Exam Techniques

Last week I wrote about how to revise and prepare for an exam, so it seems natural to follow this up with some advice on dealing with the exam itself. While the clip above is pretty funny, it does illustrate some of the problems that can occur with sitting exams too.

Here's some recommendations for performing well during exams and making sure you don't end up like Mr Bean:

1. Check you've been given the correct exam paper. This can happen if there are students from multiple courses sitting an exam in a large area, such as a sports hall or gymnasium.

2. Read the instructions carefully. Read the whole paper. Always check both sides of each paper. Make sure you do not miss vital information and instructions.

3. Read each question carefully. Make sure you know what is expected of your answer. Make sure what you write is relevant.

4. Divide your time between questions. Give equal time to questions with equal marks. Allocate more time to questions with more marks. If you run out of time, move on to the next question and return to it at the end if you have time.

5. Spend a few minutes thinking and planning. Jot down rough ideas. Create a quick plan to organise your ideas. For example: ten minutes planning and fifty minutes writing is a good use of an hour per question.

6. 'Going blank' - if this happens during your exam, use a spare page or piece of paper to write words, phrases or sentences associated with the topic; this may help your memory. Remember to identify this as 'planning' or 'rough' work for the examiner, as opposed to it being a part of your final answer.

Exam Revision & Preparation

It's the time of year in my University (Wrexham Glyndwr University) when students' thoughts turn to exams. Having finished assignments and dissertations they often feel overwhelmed with the thought of preparing for and sitting exams. Here are my top five tips for exam revision and preparation:

1. Manage your time

You have a limited amount of time - a few short, precious weeks - to revise for exams. Don't fall into the trap of worrying over how little time you have as, ironically, you are using up the time you have got by doing this. It really won't help you. Plan your week by setting aside days and times to revise. Allocate set amounts of time for certain topics and subjects. Get organised and methodical in your planning. This will help you to stop worrying about the little time you have left.

2. Organise your notes

Collect all of your lecture notes and study notes together and make sure they are organised. This may be chronologically, in terms of the order of your lectures, or you may decide to organise them thematically, according to topic. Decide what works best for you. As you re-read them, use highlighter pens, pencils, or any other writing tool, and mark out those sections that you feel are particularly important; you can always create photocopies to work on if you need to keep the original notes untouched.

3. Rewrite your notes

Reduce your notes to a form that is more memorable and portable. Note cards containing keywords and concepts are perfect for revising. Not only can you use them in longer, desk-based revision sessions, but you can whip them out and do some extra work when you have a spare moment, such as when you are waiting at the dentist, or sitting on the bus.

4. Attend revision sessions

If your tutors or lecturers offer you revision sessions, attend them. Don't think that they will only be going over work that you have already covered in class, so it's pointless attending. You have an opportunity to revisit topics with the experts, so take advantage if these sessions are available.

5. Practise

Using old exam questions for practise is a great idea. Train yourself to write within the time limit of your exam too. Many exams still require you to write by hand as well, so if you are used to word processing then handwriting practise will help too.