1 / 17

Semester Exams

Semester Exams. Preparation Techniques, Study Tips, & Motivational Strategies. How should you prepare?. Manage Your Time Efficiently Make Academics Your Top Priority Set Priorities for Exams Reduce Test Anxiety. Managing Your Time Efficiently.

fatima-york
Download Presentation

Semester Exams

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Semester Exams Preparation Techniques, Study Tips, & Motivational Strategies RMSeuc 12.06

  2. How should you prepare? • Manage Your Time Efficiently • Make Academics Your Top Priority • Set Priorities for Exams • Reduce Test Anxiety RMSeuc 12.06

  3. Managing Your Time Efficiently • Make a new calendar or planner for the end of the semester and exams • the 2-3 weeks prior to finals • Make a Task List • Write out all assignments, papers, projects, tests, & quizzes left in the semester • List all outstanding assignments & realistically the amount of time you will need to complete them • Choose assignments to complete early • By finishing some assignments early, you allow for more preparation time for semester exams • Complete reading prior to due dates & just review the information as needed • Concentrate on finals the five days prior to each final exam • Organize early to have everything ready so you can study efficiently the five days before exams RMSeuc 12.06

  4. Making Academics Top Priority • Push hard at the end of the semester • Especially the final two weeks of the term • Keep up with all work • Plan daily tasks • Schedule study hours & set daily study goals • Although the last two weeks of class can be slower, do not slow down • Use the lighter weeks to get a head start on the last assignments and to organize for finals RMSeuc 12.06

  5. Setting Priorities for Exams • Look where you stand in each class • When you know where you stand, you can determine how much time & effort will be required • Evaluate your grades & classes • Does the final exam have the same weight as other tests? • Which class do you need to spend the most time on? • Consider all options • If you cannot improve a particular grade, would it be better to spend more time on another class where the effort would make a bigger impact? RMSeuc 12.06

  6. Reducing Test Anxiety • Final exams carry more value, so there is more risk involved • More risk can cause more anxiety • Some anxiety is normal during finals week • Can’t eliminate all feelings of anxiety, however can keep the test anxiety from affecting your performance on the exam • The more you know about the exam, the more prepared you can be for it • If one of your finals will determine your grade, make it top priority • Get lots of rest, eat well & plan some time to relax • Use stress-reduction techniques to lower test anxiety, especially if you have used this before • Talk to your Personal & Academic Counselor if you are concerned; discuss your concerns with your parents RMSeuc 12.06

  7. Preparation Strategies • Make a Final Exam Study Plan • Set up a Study Schedule • Prepare for Comprehensive Finals • Use Active Study Methods • Stay Motivated • Give your Best Effort • Monitor Your Progress RMSeuc 12.06

  8. Make a Final Exam Study Plan • Make a reminder sheet for each exam you need to take • Write the name of the class, day, date, time, place • Write what materials you will need to have for the exam • Make a note about the type of exam it will be • Examview, paper & pencil, send by attachment, etc • Essay, T/F, multiple choice, short answer RMSeuc 12.06

  9. Set up a Study Schedule • Don’t start too early • Good use of early time would be preparing study sheets, maps, self-tests, flash cards, organizing notes, etc. • Several weeks early can mean more material covered, however may not retain if too far in advance • Space your study to aid retention • Need to get the information into your long-term memory in a logical & organized manner • Learn in small amounts & review it often • You can monitor you learning & reinforce the material you don’t know well RMSeuc 12.06

  10. Set up a Study Schedule • Split your day when preparing for several exams • Need to prepare for several at same time • Count back 5-6 days prior to each exam to determine study start date (Day 3 for English may be Day 1 for Religion) • Use a study schedule • Actually schedule your time • Regular assignments; organizational time; preparation for finals; review time • Be flexible and re-evaluate daily • Plan breaks; allow information to “sink in” RMSeuc 12.06

  11. Prepare for Comprehensive Exams • Is your final comprehensive? • What is the percentage breakdown of new material (not tested on) versus old material (previously tested on) • Example – 25% of the final is comprehensive • Spend 25% of your time on the “old” material & 75% of your time on the “new” material • Know the percentage breakdown of what will be covered • Example – 50% of the final is over chapters 1-12 & the remainder of over chapters 13-16 • Spend 50% of your time on chapters 1-12 & 50% of your time on chapters 13-16 RMSeuc 12.06

  12. Use Active Study Methods • Write & recite in order to move the information to your long-term memory • Test yourself with flashcards, self-tests & recitation • If you have quality notes from the textbook and/or study sheets with textbook & lecture material – use these to review & draw information from • Instead of re-reading the notes, study sheets & maps, create new ones using the originals as reference & starting points • By making new study guides, you are reviewing the material • Self-tests are a way to measure what you know & what you still need to learn RMSeuc 12.06

  13. Stay Motivated • Use strategies to stay motivated • Positive self-talk • Reward yourself on your hardest study day • Plan a reward for after your last final • Surround yourself with other motivated people • Join a study group • Avoid people who will distract you • Remember that your academic goals come first • Reward yourself when your exams are finished RMSeuc 12.06

  14. Give your Best Effort • Work hard • Don’t try to finish early • Review your answers • Use problem-solving strategies to try to find answers to difficult questions/problems • Concentrate on the exam you are taking (one exam at a time) • Don’t allow your performance on another exam to interfere with your preparation or concentration on your other exams • If you are upset about your performance on one exam, accept the fact that you may not achieve your goal in that class, but don’t give up on all your other exams/classes RMSeuc 12.06

  15. Monitor your Progress • After the exam is over, evaluate your performance • Write down notes about how you think you did • Note any areas where you had difficulty • If you had problems in some areas, contact your teacher to see how you can improve in that area for the next semester • Review your study strategies • If they were not effective, revise them for the next semester RMSeuc 12.06

  16. Activities • Look for examples on Mrs. Seuc’s webpage of: • Final Exam Planning Calendars • Study Schedule • How to Set Priorities for Courses, • Plan ways to stay motivated • Talk to your counselor help with preparation for semester exams & for individualized ideas RMSeuc 12.06

  17. Resources Blerkom, D. L. (2003). Preparing for final exams. In College study skills: Becoming a strategic Learner. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning. RMSeuc 12.06

More Related