ReWise: Pass Your Exams. Learning Enhancement Team

Transcription

1 ReWise: Pass Your Exams Learning Enhancement Team

2 Variety is the Spice of Life! Different Schools.Different Rules Can you use I in an academic text? Should an essay have section headings? How long is a report? Do you use primary or secondary research? Footnotes, endnotes or no notes? Harvard style referencing or MLA? What about APA? Which school are you in? What is acceptable and what is unacceptable in your field? Always check in your module handbooks or with your tutor if you are concerned about appropriacy ReWise: Pass Your Exams 2

3 ReWise: Pass Your Exams Aims Strategies for organising your revision time constructively Strategies to help you with the revision process ReWise: Pass Your Exams 3

4 Don t Panic! You will (should) know most (if not all) of this already...but it is always helpful to have a reminder! Don t forget, you can attend an AWL Open Workshop or sign-up for a 30 minute, Tutorial. ReWise: Pass Your Exams 4

5 Common Dissertation Concerns I ve made so many notes, but nothing seems to be going in I sit in the library all day but still don t feel like I have revised much I keep trying to revise but there is too much to cover ReWise: Pass Your Exams 5

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7 How do you normally plan your revision period? ReWise: Pass Your Exams 7

8 Organise Your Time Try and organise your time sensibly and stick to a manageable timetable Weekly timetable Diary List of targets/checklist Set revision goals each week What do you hope to have covered by the end of the week? ReWise: Pass Your Exams 8

9 Get Comfortable With a partner, discuss: What space do you work best in? What time of day do you work best? What style of revision works best for you? Mind mapping Summaries Key words and flash cards posters ReWise: Pass Your Exams 9

10 Revision Strategies There are a number of ways to approach revision, and all are equally valid it depends on you! Bullet points Summaries Posters Flash cards Quizzes Group work Past papers Brainstorm Reading and copying Listen to audio recordings Use visual aids Trigger words Post-it notes Can you think of any other revision strategies? ReWise: Pass Your Exams 10

11 Stuck? With a partner, discuss what you do when you can t revise. ReWise: Pass Your Exams 11

12 Stuck Remove yourself from the situation. Take a walk, make a cup of tea, have a snack Rather than procrastinating, spend time organising your existing notes into files This is still a helpful part of the revision process Go back to the topic which you want to revise. Don t jump into details just yet. Ease yourself into the revision topic by starting off broad Brainstorm ideas, questions and any notes which come to mind Use this as a starting point to develop your revision notes ReWise: Pass Your Exams 12

13 Notes Sometimes it can be hard to work from our own notes. Here are some tips: Don t just read your own notes over and over again Be active in condensing your notes and developing your memory Summarise your longer notes Turn your summaries into posters and flash cards Test yourself Use coloured pens, coloured paper and mind mapping software ReWise: Pass Your Exams 13

14 Study Groups What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of studying in groups? ReWise: Pass Your Exams 14

15 Study Groups Working in groups can be a great revision strategy But make sure to set aims and structure your time sensibly Each come up with questions that you would like to discuss Take it in turns to discuss each person s point as a group ReWise: Life After Exams 15

16 Managing Revision Keep in mind how long the exam is How many questions will you have to answer? How many topics will be covered in the paper? Will there be a question for each of your Weekly topics? Select a few topics you feel most comfortable with as your main priority Have a few back up topics which you can revise in less detail Try and notice the patterns and connections across different topics ReWise: Pass Your Exams 16

17 Lecture Notes Can you just use your lecture notes to revise? Revising your lecture notes is not enough. Most PowerPoint lecture notes are available online - Moodle You can use these as a basis for further revision. Read through your notes and see what areas of the lecture you need to find out more about Write down any questions you have from your notes and use these as a starting point for further revision too Presentation title 17

18 Use Feedback Read over your lecturer s comments for your past assignments. If your lecturer suggests you need to consider aspects of a topic in greater detail or depth, or that you should look at particular points you have omitted, or that you should read some important article or additional topic that you overlooked, then you should give priority to this in your revision (Bernard: 2003, 114) The AWL Open Workshop Understanding Feedback could help you make the most of your past experiences. ReWise: Pass Your Exams 18

19 Exams How do exams make you feel? How can you better prepare for exams? Exams contain trick questions true or false? False! Exams may contain difficult questions, but there shouldn t be any tricks Your tutors want you to pass your exam true or false? True! Your tutors very much want you to pass your exams, though this doesn t mean they can pass you if you give too many incorrect answers ReWise: Pass Your Exams 19

20 Exams Look at past exam papers Assess the type of questions that are asked, how are they phrased? Are there any words/phrases you are not familiar with? Keep a list of words/definitions you need to learn Answer past exam questions under timed conditions! Keep your handwriting legible Read through your answer and consider your strengths and weaknesses. What can you work on? ReWise: Pass Your Exams 20

21 Finding Past Exam Papers Log into myunihub ReWise: Pass Your Exams 21

22 Finding Past Exam Papers Click on Previous Exam Papers ReWise: Pass Your Exams 22

23 Finding Past Exam Papers Enter your Module Code ReWise: Pass Your Exams 23

24 Reflections Organise your time wisely Think about your study environment Try out a variety of revision strategies to find out what works for you Practice answering past exam questions Stay calm Eat and sleep well ReWise: Pass Your Exams 24

25 And Remember You will study most effectively, and derive most pleasure from your work and recreation, if you are in good health, relaxed, selfconfident, and free from worry (Barrass: 2002, 14) ReWise: Pass Your Exams 25

26 Where now? Need more detailed assistance? Book a tutorial! Want feedback on a specific section? Drop in to Getting Your Assignment Ready! Want somewhere quiet to write, and get on the spot assistance? Try The Writing Space! Got a few quick questions? AWL Office Hours at [The Study Hub] are for you! AWL Open Workshops can be booked here! Suggestions: ReWise: Pass Your Exams 26

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28 References Barrass, R. (2002) Study!: A Guide to Effective Learning, Revision and Examination Techniques. 2 nd Ed. London: Routledge. Bernard, G.W. (2001) Studying at University: How to Adapt Successfully to College Life. London: Routledge. ReWise: Pass Your Exams 28