Step 1 Goal Setting

Goal Setting The crucial thing to do when you’re starting to study is to set your goals. Knowing your goals helps you see WHY you’re putting yourself through the hard work that study involves. Goals get you motivated to study, and will keep you going when others begin to lose heart.

What’s in it for me?

Goals should be SMART!

Goals should be SMART! Specific

Goals should be SMART! Specific ie. Your goal shouldn’t be “wanting to do well in the Leaving Cert”

Goals should be SMART! Specific ie. Your goal shouldn’t be “wanting to do well in the Leaving Cert” – it’s too vague.

Goals should be SMART! Specific Your goal might be something like “to get 3 A’s, 2 B’s and 2C’s at Higher Level in the Leaving Cert”

Goals should be SMART! Specific

Goals should be SMART! Specific Measurable

Goals should be SMART! Measurable Fortunately, with exam results this is straightforward – the grades you get are a very clear measure of your performance

Goals should be SMART! Specific Measurable Attainable

Goals should be SMART! Attainable Don’t aim for something impossible

Goals should be SMART! Attainable Don’t aim for something impossible – you will become depressed and quickly give up.

Goals should be SMART! Attainable Think about what you could set as a reasonable target for YOURSELF.

Goals should be SMART! Specific Measurable Attainable

Goals should be SMART! Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic

Goals should be SMART! Realistic At the same time, your goals should challenge you.

Goals should be SMART! Realistic At the same time, your goals should challenge you. There’s no point in setting goals that are pathetically easy.

Goals should be SMART! Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic

Goals should be SMART! Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timed

Goals should be SMART! Timed Outline exactly when your goals are going to be achieved.

Goals should be SMART! Timed Outline exactly when your goals are going to be achieved. (Again, with the Leaving/Junior Cert this is straightforward)

Goals should be SMART! Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timed

Goals will also be short, medium and long term

Your Long Term Goals …

Your Long Term Goals … It’s hard to be specific, especially if you’re many years from the Leaving Cert, but think about what you want to achieve in life.

Your Long Term Goals … It’s hard to be specific, especially if you’re many years from the Leaving Cert, but think about what you want to achieve in life. Do you want to go to college?

Your Long Term Goals … It’s hard to be specific, especially if you’re many years from the Leaving Cert, but think about what you want to achieve in life. Do you want to go to college? What type of job would you like?

Your Long Term Goals … It’s hard to be specific, especially if you’re many years from the Leaving Cert, but think about what you want to achieve in life. Do you want to go to college? What type of job would you like? What sort of salary would you like?

Your Long Term Goals … It’s hard to be specific, especially if you’re many years from the Leaving Cert, but think about what you want to achieve in life. Do you want to go to college? What type of job would you like? What sort of salary would you like? What sort of Leaving Cert results will you need to get a decent college offer?

Your Long Term Goals … These questions have nothing to do with your next test, but by thinking about them it can help start you getting motivated to study.

Your Long Term Goals … These questions have nothing to do with your next test, but by thinking about them it can help start you getting motivated to study. If you haven’t already answered the questions in the last slide, spend a few moments doing so now, before moving on to the next slide.

Your MediumTerm Goals …

Your MediumTerm Goals … Let’s move on now to the next time you will sit State Exams (Leaving Cert or Junior Cert)

Your MediumTerm Goals … List out all your subjects.

Your MediumTerm Goals … List out all your subjects. Beside the list, write your target result for each subject - the results which you hope to achieve.

Your MediumTerm Goals … List out all your subjects. Beside the list, write your target result for each subject - the results which you hope to achieve. Now compare this list to your results in your last EGS exam in each subject.

Your MediumTerm Goals … List out all your subjects. Beside the list, write your target result for each subject - the results which you hope to achieve. Now compare this list to your results in your last EGS exam in each subject. Where do you need to improve? Are there any glaring gaps or problem areas?

Your MediumTerm Goals … Are there any subjects where your recent results indicate you could perhaps aim a little higher?

Your MediumTerm Goals … Are there any subjects where your recent results indicate you could perhaps aim a little higher? Finally, do the set of results that you are aiming for give you enough points for the college course you want? Or do you need to push yourself to aim a bit higher?

Your MediumTerm Goals … These questions should help you decide on realistic and attainable targets for each subject.

Your MediumTerm Goals … These questions should help you decide on realistic and attainable targets for each subject. If you haven’t already planned your target grade for each subject using the system outlined in the last few slides, spend a few moments doing so now, before moving on to the next section.

Your MediumTerm Goals … Now you have to make sure that your STAY ON TARGET throughout the course!

Your Short Term Goals …

Your Short Term Goals … It’s all very well wanting to achieve a certain grade in a subject, but you’ve got to actually DO it! You’re not going to make a sudden improvement at the very end.

Your Short Term Goals … For each subject, now take the next two weeks…

Your Short Term Goals … For each subject, now take the next two weeks… What do you hope to achieve in the next test?

Your Short Term Goals … For each subject, now take the next two weeks… What do you hope to achieve in the next test? What do you want from the next homework?

Your Short Term Goals … For each subject, now take the next two weeks… What do you hope to achieve in the next test? What do you want from the next homework? How are you going to understand/learn/make notes for this chapter?

Your Short Term Goals … For each subject, now take the next two weeks… What do you hope to achieve in the next test? What do you want from the next homework? How are you going to understand/learn/make notes for this chapter? How are you going to get so on top of this chapter that it’s a really strong one for you when it comes to exams?

Your Short Term Goals … Again, it’s worth giving a little bit of thought on a week by week basis to what you are doing at that point in time. If nothing else, it will help you stay motivated and concentrating in class.

Once you’ve set your goals, you can now move on to other aspects of planning your study