Exam Technique Colin Garvie

2 Agenda Why do students fail exams? Examiners’ comments Exam techniques The exam – just in case you forgot – P5 – F9 What to do between now and the exam?

3 I should not fail I am: – Motivated – Experienced – Competent Why am I therefore worried?

4 Global pass rates

5 Why are we here today? Global pass rates – speak for themselves Why so poor?

6 Past exams Think back to previous exam questions that you have done. How did you feel? – A. Brilliant, I am really good at this, so easy – B. I can do about 60% of this but I am not so sure about the rest – C. I can start bits of it but I do not know enough about each – D. I am going to cry, be sick, leave the exam room

7 Success is dependant on… Studying for the exam – Motivation – Concentration Tackling the exam itself – Avoid “meltdown” … know your subject – Deal with stress and panic…exam technique

8 High-level exam problems Unintelligible script Excessive information – knowledge dump Insufficient information Fact invention in the absence of information (i.e. the answer in search of a question) Unfounded conclusions Logic gaps

9 Examiners’ recent reports – F9 and P5 If candidates come to the exam expecting to repeat memorised material, they will only score 20% - 30% Candidates should focus on the given scenario. Evidence of bad time management in many questions attempted Poor performance in quantitative answers Poor understanding of the requirements of the question Tailoring answer to given scenario was poor Write concise, well structured answers. “Long rambling answers often hide valuable advice in the fog of waffle” Professional marks (P5)

10 Common faults therefore…. From examiners’ comments: – Inadequate knowledge and understanding of subject – Not relating answer to scenario…answer too general – Time management (time to marks match) – No proper reading of question or planning answer – Not answering the question but another one – Omitting the basics – Layout/format/handwriting – Irrelevancy

11 Reading and planning time (RAPT) You may: – Read the question paper – Write in your question paper – Use your calculator You may not – Write in your answer book

12 A systematic approach to answers Read The Question! – Think about the question – Question the question (I.e. what is wanted) Plan (marks/time is vital) Answer Review Move on

13 Exam question: easy verbs Comment – make observation on something Describe - set out in reasonable depth the characteristics of something Explain - make plain or clarify something or define something, then say why it is important Identify – show something from the given scenario Illustrate – give an example (probably from the given scenario) List – make a list! State – express something in short bullet point Suggest – propose or put forward something

14 Exam question: not-so-easy verbs Advise (or Recommend) – Conclude on something, usually following a discussion or evaluation of it Discuss – Give a balanced view of something and, if required, your opinion on it, supported with facts and logical reasoning Evaluate (or Assess) – Either give a judgement on something, or – Determine the value, worth or quality of something Justify – Give a reasoned argument for your opinion on something

15 Time management Timing is critical Timing is really critical! Timing is really really critical!! Stick to it Marks Time

16 Narrative answers Plan Start, middle and end Paragraphs (short) with headings State assumptions Avoid big words, use simple ones Do not repeat or waffle Do not elaborate too much on one point

17 Numeric answers Presentation vital Ruler for lines Support all answers with workings Columns and rows where appropriate State assumptions Attempt all parts (they are marked separately

18 The exam: P5 Section A: One question worth 50 marks Section B: Two questions from three – worth 25 marks each

19 Reading and planning time P5 Approach 1 – Plan the Section A question only – Ignore Section B for the time being Approach 2 – Read the requirements of the Section B questions – decide which to do and what order to do them in – Do a timetable on the front page of your answer book – Start to plan the Section A question Both approaches dictate doing Section A question first

20 The actual exam – P5 Do Section A question first – Allocate your time (1.8 minutes per mark) – Plan your answer (including numeric parts) – Take account of instructions – such as write a report The do Section B questions in the order you choose – Allocate your time (1.8 minutes per mark) – Plan your answer (including numeric parts) For both Sections: – Show workings and assumptions clearly – Write tidily, concisely, use sub headings

21 Approach to Section A case study – P5 1.Read the first two or three sentences of the scenario 2.Read the requirements. Note them down carefully 3.Read the scenario. Several times if necessary. Underline key information. Look for clues to help in your answer. 4.Do a quick brainstorming exercise 5.Plan the structure of your answer 6.Do any relevant calculations in an appendix. 7.Write your answer. A paragraph for each idea from the plan, with a heading.

22 The exam: F9 Section A: 20 objective test questions worth 40 marks Section B: Five questions – three worth 10 marks and two worth 15 marks The two 15-mark questions in Section B will come from working capital management, investment appraisal and business finance areas of the syllabus. The Section A questions and the other questions in Section B can cover any areas of the syllabus.

23 Reading and planning time F9 Read the requirements of the Section B questions – decide which to do and what order to do them in (rank according to easiest for you first) Do a timetable on the front page of your answer book If any time left after above, take a quick look through Section A objective test questions to see if there are any non- computational questions that you immediately know the answer to

24 The actual exam – F9 Do Section A objective test questions first Section A = 72 minutes max, time management critical Then do Section B questions, in the order you decided during RAPT – Allocate your time (1.8 minutes per mark) – Plan your answers (including numeric questions) – Show workings and assumptions clearly – Write tidily, concisely, use sub headings

25 Section A: Objective Test Questions F9 Work through questions and select your answer If you cannot do quickly, try to eliminate those choices you feel are incorrect (limits your options and increases your chance of getting right answer). If you still cannot get an answer, move on. Return to unanswered questions. If still no answer obvious, either: – Guess the answer now and move onto Section B, or – after attempting Section B, return to unanswered questions and if no inspiration now, guess the answer There is no negative marking. Do not leave any answer blank

26 Your actual exam marker Remember… – He/she is (probably) not the examiner – He/she could be disgruntled or in a bad mood Therefore – Initial impression critical

27 Summary: “Judgement Day” Reading and planning time Decisions as to order/time etc. Budget time (strictly) Plan answers

28 If all else fails..”guerrilla tactics” Leave the worst till last Concentrate on the bits that you can do Beware of stalkers (things that you just know you cannot do) Ask yourself why did the examiner give me that information? Get something down – blank pages score no marks! If in doubt between choices, “toss a coin!”

29 What to do now? Exam questions from revision question bank – try to do every one All questions from past 6 exams Sitting a mock exam is essential - learn from feedback Practice exam technique on every question worked on (e.g. x- referencing workings etc.) Read in detail examiner’s comments from at least the last two exams – what were the highlights or “takeaways”

30 Becker continuing support Student forums – post questions Question time checklist

31 ‘Common sense is not so common’ (Voltaire)

Good Luck!