Mastering study skills Revision and Exams

Revision Basic principles:  Revision should be a regular process throughout the course not just in the last week or two before the exams.  Revision should be an important part of your study timetable.  Plan your regular revision sessions as follows:

Revision 1.start each study session with a review of the last session. 2.End each week with a review of the week. 3.end each month with a review of the month. 4.End each term ( or three months) with a review of the course.

Revision  Your successive revisions counteract the forgetting curve and produce the effect shown:

Revision Characteristics of revision material  At first you should read the book to make notes that are suitable and sufficient for revision.  Having used these for weekly, monthly and quarterly revisions you may need to make new shortened ones for your final revision.  Shortening the notes is useful as it is an active form of learning, also the shortened notes produce a final condensed form of your material for further revision.

Revision Methods for revising  Revision sessions should not be used for studying new material, revision is simply going over material previously understood and memorized.  Avoid passive reading of the notes, even at the revision stage you should always aim for understanding.

Revision  Try rearranging the material and linking new ideas with old ones the following approaches may be useful: 1.Test yourself at regular intervals. 2.Try solving new problems. 3.Write outlines for some possible essays. 4.Use active recall (reciting, reading). 5.Talk about the subject with someone. 6.Check your understanding of your notes. 7.Ask yourself questions on your learning.

Preparing for Exams  Before taking your exam you need to check a few points: 1.How many questions are there? 2.What type of questions? Essay, factual listing, multiple choice, practical exam, oral exam. 3.How much choice will you have? Can you omit one or two subjects to complete the course.

Preparing for Exams  What can be learned from exam instructions? 1.Whether the points are equally divided between all questions or not. 2.Whether you are required to answer all questions or not ( and whether one of the questions is compulsory). 3.Whether there are points for good english. 4.Whether there are points for the notes you put next to the answers.

Preparing for Exams Practicing for exams  practice at least two papers under strict exam conditions.  Allow yourself only the exact time and the material allowed in the exam.  Make the first practice exam at least one month before the real exam.

Preparing for Exams The real exam  Start preparing the day before, you must put ready everything you need.  Make sure you know where the exam is and how to get there.  Do not rush reading the exam paper, first read the instructions, apply all strategies outlined in chapter 8.