Exam Preparation

Finals are coming up sooner than you think. Are you ready? Here is some advice on preparing for tests.

To be prepared for an objective or an essay test (or a combination of both), you should always pay attention to the following:

Key terms, their definitions and examples. Look for this material in your class and textbook notes. If your textbook notes are not complete, go back to the original reading material to locate key terms. This information is often found in italic or boldface type.
Enumerations (lists of items) found in your class and textbook notes. Often these enumerations are the basis of essay questions. Items in a list will probably have a descriptive heading-- for example, the characteristics of living things, the major schools of contemporary psychology, the primary consequences of the Industrial Revolution-- and the items may be numbered. Be sure to learn the heading that describes the list as well as the items in the list.
Points emphasized in class or in the text. Often words such as the most significant, of special importance, the chief reason and so on are used to call attention to important points in a book or in a lecture. When you take notes on such material, mark these significant points with some kind of special mark, like and asterisk (*).

Also, as you go through your class notes, concentrate on areas the instructor spent a good deal of time discussing. For example, if the instructor spent a week talking about changes in the traditional family structure, or the importance of the carbon atom, or the advantages of capitalism, or early key figures in the develop of psychology as a science, you can reasonably expect to get a test question on the emphasized ara. Similarly, review your textbook. If many pages in a chapter deal with one area, you may be sure that subject is important and so you should expect a question about it on the exam.
Topics your instructors have advised you to study. Some instructors conduct in-class reviews during which they tell students what material to emphasize when they study. Always write down these pointers; your instructors have often made up the test or are making it up at the time of review and are likely to give valuable hints about the exam. Study guides and review sheets also contain potential test material. Study these aids very carefully.
Questions on past quizzes and reviews as well as tests at the ends of textbook chapters.

If you follow these suggestions, you will have identified most, if not all, of the key concepts.

Exam Preparation Checksheet

When finals week approaches, here are some last-minute tips that might help you to study. Good luck!
Before you follow the suggestions below, make sure you have done these things first:

Attend all the classes and take notes.
Read the assignments in the textbook.
Review the class notes and textbook periodically.

You have an "A" on the exam so far! But if you haven't done these things, lower your exam score by five points...

Know the date and time of the exam.
Know the point value of each section of the test.
Find out the hour you will be tested: objective, essay, open-book, take-home, etc.
Know the point value of each section of the test.
Be aware of what score you need on this test in order to get the grade you want in the class.
Find out what material will be covered on the exam (which chapters, handouts, notes, etc.).

If you have an "A," but haven't done these things...subtract five more points.

Spend about one hour going through all the material and mark what you already know, what you haven't mastered and what you don't understand.
Looking at a calendar, determine how many hours of study time are available before the exam. Make a study schedule.
Divide up the material you still need to study and write each section of the material into your study schedule. Leave a two-hour study session open the night before the exam.
Make summary sheets and/or index cards in order to condense the information.

Now that you have a specific schedule to follow you won't waste precious study time in unproductive tasks.

Follow the study schedule. Have a set goal at the beginning of each session. Take a short break after two hours of study.
Continue to go to class. Use some class time to clarify material you still don't understand.

You're still doing fine, but... if you cut classes, or didn't follow your study schedule, subtract another 5 points.

Review your notes actively; in other words, not just re-reading the notes, but reciting the information aloud or quizzing yourself on the material.
Use the two-hour session before the test to go over the most important information, or unmastered information. If the test will have an essay, write a practice essay. If you will have to solve problems, spend time solving sample problems.
Get plenty of rest, be on time for the test and spend some time in the exam room going over the main ideas. Avoid nervous people!!

You are going into the exam with an "A" if you have followed these steps. Otherwise, you will have to work against a negative score.

STUDYING FOR EXAMINATIONS

Overall aim
Your aim is to demonstrate that you know and understand your subject(s). You will remember and use best the material that you have fully understood, which you are able to integrate with existing knowledge and for which you have example or evidence, such as academic references.
Collect together all your notes, essays, practicals, etc. under topic headings. Make notes of any significant gaps.

Obtain a copy of the course syllabus (or go through lecture and seminar titles) and get an overview of the whole subject.
Check your department handbook for exam information - dates, details, rules and regulations concerning your exams and the deadlines for compulsory coursework assignments.
Find out how many questions you have to answer on each paper and the time allowed - calculate the time per question.

Past Exam Papers

Get copies of recent past exam papers from www.rdg.ac.uk/Repol/
Check any changes with your tutors and discuss the areas that questions may cover.

Revision
Revision is best seen as an active process. It involves reworking your course material to make it easier to understand, remember and adapt to specific questions.

Gather material - understand it - memorize it - test yourself

Gathering and Understanding Material

Decide on an effective revision timetable by working out a weekly and daily study routine. Be prepared to change and update your plans.
Decide how many topics you will need to cover in depth for each subject and decide on priorities. You can't revise everything so choose topics that:

You understand
Have good examples or evidence to support your points/arguments
Link with other topics (for sharing information and supporting arguments).

Ensure that you have chosen a sufficient number of topics for each paper leaving some question choice.
Plug the gaps by doing additional reading, keeping possible exam questions in mind.
Discuss topics which are proving difficult with fellow students and share your material. NB If you are in real difficulty, book an appointment with a member of staff.
Read through and summarise your notes adding your own examples and references from other sources. Make connections between topics.

Memorising it and testing yourself

If you have a good visual memory - make the materials distinctive and memorable by using colour, shape, graphics and diagrams. If you have a good auditory memory - record the material onto audio-tape.
Memorise the material in chunks and then close the file and test yourself.
Practice writing essay plans from memory - check them against your notes.
Practice writing timed essays or long answers.
Check how many pages you can write in the time available
Work out the times for starting and completing the questions for each paper

Staying healthy

Eat healthily.
Get enough sleep - do something relaxing for at least an hour before trying to sleep.
Limit your caffeine consumption as too much may impair your concentration, stop you sleeping and make you depressed.
Take regular exercise.
Take breaks from studying - make time for fun.

Planning a revision session

Set a definite time for the beginning and end of the session to get you started and keep you focused.
Set clear goals which you can achieve realistically in each session. Try beginning with a topic you find difficult and ending with an easier one.
Let other people know when you are studying so that you will not be disturbed.
Take regular breaks - 5 minutes per half hour.

Sitting the exams

Arrive in good time.
Make sure you understand the instructions - highlight key instructions, e.g.

When the exam ends
How many questions to be answered (from each section).
Which questions are compulsory.

When you are allowed to write, jot down your planned time allocation for the questions and any memory aids, formulae, etc.
Read all the questions carefully
Go back through the paper deciding which questions to answer.
Begin with your second best question and then do your best.
For each question:

Make sure you know what the question is asking
Underline key words in the question.
Brainstorm
Make an essay plan (introduction, main section, conclusion).
Check that you are answering the question.
Write the answer - keeping to short paragraphs that make points or arguments, which you back up with evidence.

If you get distracted or panicky - sit back, drop your shoulders, take a couple of deep breaths and relax. Once composed re-think your question and approach. If necessary go on to the next question.
In the last 5 minutes check that your main points are legible and / or that your calculations are correct.
If you are running out of time finish your last question with brief notes.

If you do all of the above you will do very well.

Once the exam is over, don't hold a post-mortem - just forget it and relax. Allow yourself a rest before preparing for the next exam.