STUDY SKILLS – WORKSHOPGrade 7 Life Orientation

Mrs J Panayiotou

February 2014

Study Skills are so amazing...

Just as amazing as you ...

STUDY SKILLS:Important points to remember – Studying

preparation starts in the classroom!

Pay attention in class Take good notes

Keep an organised Notebook Ask questions in class

Plan a definite study time Don’t cram for hours the

and place for each day night before a test or exam

INDEPENDENT LEARNERSThe following are characteristics of a successful

student.Develop these in yourself• Ask questions

• Discuss topics with your peers

• If you don’t understand something, speak up

I think you are all capable of being

independent learners. Independent learners

are amazing...

STUDY SESSIONS

• How do you study?

Study has 3 parts• Organising subject matter efficiently

• Getting ongoing day to day work and assignments done

• Researching and revising work for exams

• Try to work to a Revision Timetable

• Start planning well before exams begin

• Make your Books, Notes and Essays user friendly with Summary Notes, Headings,Sub-Headings and Revision Cards

• Use Key Words and / or Spider Charts

• Get tips on other revision techniques from others

STUDY TIMETABLEStudy sessions don’t just happen when you feel like doing them.They need to be scheduled on an organised timetable.

STUDY TIMETABLE

SOME TIPS• Don’t study after 11.00pm

• Divide time equally between subjects

• Put a copy somewhere to keep parents informed

• Revise your study timetable – things change

• Stick to it !

• Don’t make study sessions too long• Drink some water before you start• Break tasks down into smaller manageable ones• Do daily summaries of work covered in class in

your own words under Main Points• Set a task to achieve for each session• Record your plan of attack for each session• Practise skills learned by doing problems,

exercises and essays• Aim to build a clear understanding by connecting

areas of knowledge• These sessions are the backbone of your Study

Programme

Some succeed because they are destined

to...most succeed because they

are determined to.

ARE YOU DETERMINED?!

PRIORITISING

• When do you study?• How often?• What about the other things you do?

Write down :• The fixed things that you have to do

• Time you have no control over – the ‘musts’

• Activities where you have a choice are the ‘options’

COUNTDOWN to the EXAMS

In the run up to your exams, you must adopt a more disciplined attitudeYour performance in the exam is vital to your successLook at them positively as an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding

Social Life :• Put this on hold• Give up parties, nights out etc.• Plan your rewards you will give yourself after the

exams

Exercise :• Walk or jog daily to reduce the pressure• It clears the mind and encourages positive

thoughts

Distractions :• Eliminate noise

• Organise for friends to call at an agreed time

• PUT AWAY YOUR PHONE! THE FRIEND YOU ARE TALKING TO IS NOT GOING TO CARE WETHER YOU PASS OR FAIL. IT IS NOT WORTH IT!

EXAM PREPARATION

The secrets to success:• Have genuine faith in your preparation• Don’t leave anything to chanceKnow exactly what is required for each exam• Understand each subject• Quiz your teachers• Know your exam format

- Multiple choice- Short answer- Essays- How many questions

EXAM PREPARATION

Around the house put up lists of• Key facts• Formulae• Quotes• ExamplesRecite them aloud when you see themDo past papers under exam conditions• Identify areas of weakness and address them• Become comfortable with the vocabulary used• Perfect the pace you must work at• Your timing is critical

EXAM PREPARATION

Test your knowledge and understanding• Discuss it, explain it• Justify it with friends• Question each otherList any improvements needed• Work through them systematically• Retest your knowledgeBe thorough and focused – have a Study Timetable

in your study area

EXAM TECHNIQUE

Understanding Instructions

On the front cover of the exam paper are instructions

• Read them• Understand them• Know what questions to do• Where to put your answers

EXAM TECHNIQUE

Reading Time

• Read the paper through• Plan your approach• Identify questions you can do immediately• Put the questions in the order you wish to do them• Don’t work out answers• Your confidence will build with more difficult

questions

EXAM TECHNIQUE

The Exam itself• Start on straight forward questions• Don’t dwell on those you can’t do• Move on

On multiple choice questions• Eliminate those answers you think are incorrect• Beware of careless mistakes• Plan your answers• Draw big, clear and accurate diagrams

EXAM TECHNIQUE

The magic word in exams is

• Not fast

• Not slow

• But consistently and persistently

• Use reading time effectively• Underline / highlight key words and phrases• Do plans - do they address the questions?• But don’t spend too much time on planning• Make sure that you have filled in all the details• During the answer, consider how well it answers

the question• Stay alert – don’t daydream• Don’t panic if short on time – note the main

points• If you finish early, check your work thoroughly• Never leave early• Cross out any answer if it is not required• Write neatly and legible

PACE YOURSELF

• Read the instructions

• Read all the questions and give yourself time to answer those you are required to answer

• Plan how much time you will need for each question

• If you are stuck, go to the next question. You can come back to the unfinished one later. If you are really stuck, try to have an intelligent guess

PREPARE for the BIG DAYCHECK …• Have a good breakfast• Give yourself plenty of time to get to the exam

room• Take everything you need – pens, pencils, water,

anything else?• Go to the toilet before the exam starts (wether

you need it or not)

ABOVE ALL …• Perform as well as you can – ‘YOU are YOU’ so

you can only do the best you can on the day• Don’t go through the answers with your friends

afterwards, if it is only going to worry you• Try to put the last exam out of your mind and

look ahead to the next one – you can’t go back to change things

Exams are Important, but they are not the only key to a successful future.