Study SkillsStudy Skills

Exam TechniquesExam Techniques

Counselling Unit,UWI, Mona

Quotation for DiscussionQuotation for Discussion

Learn from the mistakes of othersLearn from the mistakes of others—you can never live long enough —you can never live long enough to make them all yourself.to make them all yourself.

——John LutherJohn Luther

Disarm TestsDisarm TestsGrades are what we use to give Grades are what we use to give power to testspower to testsLet go of your misconceptions about Let go of your misconceptions about gradesgradesDon’t exaggerate the pressure Don’t exaggerate the pressure on yourselfon yourselfKeep the risk in perspectiveKeep the risk in perspective

Remember… Remember…

Grades are not measures of:Grades are not measures of:– IntelligenceIntelligence– CreativityCreativity– Self-worthSelf-worth

Test scores do not measure Test scores do not measure accomplishment in a course—accomplishment in a course—they measure performance on a testthey measure performance on a test

Before the examsBefore the exams

Work consistently throughout the Work consistently throughout the semestersemester

Get sufficient sleepGet sufficient sleep

Ensure an adequate dietEnsure an adequate diet

Maintain your exercise regimeMaintain your exercise regime

Check time, date and place of each Check time, date and place of each examexam

On the day of the examOn the day of the exam

After a good night’s rest, have an After a good night’s rest, have an adequate mealadequate meal

Ensure you have all that you will Ensure you have all that you will need for the examneed for the exam

Get to your exam centre at least 10 Get to your exam centre at least 10 minutes before the examminutes before the exam

Spend that time relaxing in Spend that time relaxing in preparation for the exampreparation for the exam

During the examDuring the exam

Read all directions Read all directions TWICETWICE before you before you begin the exambegin the exam

Orient yourself to the total exam – Orient yourself to the total exam – read through all the questionsread through all the questions

Establish a time schedule before you Establish a time schedule before you start to answer the questions and start to answer the questions and stick with itstick with it

Choose questions that you feel you Choose questions that you feel you know the bestknow the best

Outline each answer before you Outline each answer before you beginbegin

In the margins, jot down memory In the margins, jot down memory aids, formulas, equations, factsaids, formulas, equations, facts

Start with you second best question Start with you second best question firstfirst

Look for answers in other questionsLook for answers in other questions

Always leave time to review and edit Always leave time to review and edit your answersyour answers

If short on time, offer an outline for If short on time, offer an outline for what you intended to saywhat you intended to say

Multiple-Choice QuestionsMultiple-Choice Questions

Check directions to see if more than Check directions to see if more than one answer is called forone answer is called for

Answer questions in your head Answer questions in your head before looking at answer choicesbefore looking at answer choices

Read all answers to each question Read all answers to each question before selecting onebefore selecting one

Your first instinct is usually bestYour first instinct is usually best

Use guessing techniques when Use guessing techniques when appropriateappropriate

True/False QuestionsTrue/False QuestionsAnswer quicklyAnswer quicklyRead carefullyRead carefullyLook for qualifiersLook for qualifiers– AllAll– MostMost– SometimesSometimes– NeverNever– RarelyRarely

Absolute qualifiers often indicate Absolute qualifiers often indicate false statementsfalse statements– AlwaysAlways– NeverNever

Essay QuestionsEssay QuestionsFind out precisely what the question Find out precisely what the question is askingis asking

Make a quick outlineMake a quick outline

Get right to the pointGet right to the point

Put the most solid supporting points firstPut the most solid supporting points first

Words to Watch Words to Watch for in Essay Questionsfor in Essay Questions

AnalyzeAnalyze

DefineDefine

CompareCompare

CriticizeCriticize

DescribeDescribe

DiscussDiscuss

ContrastContrast

ExplainExplain

ProveProve

RelateRelate

StateState

SummarizeSummarize

TraceTrace

““F” Is for Feedback, not FailureF” Is for Feedback, not Failure

Getting an “F” means only that you Getting an “F” means only that you failed a test—not your lifefailed a test—not your life

An “F” is feedback that you didn’t An “F” is feedback that you didn’t understand the materialunderstand the material

Feedback helps you change to Feedback helps you change to promote future successpromote future success

Studying with OthersStudying with OthersTest each otherTest each other

Teach each otherTeach each other

Compare notesCompare notes

Brainstorm test Brainstorm test questionsquestions

Set an agendaSet an agenda

Three at a computerThree at a computer

Create wall-sized mind Create wall-sized mind mapsmaps

Lecture each otherLecture each other

Ask for personal Ask for personal supportsupport

The Costs of CheatingThe Costs of CheatingWe learn lessWe learn less

We lose moneyWe lose money

Fear of getting Fear of getting caught promotes caught promotes stressstress

Violating our Violating our values promotes values promotes stressstress

Cheating once Cheating once makes it easier to makes it easier to compromise our compromise our integrityintegrity

Cheating lowers Cheating lowers our self-conceptour self-concept

Let Go of Test AnxietyLet Go of Test Anxiety

Deal with your THOUGHTSDeal with your THOUGHTS

Deal with your FEELINGSDeal with your FEELINGS

Dealing with ThoughtsDealing with Thoughts

Yell “Stop!”Yell “Stop!”

DaydreamDaydream

Visualize successVisualize success

FocusFocus

Praise yourselfPraise yourself

Consider the worstConsider the worst

Zoom outZoom out

Dealing with FeelingsDealing with Feelings

BreatheBreathe

Scan your bodyScan your body

Tense and relaxTense and relax

Use guided imageryUse guided imagery

Dealing with FeelingsDealing with Feelings

Describe itDescribe it

Be with itBe with it

Exercise aerobicallyExercise aerobically

Get helpGet help

Power Process: DetachPower Process: Detach

Power Process: DetachPower Process: Detach

Attachments are addictionsAttachments are addictions

We can be attached to emotions as We can be attached to emotions as well as thoughtswell as thoughts

Ways to Recognize Ways to Recognize an Attachmentan Attachment

Strong emotions—feeling irritated, Strong emotions—feeling irritated, angry, jealous, confused…angry, jealous, confused…

Feelings of nervousness, weakness, Feelings of nervousness, weakness, or nauseaor nausea

Four Ways to DetachFour Ways to Detach

Practice observer consciousnessPractice observer consciousness

Put your own circumstances into a Put your own circumstances into a larger perspectivelarger perspective

Ask: “What’s the worst that could Ask: “What’s the worst that could happen?”happen?”

Use breathing and relaxation Use breathing and relaxation techniquestechniques

Cautions When Using DetachmentCautions When Using Detachment

Giving up an addiction to getting an Giving up an addiction to getting an “A” is different from giving up being “A” is different from giving up being an “A” studentan “A” student

Detachment is different from denialDetachment is different from denial

Being detached is not the same as Being detached is not the same as being apatheticbeing apathetic

Master StudentMaster StudentBarbara JordanBarbara Jordan

““. . . it occurred to me that if I was . . . it occurred to me that if I was going to succeed at this strange going to succeed at this strange new adventure, I would have to new adventure, I would have to read longer and more thoroughly read longer and more thoroughly than my colleagues . . .”than my colleagues . . .”

Remember, tests are opportunities to demonstrate your mastery

After the examAfter the exam

Avoid a post mortemAvoid a post mortem

Take a few hours break, get some Take a few hours break, get some rest and begin to prepare for the rest and begin to prepare for the next examnext exam

If this is your last exam….If this is your last exam….

GO OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN GO OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN

ReferencesReferencesEllis, D. (1994) Ellis, D. (1994) Becoming a Master StudentBecoming a Master Student

(7th ed.) Rapid City, SD. Houghton Mifflin (7th ed.) Rapid City, SD. Houghton Mifflin Co.Co.

Ellis, D. (2003) Ellis, D. (2003) Becoming a Master StudentBecoming a Master Student (10th ed.) Rapid City, SD. Houghton Mifflin (10th ed.) Rapid City, SD. Houghton Mifflin Co.Co.

http://college.hmco.com/collegesurvival/ellishttp://college.hmco.com/collegesurvival/ellis/master_student/10e/students/master_student/10e/students

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