Assessment and Exam Lecture (1)

8/10/2019 Assessment and Exam Lecture (1)

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ASSESSMENT ANDEXAMS

Next Steps to University


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Reasons for assessments

Assessment is not just about getting marks -

They serve many purposes!

Assessments can be formative

You receive feedback on your performance that

can be used to improve future performance

Assessments can be summative You are assigned a mark which will count towards

your final degree classification


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Establish what is expected

Establish what the goalposts are, by looking at:

Exact details of the assignment, including instructionsabout format, presentation and structure

The marking criteria for the assessment

Intended learning outcomes for the course:

What the tutor has stated is expected in order to pass thecourse

Will be made available in:

Handbooks

Blackboard

Module Descriptors


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Types of Summative

assessment

'Summative' assessments are set to

enable tutors to evaluate, and

assign a mark to their students

learning at a particular point in time

The mark assigned contributes to

the final outcome of the students'degree


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Examples of summative

assessments

In-Class test

Participation in lectures and/or seminars/onlinediscussion boards, or group work (may be peer-assessed and/or tutor-assessed)

Essay or report

Dissertation

Presentation

Attendance Unseen Examination in controlled conditions

(e.g.) 3 questions in 2 hours/2 questions in 2 hours


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Types of Exam

Essay Exams

Most examinations requirestudents to write essays inanswer to a series of

questions

Basic essay-writing rulesapply:

(clear argument, good essaystructure, accurate grammar,

spelling etc) but with time

This means that writingessays under examconditions is a particular skill;but one that is easy to

acquire


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Types of Exam II

Oral Exams

Tests your knowledge alongwith your presentation skills

Could follow a list of

questions in a preparedformat or could be an informaldiscussion

Before exam ensure you areclear about the format

Usually more than one

examiner in the room Practise answering questions

with peers

Practise in a similar setting tothe exam room


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Revision Strategies

Most work hard at it, butdon't always work well at it!

The main purposes ofrevision are: To understand the topic for

which you are sitting anexam

To commit what you have

learnt and understood tomemory

To practice planning andwriting answers toquestions


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Revision Planning

Create a revision timetable

Start revising 5-6 weeks before the exam

Balance your subjects

Allocate topics to days, balance available time, do not neglect courses which are

easy or difficult

Identify key topics to revise

The content of the course

Past exam papers - DO NOT QUESTION SPOT!

Own interests and strengths

Arrange revision materials

Organise lecture notes/handouts/printed materials/text-books/journals

Use mind mapping techniques


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Past Papers

Get an idea of the topics andquestions which come up on the

paper How many questions you are likely

to have to answer

Reduce the chances of beingsurprised by the real paper on theday

Get from library or print-shop in A

block


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Strategies for past-papers

Brain-storming Give yourself 10

minutes to brainstormand plan an answer to apast exam question

Consider your responseto the question

The examples andevidence you wouldneed to support your

argument How it relates to the

coursework

How you wouldstructure your essay


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Strategies for past-papers cont:

Mock Exams Use a past paper to

undertake a mockexam

Take the exam undercorrect conditions

This will help youpractice writing undertime constraints

Practice one examquestion at a time ortry the complete exampaper


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Before the Exam

Check & re-check exam timetable (campus/room)!

Make sure you know:

What form the exam will take?

How much time you will have? How marks are allocated?

What aspects of the course will be examined?

Organise your student card & materials required

Be aware of the Universitys examination

regulations

Avoid the pre-exam cluster of What did you

study!


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Tips to combat Exam panic!

Sleep! Get to bed early... Or at least rest!

EAT breakfast/lunch & keep hydrated

AVOID masses of caffeine

Take a watch with you Answer your essay questions first

Sit away from friends if this will distract you or sitbeside them as a positive anchor

Dont panic if others are writing and you are not Your thinking may be more profitable than their writing

BREATHE SLOWLY!


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Tips to combat exam room

panic!

Do take time to jotdown an immediateplan

Mind-mapping

Be prepared to reviseit

Towards the end ofthe exam read overyour answers

DO NOT LEAVEEARLY!!!

Write a well structuredessay Introduction and

Conclusion

Pay attention to handwriting & layout

Ensure you answer thequestion

It is the quality of theargument not thequantity!!

Plan your answers Writing the answers


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After the Exam

Avoiding depressingpost-mortems withstudents!

If you have made

mistakes, learn fromthem and apply tofuture exams

Reflect....

If you have furtherexams to study giveyourself the rest of theday off to recalibrate &refresh.....

If not.... Get to the pub

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Assessment and Exam Lecture (1)