Together We Can Make a Difference: An Exam Guide for Parents and Students

Transcription

1 HAMILTON-WENTWORTH CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD ST. MARY CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL Together We Can Make a Difference: An Exam Guide for Parents and Students STUDENT PARENT TEACHER STUDENT: completes the work and success is based on the achievement of course expectations; TEACHER: presents course material, provides feedback and prepares student for course evaluations PARENT: supports their child s success, encourages balance and helps their child manage stress and anxiety. STEPS ON PREPARING A STUDY SCHEDULE 1. Know the date, time and location of each exam. 2. Prepare an exam calendar (pencil in on your calendar the exam dates) and prepare a study chart using your study blocks. 3. Dig out each course s overview (usually given out at the beginning of the semester) and any course reviews. 4. Obtain a course review from each teacher. Predict the sections you will have difficulty with. 5. Using 2 hour study blocks for each course, cluster and assign specific topics to each block. Specify what you hope to accomplish in each study block (e.g. for science: block 1 = electricity part 1) 6. Add your study blocks to your calendar. Remember to alternate courses.

2 WORK SMART STAY POSITIVE: ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING! IN CLASS TIPS Think! Thinking about the class is one of the most important things you can do. Think about what the teacher is saying. Ask! Don't be afraid to ask the teacher if there is something you don't understand. Absent? Get caught up immediately. Know about any culminating tasks. Find out about the format, time and what you need to bring. STUDY HABITS Prepare a study space. Have pencils, pens, paper etc. ready and waiting. Be sure there is a good light, proper desk and chair - don't study on your bed, you will be more likely to fall asleep than study! Make a review schedule: try the 6 day countdown! Obtain the exam review from your teacher, know the types of questions that will be on the exam - short answer, multiple choice, matching, true/false, essay or diagram/maps etc. Study for minutes at a time. Break up the course material into logical chunks e.g. grade 9 science covers 4 general areas each of which can be chunked into smaller, related sections (e.g. electricity: parallel and series circuits) Set reasonable goals - accomplishing short-term goals will allow you to reach your long-term goals faster. Organize your notebooks. You do not have to re-write all your notes, look to the course review for the key ideas and concepts. Use the chapter and section summaries in your textbooks to get the big picture. Read this section BEFORE you start to study the section. Study the most difficult subject first - when you are alert and energetic. Use SQ3R: Survey, Question, Read, Recite and Review. Study in SHORT, FREQUENT bursts... even if you have only 15 minutes - DO IT! For many the "distributed learning" approach is highly effective. To sit and study for hours is not only boring, it creates fatigue, stress and distraction. Use graphic organizers - make web and spider diagrams to show relatedness between ideas, topics and concepts; make flash cards of key words/terms and their definitions. Prepare formula sheets for math and science - include sample problems with each formula Prepare verb and vocabulary lists for French Know your learning style - use the study hints for your preferred style

3 Review the meaning of question terms including define, compare, discuss, describe, summarize and critique Group words and ideas that relate to the same unit of study/course Use your unit tests and quizzes. After you study a section, take the test again! Avoid studying when you are exhausted or angry - if you are emotionally stressed, your brain repels data! When your brain is relaxed, it is like a sponge and absorbs data more easily. Exercise, 20 minutes each day will improve blood circulation, keep you alert and relieve stress. Eat healthy! Avoid caffeine it boosts you and then you can get the jitters; nuts fruit, cheese and yogurt are all good snacks. Avoid lots of sugar and highly fatty foods. Get enough sleep. Your brain continues to work even as you sleep, it will organize itself. WARNING: CRAMMING IS A GAMBLE The information only goes into your short-term memory; 50% is forgotten immediately after you have read the page! EXAM PREP CHECKLIST Have I created a study schedule? Do I have a place to study that is free of distractions, and has good lighting? Are my notebooks well organized and up-to-date? Do I have the teacher's review for each course? Do I know the date, time and location of each exam? Have I noted what I need to bring to each exam - pencil, ruler, calculator etc.? Do I have all previous tests (with test corrections), tasks and unit reviews in one place? HINTS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF EXAM QUESTIONS Keep your eye on the time. Plan your time and your answers. Prepare yourself mentally - study, pray and relax MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS These questions are usually worth only one mark each, it is important to budget your time in this section. Try to answer the questions without looking at the answers given; cover the choices while you read the question; Circle your choice on the exam page then transfer it to the scantron; Be sure to completely erase any changes made to the scantron; Your first instinct is usually correct; don't change your answer unless you are sure you made a mistake; If there is no penalty for incorrect answers, take a guess;

4 Avoid skipping questions, you may forget to go back or lose your place on the scantron Look for answers in other parts of the exam Pitfall #1 Don't assume multiple-choice questions require you to memorize facts only. Often multiple-choice questions test more than just knowledge of facts, they may require careful thought and reasoning about what you know and involve the application of knowledge discussed in class. TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS These questions are usually worth only one mark each, it is important to budget your time in this section. Read the statements very carefully. Remember all parts of the statement must be true for it to be true; Hint - answers with most, sometimes, rarely" are more often true, and answers with "always or never" are usually false SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS These questions rely on recall and requires short descriptions and definitions Read the questions carefully and highlight the directing words - compare, define, contrast etc., Note if examples are required and be sure to choose examples that directly relate to the question; If you don't know the full answer, write down things you remember that are related Pitfall #2 Not answering the question asked. Sometimes students do not directly answer the questions. DO NOT RUSH and write out a ready-made answer; really STOP and THINK about each question. MATCHING QUESTIONS These questions are usually worth only one mark each, it is important to budget your time in this section. Read the instructions - Count the number of choices; are there more choices than statements? Start with the easiest matches, and cross out each answer as you use it; DIAGRAM QUESTIONS Read the instructions carefully Start with the easiest labels; Look for answers in other parts of the exam Successful people have learned to make themselves do the thing that has to be done when it has to be done, whether they like it or not. Aldous Huxley ESSAY STYLE QUESTIONS Read all the instructions and questions; you might have a choice and do precisely what the question asks you to do; Keep your teacher happy by making your answers easy -to read; write legibly!

5 Answer the easiest question first; Plan your answers; make a mini outline with the main points you want to cover Get to the point and keep to it! Follow the format used in class. Don't skip sections - include an introduction and conclusion. When you are finished your answer, re-read the question to be sure you didn't get off track. Keep an eye on the time. Divide your time relative to the weight of the questions. Pitfall #3 Not planning an essay or large mark question. Read the question carefully then write down an outline - brainstorm, on a scrap paper. Once your ideas and facts are written out, organize them according to the format required. Planning will help you avoid re -writing the essay or missing important facts. ORAL PRESENTATIONS Practice in front of a mirror, friend, family member or even your dog or favorite stuffed animal. Add 10% more oomph than you usually talk Talk slowly, don t forget to breathe! Pitfall #4 Running out of time Some students run out of time to complete certain questions properly. On many exams the first half of the exam is easier than the second half. So budget your time according to the marks allotted for each question. E.g., if you have 120 marks on the exam and 1.5 hours to write it, then give yourself 1 minute per mark. If you have 50 multiple-choice questions do not take 1 hour to answer them because you may run out of time! Pitfall #5 Leaving studying for your last exam until the others are written. Avoid the tendency to leave studying for your last exam to the end because often by the time you sit down to study it you are tired and your brain doesn't seem to retain the information as easily. Instead, try studying all your courses in rotation rather than focusing on one at a time. Use study blocks to organize your time. Pitfall #6 Cramming Cramming is a gamble because some of the unstudied notes will be on the exam. Cramming results in information going into your short-term memory; this is quickly forgotten, 50% is forgotten as soon as you turn the page! Students that find themselves cramming for their exams just need to make a study schedule early and STICK TO IT. WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED Check the exam for: missed questions proper order of pages your name on each page and your teacher's name on the front page Take everything with you: scrap paper unused foolscap pens/pencils sweater

6 HELPING YOUR CHILD MANAGE EXAM ANXIETY What does exam anxiety look like? Some students may feel: Physically ill - headaches, nausea, faint Physically tired - unable to sleep or sleeping all the time Emotional - frustrated, angry, tearful, short-tempered What can you do to help? 1. Recognize the symptom(s) and help your child name it as exam anxiety, talk to your child. 2. Encourage your child to be positive. 3. Help your child create a study schedule that is reasonable and manageable (you may need to limit their MSN time!) 4. Encourage organization is there a place where your child can study that is free of distractions. 5. Have healthy snacks available, low in caffeine and fat. 6. Encourage your child to get enough sleep and exercise. 7. Get outside help, if the anxiety is great encourage your child to talk to a guidance counsellor or family doctor, or call the guidance counsellor yourself. 8. Know the facts - ask and post in a prominent place the date, time and location of each exam. SAMPLE STUDY BLOCK 30 Minute Study 10 Minute Break 30 Minute Study 10 Minute Break 30 Minute Study We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. Aristotle