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Lucy

The UCAS deadline is now looming, and we’re sure most of you have already made your final choices for university. You might have even received offers and had interviews, so a big congratulations if so! University is now within your reach, and there’s just one final set of hurdles standing in your way - the dreaded exams and coursework!

It’s easy to succumb to stress and panic, but with a few handy tips under

your belt you’ll remain calm, composed and completely prepared. And that’s where we come in! We’ve gathered some brilliant tips from Leeds Trinity University’s Schools and Colleges Liaison team, which will help you to perform at your full potential in your exams and coursework. So relax, read on and then put the tips into practice!

Good luck!

By Lucy Wright, Leeds Trinity University’s Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer

1. PLANNING Coursework requires good planning – it’s a good idea to draw up an action plan with clear targets and milestones. This includes choosing your subject topic - you are much more likely to do well if you choose a subject topic you find interesting as this will help to motivate you.

2. RESEARCH Research the topic thoroughly and carefully. Fully complete this process before you start writing the coursework. This might take some time so make sure you have planned appropriately and read the question a few times to be sure you know what is being asked of you. Visit your school/college or local library and use indexes and references to lead to further reading.

3. BE SELECTIVE WITH INTERNET SOURCES Look at the date the page was last updated. What is the quality of the information presented and also who is posting the information - is it an authoritative source?

4. SHARE IDEAS Get support from those around you through discussions and sharing ideas.

5. DON’T LEAVE IT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE! Leave plenty of time for editing, printing, copying and the presentation of your final piece of coursework. It’s an important piece of work so make sure it is free from spelling and grammar mistakes and that it is clear and well written.

Many subjects at post-16 include elements of coursework, so it’s important to know how to do your best. Here’s my top five tips that will help you produce brilliant coursework!

Revision is a daunting task, but did you know that we each have individual learning styles that can affect the way we revise?

There are three main learning styles:1. AUDITORY - People who prefer to listen to information 2. VISUAL - People who prefer to see information 3. KINAESTHETIC - People who prefer to actively be involved in learning by doing

Everybody learns by mixture of these styles, but one style is usually dominant. By determining your dominant learning style

you can improve your memory and your grades. Not sure what your style is? Take this quiz here: http://homeworktips.about.com/library/quizzes/bl_lstylequiz1.htm

Think about how you can include your dominant learning style when studying. For example if you are a visual learner, you might use colourful post-its to display different categories of information. If you are auditory, revising using podcasts might help you, and if you are kinaesthetic you might go to a museum or do an activity that relates to your work.

DO’S DON’TS

Effectively manage your time Leave revision until the last minute

Use past exam papers Read notes over and over again

Select what to revise Write notes over and over again

Draw up a timetable Try to learn essays off by heart

Build up writing speed Find ways of putting off revision

Wider reading just before an exam (if you’re confident you’ve learned the essentials!)

Revise with friends if you know it will turn into a social

Revise according to your learning style Panic

Stay calm Allow yourself to become bored with it

Keep going! Stop before the learning process is complete

Revision tips usually focus on the build-up to the exam, but what about when you’re sat at that table, with the paper in front of you and the clock starts ticking? This is the point where most people will panic, so follow our checklist to stay calm and focused until the bell rings!

1. Check you have been given the right exam paper!

2. Read the instructions slowly, at least twice.

3. Read the whole paper. Always check both sides, even if you think one side is blank.

4. Read through all the questions at least twice.

5. Look at the marks allocated for each question.

6. Work out what is required in general for each question .

7. Tick the questions you can answer and double tick those you can answer best .

8. If a question sounds like one you have done before, check the wording very carefully.

We asked students on Facebook to share their top revision tips, and they came up with these gems:

Turn off FacebookPHILIP MCDONALD

Use Mnemonics. Derren Brown has a great chapter in his book about this, which can cut out days of study time. It took me an hour to memorise all the presidents and dates in office, and I have a bad memory normally. You can find more info here: http://derrenbrown.co.uk/build-memory-palace/ DANIEL JOE WHITFIELD

Make sure you do some!ALISON LESURF

I find that podcasts are really useful. They help you to remember facts and dates through repetition, which works whether you have a good memory or not. If you can’t find any on the topic that you’re doing, you can always make your own – just record yourself reading your revision notes or assignment plan aloud, and listen to it over and over again.ZOE FLITCROFT

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