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Study SkillsStudy Skills
Exam TechniquesExam Techniques
Counselling Unit,UWI, Mona
Quotation for DiscussionQuotation for Discussion
Learn from the mistakes of othersLearn from the mistakes of others—you can never live long enough —you can never live long enough to make them all yourself.to make them all yourself.
——John LutherJohn Luther
Disarm TestsDisarm TestsGrades are what we use to give Grades are what we use to give power to testspower to testsLet go of your misconceptions about Let go of your misconceptions about gradesgradesDon’t exaggerate the pressure Don’t exaggerate the pressure on yourselfon yourselfKeep the risk in perspectiveKeep the risk in perspective
Remember… Remember…
Grades are not measures of:Grades are not measures of:– IntelligenceIntelligence– CreativityCreativity– Self-worthSelf-worth
Test scores do not measure Test scores do not measure accomplishment in a course—accomplishment in a course—they measure performance on a testthey measure performance on a test
Before the examsBefore the exams
Work consistently throughout the Work consistently throughout the semestersemester
Get sufficient sleepGet sufficient sleep
Ensure an adequate dietEnsure an adequate diet
Maintain your exercise regimeMaintain your exercise regime
Check time, date and place of each Check time, date and place of each examexam
On the day of the examOn the day of the exam
After a good night’s rest, have an After a good night’s rest, have an adequate mealadequate meal
Ensure you have all that you will Ensure you have all that you will need for the examneed for the exam
Get to your exam centre at least 10 Get to your exam centre at least 10 minutes before the examminutes before the exam
Spend that time relaxing in Spend that time relaxing in preparation for the exampreparation for the exam
During the examDuring the exam
Read all directions Read all directions TWICETWICE before you before you begin the exambegin the exam
Orient yourself to the total exam – Orient yourself to the total exam – read through all the questionsread through all the questions
Establish a time schedule before you Establish a time schedule before you start to answer the questions and start to answer the questions and stick with itstick with it
Choose questions that you feel you Choose questions that you feel you know the bestknow the best
Outline each answer before you Outline each answer before you beginbegin
In the margins, jot down memory In the margins, jot down memory aids, formulas, equations, factsaids, formulas, equations, facts
Start with you second best question Start with you second best question firstfirst
Look for answers in other questionsLook for answers in other questions
Always leave time to review and edit Always leave time to review and edit your answersyour answers
If short on time, offer an outline for If short on time, offer an outline for what you intended to saywhat you intended to say
Multiple-Choice QuestionsMultiple-Choice Questions
Check directions to see if more than Check directions to see if more than one answer is called forone answer is called for
Answer questions in your head Answer questions in your head before looking at answer choicesbefore looking at answer choices
Read all answers to each question Read all answers to each question before selecting onebefore selecting one
Your first instinct is usually bestYour first instinct is usually best
Use guessing techniques when Use guessing techniques when appropriateappropriate
True/False QuestionsTrue/False QuestionsAnswer quicklyAnswer quicklyRead carefullyRead carefullyLook for qualifiersLook for qualifiers– AllAll– MostMost– SometimesSometimes– NeverNever– RarelyRarely
Absolute qualifiers often indicate Absolute qualifiers often indicate false statementsfalse statements– AlwaysAlways– NeverNever
Essay QuestionsEssay QuestionsFind out precisely what the question Find out precisely what the question is askingis asking
Make a quick outlineMake a quick outline
Get right to the pointGet right to the point
Put the most solid supporting points firstPut the most solid supporting points first
Words to Watch Words to Watch for in Essay Questionsfor in Essay Questions
AnalyzeAnalyze
DefineDefine
CompareCompare
CriticizeCriticize
DescribeDescribe
DiscussDiscuss
ContrastContrast
ExplainExplain
ProveProve
RelateRelate
StateState
SummarizeSummarize
TraceTrace
““F” Is for Feedback, not FailureF” Is for Feedback, not Failure
Getting an “F” means only that you Getting an “F” means only that you failed a test—not your lifefailed a test—not your life
An “F” is feedback that you didn’t An “F” is feedback that you didn’t understand the materialunderstand the material
Feedback helps you change to Feedback helps you change to promote future successpromote future success
Studying with OthersStudying with OthersTest each otherTest each other
Teach each otherTeach each other
Compare notesCompare notes
Brainstorm test Brainstorm test questionsquestions
Set an agendaSet an agenda
Three at a computerThree at a computer
Create wall-sized mind Create wall-sized mind mapsmaps
Lecture each otherLecture each other
Ask for personal Ask for personal supportsupport
The Costs of CheatingThe Costs of CheatingWe learn lessWe learn less
We lose moneyWe lose money
Fear of getting Fear of getting caught promotes caught promotes stressstress
Violating our Violating our values promotes values promotes stressstress
Cheating once Cheating once makes it easier to makes it easier to compromise our compromise our integrityintegrity
Cheating lowers Cheating lowers our self-conceptour self-concept
Let Go of Test AnxietyLet Go of Test Anxiety
Deal with your THOUGHTSDeal with your THOUGHTS
Deal with your FEELINGSDeal with your FEELINGS
Dealing with ThoughtsDealing with Thoughts
Yell “Stop!”Yell “Stop!”
DaydreamDaydream
Visualize successVisualize success
FocusFocus
Praise yourselfPraise yourself
Consider the worstConsider the worst
Zoom outZoom out
Dealing with FeelingsDealing with Feelings
BreatheBreathe
Scan your bodyScan your body
Tense and relaxTense and relax
Use guided imageryUse guided imagery
Dealing with FeelingsDealing with Feelings
Describe itDescribe it
Be with itBe with it
Exercise aerobicallyExercise aerobically
Get helpGet help
Power Process: DetachPower Process: Detach
Power Process: DetachPower Process: Detach
Attachments are addictionsAttachments are addictions
We can be attached to emotions as We can be attached to emotions as well as thoughtswell as thoughts
Ways to Recognize Ways to Recognize an Attachmentan Attachment
Strong emotions—feeling irritated, Strong emotions—feeling irritated, angry, jealous, confused…angry, jealous, confused…
Feelings of nervousness, weakness, Feelings of nervousness, weakness, or nauseaor nausea
Four Ways to DetachFour Ways to Detach
Practice observer consciousnessPractice observer consciousness
Put your own circumstances into a Put your own circumstances into a larger perspectivelarger perspective
Ask: “What’s the worst that could Ask: “What’s the worst that could happen?”happen?”
Use breathing and relaxation Use breathing and relaxation techniquestechniques
Cautions When Using DetachmentCautions When Using Detachment
Giving up an addiction to getting an Giving up an addiction to getting an “A” is different from giving up being “A” is different from giving up being an “A” studentan “A” student
Detachment is different from denialDetachment is different from denial
Being detached is not the same as Being detached is not the same as being apatheticbeing apathetic
Master StudentMaster StudentBarbara JordanBarbara Jordan
““. . . it occurred to me that if I was . . . it occurred to me that if I was going to succeed at this strange going to succeed at this strange new adventure, I would have to new adventure, I would have to read longer and more thoroughly read longer and more thoroughly than my colleagues . . .”than my colleagues . . .”
Remember, tests are opportunities to demonstrate your mastery
After the examAfter the exam
Avoid a post mortemAvoid a post mortem
Take a few hours break, get some Take a few hours break, get some rest and begin to prepare for the rest and begin to prepare for the next examnext exam
If this is your last exam….If this is your last exam….
GO OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN GO OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN
ReferencesReferencesEllis, D. (1994) Ellis, D. (1994) Becoming a Master StudentBecoming a Master Student
(7th ed.) Rapid City, SD. Houghton Mifflin (7th ed.) Rapid City, SD. Houghton Mifflin Co.Co.
Ellis, D. (2003) Ellis, D. (2003) Becoming a Master StudentBecoming a Master Student (10th ed.) Rapid City, SD. Houghton Mifflin (10th ed.) Rapid City, SD. Houghton Mifflin Co.Co.
http://college.hmco.com/collegesurvival/ellishttp://college.hmco.com/collegesurvival/ellis/master_student/10e/students/master_student/10e/students
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