Revising and preparing for exams Study development advisors Institute for Academic Development University of Edinburgh

What bugs you about exams?

Can’t control Could but don’t… Can and do take control

Taking control In the run-up…. Look after yourself Start preparing early Find out what’s required Make a timetable (plan and prioritise) Ask staff and students for advice Double-check times and locations Revise actively

Registry: Exams

Planning and prioritising

Prioritising important urgent Do this now Start it before it becomes urgent Do it if you can

TimeMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday

TimeMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday Work Tutorial Lunch 1 - 2Lecture Lunch 2 - 3Swim Work Dinner 7 - 8Club/Society Friends

Planning MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday morning afternoon evening

How much time do you have left to study? Do you think this is enough time? Do you need to rethink your other commitments? The amount of study time you need each week may vary. Actively prioritising or creating a ‘To Do list’ will help you plan your study

Review your plan: Review how realistic your plan was What worked well and what didn’t? What can you do differently? Don’t expect your plan to work perfectly the first time Don’t give up! Seek help or advice if you need it

Revising actively How do you revise now? How can you make your revision more active?

Revising Actively Organising and structuring notes: –Thinking about inter-relationships –Relating what you are learning to ‘real-life’ situations. –Organising material into a meaningful structure. Creating a diagram or chart to represent a topic. Looking for similarities or differences. Looking for points for and against an argument. Trying to really understand how formulae work. Critically evaluating what you are learning. Discussing topics with a friend.

Mnemonics Emergency - Medical history (AMPLE) Allergies Medications Past medical history Last ate/drank Events

Key diagrams Look Cover Draw and annotate Check

Just before the exam Preparation Check venue, times and so again Equipment, water, matriculation card etc. Looking at notes ? Routine Sleep Food

Equipment examples Only a calculator from the list specified by the College of Science and Engineering may be used in this examination. Calculators may not be used in this examination. Candidates are permitted to make use of foreign language dictionaries. Candidates are not permitted to take any statutes, notes or other materials into the examination hall. Copies of the English Bible (RSV) will be supplied.

On the day… The exam

Your mind goes blank?

Leave a gap and carry on if it is a small section Move on to another question and come back later Find a space and scribble down words connected to the topic – you can mind map this Do a one or two minute free write - let your mind go anywhere writing whatever comes into your head Picture a time when you were studying this (seminar, lecture, in your room) and focus on details (sounds, sights, smells, colours, actions)

Stop! and relax… Silently, tell yourself Stop! Breathe in gently Breathe out slowly, relaxing shoulders, arms and hands Pause Breathe in again Breathe out slowly, relaxing forehead and jaw Sit quietly for a few seconds Continue what you were doing, deliberately moving more slowly. Edinburgh University Counselling Service booklet, Stress, a short guide for students available at:

Have strategies worked out Reading Question choice Time – planning and writing – write down when you aim to move on to the next question

The instructions BIOINFORMATICS 1 16th December 2010, 09:30 to 11:30 Answer QUESTION 1 and ONE other question. Question 1 is COMPULSORY. All questions carry equal weight.

Answer the question Read the question and answer the question, the whole question, and nothing but the question.

The question asked Describe three different models of… Compare and contrast different models of… Discuss the different models of… Evaluate three different models of…

What examiners say

Poser Suppose you've got time left to do one question, but two questions left to do. Which one do you choose?

ACUTE: Checking at the end Assumptions - have you explained them? Calculations - have you checked them? Units - have you written the units down? Take stock - have you done all parts? Explanations - have you explained fully?

Summary 1. Take control by: planning prioritising and preparing 2. Revise actively 3. Rehearse scenarios (prepare strategies)

Afterwards… relax and treat yourself

LearnBetter For advice on revision and exams go to LearnBetter. LearnBetter is available on the Learn VLE Access via MyEd You will need to self enrol