To Prepare and Approach Examinations Tony Chirico Deputy Principal (Personal Development & Administration)

1. How To Prepare and ApproachExaminationsTony ChiricoDeputy Principal(Personal Development & Administration)

2. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING PREPARED “You can map out a fight plan or a life plan, but when the action starts it may not go the way you planned, and you’re down to your reflexes – which means your training. That’s where your road work shows. If you cheated on that in the dark of the morning, well you’re getting found out now under the bright lights.” Joe Frazier – World Heavyweight Boxing Champion

3. WHY SHOULD I STUDY? Performing in examinations is an important skill. Study helps you to: • Recall information learnt during the Semester; • Prepare for different styles of examination questions; • Reinforce techniques used to answer questions; • Maximise your performance under examinations conditions.

4. WHERE SHOULD I STUDY? Choose a quiet, private place. • Always study in the same place; • Well lit room; • Poor lighting may increase fatigue, headaches & eye strain. • Comfortable room temperature; • Comfortable chair with a straight back; • Do not sit on a sofa, couch, floor or bed. • Spacious study space - tidy & organised; • Notice board to display information; • With little or no distractions; • Quiet instrumental music but no television or visual distractions.

5. GETTING FIT FOR STUDY Operating at peak performance when studying is achieved by living a balanced lifestyle: • Aim to sleep 8 hours each night; • Eat regularly – don’t skip meals; • Enjoy a balanced diet avoiding fad diets and snack foods. • Exercise regularly & drink plenty of water; • Make time for relaxation; • Spend time with family & friends;

6. Seven TipsOnHow To Study

7. HOW DO I STUDY? • Be Organised: • Use the time leading up to the examination allocating sufficient time in the study timetable for each subject; • Ensure that study notes include a full set of class notes & handouts; • Spend time studying the most difficult subjects first;

8. HOW DO I STUDY? • Be Organised: • Begin by revising the work learnt earlier in the Semester; • Vary the material to be studied, not spending too long on one topic or activity.

9. HOW DO I STUDY? • Identify Key Information: • Date, Time & Venue of each examination; • Ask your subject teacher for assistance with: • A summary sheet of what content will be assessed on the examination; • Information about different types of questions & mark allocation;

10. HOW DO I STUDY? • Identify Key Information: • Ask your subject teacher for assistance with: • A Timeline to complete different sections of the examination in the set time; • Guidelines to complete study sheets; • Revision sheets to cover all content; • List of materials to bring into the examination.

11. HOW DO I STUDY? • Understand the content: • Take an activerole in the learning process; • During class listen to teacher instructions, be attentive, involve yourself in class discussions and ask questions. • Do not hesitate - Get Help Early • Don’t be too shy or afraid to ask the teacher for assistance both in class and for extra help outside scheduled class time.

12. HOW DO I STUDY? • Understand the terminology: • Become familiar with the key terms to be used in each examination; • Terms such as: List,Explain, Outline, Discuss, Define, Describe, Analyse, Compare & Contrast, Illustrate. • Learn to carefully read instructions in order to answer questions correctly; • Learn about the importance of effectively using reading time as a time to prepare and plan responses.

13. HOW DO I STUDY? • Set Achievable Reasonable Targets: • Example 1: “Read 2 sections of Chapter 6”, rather than “I’m going to spend all day Saturday studying” • Example 2: Each hour give yourself a 10 minute break rather than sitting at the desk staring blankly at a textbook for 3 hours.

14. HOW DO I STUDY? • Learning Better By Doing: • Don’t just read from the book; • Complete exercises or revision questions; • Make notes & brief summaries; • Write comments;

15. HOW DO I STUDY? • Learning Better By Doing: • Complete learning exercises; • Use Mind/Concept Maps & Diagrams; • Use sticky notes to summarise ideas; • Use colour to highlight key points; • Re-type notes, use audio tape, make flash cards. • PRACTISE the writing of key ideas and the calculation of key questions;

16. HOW DO I STUDY? • Concentrate: • Keep your mind focused on the task at hand; • Work out optimum study time; • Early morning? • Late at night? • Set realistic study periods; • Each hour set a maximum 50 minute study block with 10 minute breaks. • Use a reminder pad to jot down key information; • Avoid PROCRASTINATION. GET STARTED NOW!!!!

17. Study StrategiesThat Work

18. HOW DO WE LEARN? We need to remember that: • Learning takes time; • Very few of us have photographic memories; • No one method works for all as we all have preferred learning styles; • But it may help to: • Learn through repetition; • Use diagrams to learn more difficult content.

19. LEARNING STYLES VISUAL LEARNERS • Relates to Visual/Spatial intelligence; • Approximately 35% of people are visual learners; • They learn best by: • Seeing; • Picturing; • Reading & Imagining; • Watching; • Visualising information; • Drawing concept maps, flow charts or timelines.

20. LEARNING STYLES AUDITORY LEARNERS • Relates to Linguistic intelligence. • Approximately 30% of people are auditory learners; • They learn best by: • Talking & Discussing; • Rewriting ideas in their own words; • Listening to others; • Reading list aloud; • Explaining diagrams to themselves; • Associating with sounds rather than words.

21. LEARNING STYLES KINAESTHETIC LEARNERS • Relates to Physical intelligence • Approximately 40% of people are kinaesthetic learners; • They learn best by: • Doing activities for themselves; • Being active in their learning; • Watching body language; • Writing the information on place cards and move around them as they learn and memorise them; • Connecting information to familiar objects in a room.

22. LEARNING STYLES We learn best when we combine the three learning styles – seeing, hearing and doing. • We remember: • 10% from reading; • 25% from hearing; • 35% from seeing; • 50% from both seeing & hearing; • 75% from discussing; • 85% from experiencing an activity; • 95% from teaching someone else.

23. MEMORY TOOLS~ MNEMONICS • Use the first letter from key words to make up a word or phrase to help remember the content. • Examples: ROY G BIV (The colours of the rainbow) PIPOC (The qualities of a scientist) Perseverance Intelligence Patience Originality Curiosity. What other examples of mnemonics do we know or use?

24. MEMORY TOOLS~ MIND MAPS • Produce mental pictures that visually link concepts and areas of knowledge. • Using space, colours, headings symbols & arrows, draw these links as: • A flowchart; • A concept map; • A table or grid; • A diagram; • A list; • A matrix.

25. MEMORY TOOLSSUMMARY CARDS • Produce cards containing summaries of the main points and key ideas; • Recite them aloud at every opportunity to remember them; • Produce the cards as posters – A4 or A3 size and pin the cards in central positions in your house – the study, bedroom, kitchen; • You may also record these notes on a tape, CD or ipod and listen to it regularly.

26. QUESTION STYLES • Multiple Choice Questions Requires selection of a correct answer from a number of alternatives. • Carefully read all parts of the question; • Underline key phrases in the question; • Eliminate incorrect answer/s . Chances of a correct answer increase with every alternative eliminated;

27. QUESTION STYLES • Multiple Choice Questions Requires selection of a correct answer from a number of alternatives. • Remember that research shows that often the first choice is correct; • Don’t spend time agonising over a question. Come back later if you have time; • But don’t leave any question unanswered.

28. QUESTION STYLES • Short Answer & Essay Questions Questions to demonstrate knowledge with supporting arguments. • Read directions carefully to understand the question & underline key words; • Check how much each question is worth and divide your time accordingly; • Answer the easier questions first;

29. QUESTION STYLES • Short Answer & Essay Questions Questions to demonstrate knowledge with supporting arguments. • Make a brief plan jotting down main points; • Don’t waffle & write legibly; • Support arguments with evidence; • If running out of time, write an introduction and outline your main points and arguments in note form;

30. Succeeding On The DayBefore, During & After the Examination

31. EQUIPMENT KIT • Prepare an equipment kit with all the equipment you will need for the examinations. • Ask your class teacher for equipment required for each examination; • The kit should include: • Your ID Card; • Writing tools – pens & pencils (spares); • An eraser; • A Ruler; • A Calculator with spare batteries; • A clear water bottle – no labels attached; • A watch; • Bring a novel in case you finish early.

32. Before The Examination • Aim for at least 8 hours of sleep per night; • Eat a healthy breakfast - fruit & cereal. Drink plenty of water throughout the day; • Avoid stress - arrive early at the College; • Avoid students who make you anxious; • Briefly review notes (if necessary);

33. During The Examination • Entering the Examination Room • Sit down and relax ~ the preparation work should have been done by now! • Inhale deep breaths & organise the materials you brought into the examination; • Remain seated in silence & await teacher instructions to commence.

34. During The Examination Keeping Calm for Best Performance • Full yoga breathing can be used to calm down before or during an examination. Inhaling is done by: • Take 4 counts to fully expand the diaphragm muscle; • Use a further 2 counts to expand the rib cage; • 1 count completes the breath into the top of the lungs; • Pause a moment.

35. During The Examination Keeping Calm for Best Performance • Exhaling is done by: • Use 4 counts to retract the diaphragm up into the bottom of the cage; • Use 2 counts to contract the ribs; • 1 final count to expel the last bit of breath from the top of the lungs.

36. During The Examination 2. Reading Time • Read ALL the instructions first; • Read each question carefully & begin planning the answer in your head; • Decide which questions to answer first; • Mark answers to Multiple Choice with thumb nail; • Use ALL the allocated reading time. Don’t just sit there looking around and staring at others.

37. During The Examination 3. Writing Time • Read instructions at beginning of each section or group of questions. “Circle the correct response on answer sheet”; • Reread question & identify key words that provide clues on how to answer the question: • Questions asking to “describe” and “explain” require more detail “list”; • Look for highlighted words, eg. incorrect, not, give two reasons; • Underline key terms which are related to the subject.

38. During The Examination 3. Writing Time • Make sure you understand what the question is asking before answering; • Check allocated marks for each question & write the appropriate amount. For example 3 marks = 3 parts, steps or key words to the answer; • Interpret diagrams and tables carefully, and look past the numbers; “What do they tell you?”; • Check spelling and grammar.

39. During The Examination 3. Writing Time • Keep an eye on the time; • Show all working for calculations; • Don’t forget to include correct UNITS – cms, gms, volts; • Attempt every question, even if it is with an educatedguess. Look back at other questions (especially Multiple Choice) for clues & key words; • Take care and use a pencil for graphs and drawings;

40. At the End of The Examination • Check: • That you have written your name; • That you have answered ALL questions fully & according to the marks allocated; • That you have included correct units. • For each question, cover your written answer and answer again in head, then compare. • Wait … take deep breaths … and read over it again!!! Avoid silly careless mistakes. • And then … Read over it again!!! MOST OF ALL… ONCE THE HARD WORK HAS BEEN DONE RELAX AND GOOD LUCK !!