Examinations – Get Ready – Exams Are Coming! Tamara O’Connor and Laurie Lumsden Student Counselling Service Trinity College Dublin Last modified April 2004

Objectives Establish personalised active examination preparation strategies Build self confidence

Know Yourself What are your exam concerns? Why do you have these concerns? What do you do well? What could you do better? Have friends developed strategies that you can use? How do you manage your stress?

Examinations As an Event Sport Skills development Fitness training Strength Stamina Performance rehearsal Academic performance Learning new material Revision Understanding Memory Performance rehearsal

Get Organised. The keys to your personal best is preparation and control Focus on the subjects you are sitting Remove distractions Mental Social Physical Make a study program and daily timetable. Include subjects, study objectives, exercise, meals, social activity and sleep

Learn from the past Get detailed information about what your exam paper looks like Practice answering exam questions Identify and revise topics you do not know well

Organise an Active Revision Program Know your learning styles Make revision fun Use revision strategies where you move around Draw pictures, maps, cartoons, diagrams, etc Put key points around your walls Teach “someone” else and ask them key questions (answer the questions yourself) Listen to tapes or view video/DVD versions of the material Make exam preparation a social occasion

Staying Focused Concentrate on preparing answers to anticipated questions Only look up new information when you identify something you do not know Put most of your effort into material you DO NOT know well Stop work when your mind does and change the approach you are using

Develop a Structure for Your Answers Understand what is being asked Only answer the QUESTION Do not include material that is irrelevant to the QUESTION Understand the format in which your answers are required Practice and practice answering previous exam questions using the required format

Building Self Confidence Your objective is to do your personal best Think of exams as an opportunity for you to show what you know Get familiar with the examination space Exam outcomes are proportionate to the effort you put in Set learning targets and rewards for yourself Compare what you know now with what you knew at the beginning of the year

Managing Stress Read up on stress and time management on www.tcd.ie/student_counselling/ Establish habits that support concentration and examination preparation Go to Luce Hall and get involved in stress management physical activity

Summary: The Keys to Your Personal Best Preparation Organisation Intelligence/information Active revision Stay focused Structure and content Control Manage your emotional and physical responses Think positively