NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk

1. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk

2. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills • Today’s Session • Revision methods and strategies. • Planning your revision. • Exam techniques. • Past exam experiences. • Coping with nerves – relaxation strategies.

3. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills • Revision Strategies • People revise in many different ways. There is no wrong or right method. • In small groups, and using the worksheets, list as many different ways to revise as you can. • Have you used this method before? • Did you find it useful? Why?

4. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills Ways to revise…. Past papers Set up a revision study group Record yourself giving explanations Mind maps Stories or rhymes Time yourself

5. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills Passive revision zzzzzzzz Information

6. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills Active revision ???? How do these connect? Information Haven’t I read something similar elsewhere?

7. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills • Top tips for revision • Keep it active! • Get to know what works best for you – your personal learning preferences. Do you like lists, colours, speaking? • Test yourself – continually check on your progress to know what you have learned and what you still have to do.

8. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills • Planning your revision • Make a plan – but don’t turn it into an artform! • Work out everything you need to do before the exam. Break topics down into small chunks • Remember to block off time for your other commitments (placements, friends, family). • Continually test your progress and amend your timetable accordingly. • Use learning outcomes, module handbooks and past papers to ensure you are revising appropriately. • Find out as much about the exam as you can beforehand. This should inform your revision • Deal with any procrastination or motivation issues.

9. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills • Past exam experiences • Individually, reflect on three occasions in the past when you sat an exam. • When have you been successful in exams? • When you have been unsuccessful? • What contributed to these outcomes? • Are you letting past exam experiences get in your way? • Spend 5 minutes in pairs discussing these issues.

10. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills • Checklist for the exam – beforehand • Find out where the exam is taking place. • Ensure you have all the equipment you need – pens, pencils etc. • Try to get a good night’s sleep but don’t worry if you can’t. • Don’t feel guilty if you are too tired to do any last minute revision. • Try to eat something (even if it’s only a banana). • Avoid speaking to people immediately beforehand if you get nervous.

11. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills • Checklist for the exam • Give yourself time to read through the paper. • Make sure you understand the instructions. • Decide on your preferred questions. • Decide on the order you will answer them. • Divide up your time and stick to it. • Try to leave time at the end for checking. • Pause every so often to collect your thoughts. • Ignore everyone else.

12. Types of exam questions

13. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills Long answer/essay questions • Analyse the question • What is the topic? • What is the specific focus? • Do not just write everything you know on the subject. • Plan your answer. • Write a beginning, middle, and end. • Begin with what is easiest and leave space for other things if you have to. • Where possible, leave time at the end to go over your answer.

14. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills Short answer questions • You do not need to go into great detail in short answer questions. • You can often use the number of marks on offer as a guide to how many points you should be making in your answer. • Make sure you give full answers and use proper sentences.

15. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills Exam questions – multiple choice questions • Process of elimination – take away the ones you know are wrong. • Read the question very carefully – ‘which is the least likely’, ‘which is the most likely’. • Go with your instinct if you are unsure. • Use your time effectively – don’t get stuck on one question. Note the number and come back to it. • Find out if there is negative marking – will you be penalised for a wrong answer? This will affect your strategy.

16. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills Exam Do’s and Don’ts Do read over the whole exam paper first to make sure you understand how many questions you should answer, how many points are allocated etc. Do not simply write out everything you know about a particular topic. Answer the specific question. Do prepare memory triggers and be confident you have done enough revision. Do not panic. If your mind goes blank or you do not think you can answer the questions, spend a few minutes breathing deeply. This should jog your memory and help you relax.

17. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills Exam Do’s and Don’ts Do not spend so much time on one question you run out of time to do any others – you can only gain so many marks per question so you need to divide your time wisely. Do leave time at the end to check over your answers. If you have run out of time, you can use bullet points but only do this as a last resort.

18. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills • Coping with nerves • Do you get nervous before an exam? • Does your anxiety affect your performance? • A little adrenaline is a good thing – it will help you concentrate and stay alert during the exam. But too much may get in the way of your success. • In pairs, spend 5 minutes discussing your feelings about exams and any strategies you have developed to cope with nerves.

19. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills Coping with nerves 1 Preparation Be organised about the exam to minimise stress. Begin your revision as soon as you can. Get the balance right Don’t work too hard – lots of small chunks often work best. Give yourself time for relaxation. Keep a healthy lifestyle before the exams (limit alcohol and other chemicals, take exercise, try to get plenty of sleep).

20. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills Coping with nerves 2 Be positive Think about the things you can control. Do not give yourself negative labels – remember what you have already achieved to get here. Visualise success Some sports people use visualisation to improve their performance. Picture the exam room and you as someone confidently answering the questions. Prepare triggers These should jog your memory and help you out if you panic. Prepare de-stressing techniques

21. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills • De-stressing – when your mind goes blank! • Recognise this is a normal response to stress and it is temporary. • 2. Try a relaxation exercise e.g. the 10 second pause: • Put your feet firmly on the floor and rest your hands in your lap. • Breathe in slowly, counting up to five. • Hear your "inner voice" saying: "I can do this." • Breathe out slowly, counting up to five. • Start to breathe naturally as you prepare yourself for getting on with the exam

22. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills • De-stressing – when your mind goes blank! • 3. Choose a question if you have not already. • Think what an answer should look like. Recall your ‘triggers’. • 5. If you are still blank think back to your course – the lectures, classes, placements. Picture the lecturer speaking or visualise the textbook. • 6. Focus your mind with basic questions – what is the main issue? Where is this case? Why does it happen? • 7. Note down any ideas that come to mind – you can always cross them out later.

23. studySMART@GCU Exam Skills Other resources University of Stirling, Student Development and Support Services Podcasts, relaxation and hypnotherapy podcasts - http://www.student-support.stir.ac.uk/counselling/podcasts/index.php Mind, How to Cope with Exam Stress, http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/How+to/How+to+cope+with+exam+stress.htm GCU, Mental Health and Wellbeing, http://www.gcal.ac.uk/student/positiveliving/index.html

24. studySMART@GCU Vic Boyd Stephanie McKendry Academic Development Tutors NMCH NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk