How to

Prepare and

ApproachExaminations

How to

Prepare and

ApproachExaminations

Let Mr. Bean show us how approaching examinations unprepared

is no laughing matter.

Mr. Bean Video

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING PREPARED

“You can map out a fight plan or a life plan, but when the action starts it may not go the way you planned, and you’re down to your reflexes – which means your training.That’s where your road work shows. If you cheated on that in the dark of the morning, well you’re getting found out now under the bright lights.”

Joe Frazier – World Heavyweight Boxing Champion

WHY SHOULD I STUDY?Performing in examinations is an important skill. Study helps you to:

Recall information learnt during the Semester;

Prepare for different styles of examination questions;

Reinforce techniques used to answer questions;

Maximise your performance under examinations conditions.

WHERE SHOULD I STUDY?Choose a quiet, private place.

Always study in the same place;Well lit room;

Poor lighting may increase fatigue, headaches & eye strain.

Comfortable room temperature;Comfortable chair with a straight back;

Do not sit on a sofa, couch, floor or bed.

Spacious study space - tidy & organised;Notice board to display information;With little or no distractions;

Quiet instrumental music but no television or visual distractions.

GETTING FIT FOR STUDYOperating at peak performance when

studying is achieved by living a balanced lifestyle:Aim to sleep 8 hours each night;Eat regularly – don’t skip meals;Enjoy a balanced diet avoiding fad diets and snack foods.Exercise regularly & drink plenty of water;Make time for relaxation;Have a break every 60 mins Spend time with family & friends;

Seven TipsOn

How To Study

Seven TipsOn

How To Study

HOW DO I STUDY?1. Be Organised:

Use the time leading up to the examination allocating sufficient time in the study timetable for each subject;Spend time studying the most difficult subjects firstMake a study plan

HOW DO I STUDY?1. Be Organised:

Vary the material to be studied, not spending too long on one topic or activity.Write down your exam timetable and your seating location in your student planners Find out what to take to the exam

HOW DO I STUDY?2. Identify Key Information:

Ask your subject teacher for assistance with:

A summary sheet of what content will be assessed on the examination;Information about different types of questions & mark allocation

HOW DO I STUDY?2. Identify Key Information:

Ask your subject teacher for assistance with:

DO OLD TESTS AND EXAMSList of materials to bring into the examination. Make a practise examination

HOW DO I STUDY?

3. Understand the content:Take an active role in the learning process;During class listen to teacher instructions, be attentive, involve yourself in class discussions and ask questions.Do not hesitate - Get Help Early

Don’t be too shy or afraid to ask the teacher for assistance both in class and for extra help outside scheduled class time.

HOW DO I STUDY?4. Understand the terminology:

Become familiar with the key terms to be used in each examination

WORD DEFINITION

List A number of items

Explain Make it clear to someone

Outline summarise

Discuss Talk with others about a subject

Define What a word means

Describe Say what someone or something is like

Analyse Separate something into its parts

Compare Put things together so they are similar or different

Contrast Something showing a clear difference

Illustrate Show something by pictures

HOW DO I STUDY?Learn to carefully read instructions in order to answer questions correctly; Learn about the importance of effectively using reading time as a time to prepare and plan responses

HOW DO I STUDY?

5. Set Achievable ReasonableTargets:

Example 1: “Read 2 sections of Chapter 6”, rather than “I’m going to spend all day Saturday studying”

Example 2: Each hour give yourself a 10 minute break rather than sitting at the desk staring blankly at a textbook for 3 hours.

HOW DO I STUDY?6. Learning Better By Doing:

Don’t just read from the book;Complete exercises or revision questions;Make notes & brief summaries;Write comments;

HOW DO I STUDY?6. Learning Better By Doing:

Complete learning exercises;Use Mind/Concept Maps & Diagrams;Use sticky notes to summarise ideas; Use colour to highlight key points;Re-type notes, use audio tape, make flash cards.

PRACTISE the writing of key ideas and the calculation of key questions;

HOW DO I STUDY?7. Concentrate:

Keep your mind focused on the task at hand;Work out optimum study time;

Early morning?Late at night?

Use a reminder pad to jot down key information;Avoid PROCRASTINATION.

GET STARTED NOW!!!!

Study StrategiesThat Work

Study StrategiesThat Work

HOW DO WE LEARN?We need to remember that:

Learning takes time;Very few of us have photographic memories;No one method works for all as we all have preferred learning styles;But it may help to:

Learn through repetition;Use diagrams to learn more difficult content.

LEARNING STYLESVISUAL LEARNERS

Relates to Visual/Spatial intelligence;Approximately 35% of people are visual learners;

They learn best by:Seeing;Picturing;Reading & Imagining;Watching;Visualising information;Drawing concept maps, flow charts or timelines.

LEARNING STYLESAUDITORY LEARNERS

Relates to Linguistic intelligence.Approximately 30% of people are auditory learners;They learn best by:

Talking & Discussing;Rewriting ideas in their own words;Listening to others;Reading list aloud;Explaining diagrams to themselves;Associating with sounds rather than words.

LEARNING STYLESKINAESTHETIC LEARNERS

Relates to Physical intelligenceApproximately 40% of people are kinaesthetic learners;They learn best by:

Doing activities for themselves;Being active in their learning;Watching body language;Writing the information on place cards and move around them as they learn and memorise them;Connecting information to familiar objects in a room.

LEARNING STYLESWe learn best when we combine the three learning styles – seeing, hearing and doing.

We remember:10% from reading;25% from hearing;35% from seeing;50% from both seeing & hearing;75% from discussing;85% from experiencing an activity;95% from teaching someone else.

MEMORY TOOLS~ MNEMONICSUse the first letter from key words to make up a word or phrase to help remember the

content.Examples:• ROY G BIV (The colours of the rainbow)• 30 DAYS HAS SEPT, APRIL, JUNE AND

NOVEMBER ALL THE REST HAVE 31 EXCEPT _______ ON A LEAP YEAR

What other examples of mnemonicsdo we know or use?

MEMORY TOOLS~ MIND MAPS

Produce mental pictures that visually link concepts and areas of knowledge.Using space, colours, headings symbols & arrows, draw these links as:

A flowchart;A concept map;A table or grid;A diagram;A list;A matrix.

MEMORY TOOLSSUMMARY CARDS

Produce cards containing summaries of the main points and key ideas;Recite them aloud at every opportunity to remember them;Produce the cards as posters – A4 or A3 size and pin the cards in central positions in your house – the study, bedroom, kitchen;You may also record these notes on a tape, CD or ipod and listen to it regularly.

QUESTION STYLES1.Multiple Choice

QuestionsRequires selection of a correct answer from a number of alternatives.Carefully read all parts of the question; Underline key phrases in the question; Eliminate incorrect answer/s . Chances of a correct answer increase with every alternative eliminated;

QUESTION STYLES1.Multiple Choice

QuestionsRequires selection of a correct answer from a number of alternatives.Remember that research shows that often the first choice is correct;Don’t spend time agonising over a question. Come back later if you have time;But don’t leave any question unanswered.

QUESTION STYLES2. Short Answer & Essay

QuestionsQuestions to demonstrate knowledge with supporting arguments.Read directions carefully to understand the question & underline key words;Check how much each question is worth and divide your time accordingly; Answer the easier questions first;

QUESTION STYLES2. Short Answer & Essay

QuestionsQuestions to demonstrate knowledge with supporting arguments.Make a brief plan jotting down main points; Draw pictures & write legibly;Support arguments with evidence;If running out of time, write an introduction and outline your main points and arguments in note form;

Succeeding On The Day

Before, During & After the Examination

Succeeding On The Day

Before, During & After the Examination

EQUIPMENT KITPrepare an equipment kit with all the equipment you will need for the examinations.Ask your class teacher for equipment required for each examination;The kit should include:

Your ID Card;Writing tools – pens & pencils (spares);An eraser;A Ruler;A Calculator with spare batteries;A clear water bottle – no labels attached;A watch;Bring a novel in case you finish early.Plastic pocket to put it all in

Before The Examination

Aim for at least 8 hours of sleep per night;Eat a healthy breakfast - fruit & cereal. Drink plenty of water throughout the day;Avoid stress - arrive early at the College;Avoid students who make you anxious;Briefly review notes (if necessary);

During The Examination

1. Entering the Examination Room

Sit down and relax ~ the preparation work should have been done by now!Inhale deep breaths & organise the materials you brought into the examination;Remain seated in silence & await teacher instructions to commence.

During The Examination

Keeping Calm for Best Performance

Full yoga breathing can be used to calm down before or during an examination. Inhaling is done by:

Take 4 counts to fully expand the diaphragm muscle;Use a further 2 counts to expand the rib cage;1 count completes the breath into the top of the lungs;Pause a moment.

During The Examination

Keeping Calm for Best Performance

Exhaling is done by:Use 4 counts to retract the diaphragm up into the bottom of the cage;Use 2 counts to contract the ribs;1 final count to expel the last bit of breath from the top of the lungs.

During The Examination

2. Reading Time

Read ALL the instructions first;Read each question carefully & begin planning the answer in your head;Decide which questions to answer first;Mark answers to Multiple Choice with thumb nail;Use ALL the allocated reading time. Don’t just sit there looking around and staring at others.

During The Examination

3. Writing TimeRead instructions at beginning of each section or group of questions. “Circle the correct response on answer sheet”;Reread question & identify key words that provide clues on how to answer the question:

Questions asking to “describe” and “explain” require more detail “list”;Look for highlighted words, eg. incorrect, not, give two reasons;Underline key terms which are related to the subject.

During The Examination

3. Writing Time

Make sure you understand what the question is asking before answering;Check allocated marks for each question & write the appropriate amount. For example 3 marks = 3 parts, steps or key words to the answer;Interpret diagrams and tables carefully, and look past the numbers; “What do they tell you?”;Check spelling and grammar.

During The Examination

3. Writing TimeKeep an eye on the time;Show all working for calculations;Don’t forget to include correct UNITS – cms, gms, volts;Attempt every question, even if it is with an educated guess. Look back at other questions (especially Multiple Choice) for clues & key words;Take care and use a pencil for graphs and drawings;

At the End of The Examination

Check:That you have written your name;That you have answered ALL questions fully & according to the marks allocated;That you have included correct units.

For each question, cover your written answer and answer again in head, then compare.Wait … take deep breaths … and read over it again!!! Avoid silly careless mistakes.And then … Read over it again!!!

MOST OF ALL…ONCE THE HARD WORK HAS BEEN DONE

RELAX AND GOOD LUCK !!

Semester One 2012 Year 11 Examinations

Commence: FRIDAY JUNE 15

Conclude: THURSDAY JUNE 21

SEMESTER TWO:Will commence for all Year 7-11 students on

Monday June 25th 2012.