ACING FINAL EXAMS: Its Not Over til Its Over

1
ACING FINAL EXAMSIts Not Over til Its Over!

• Dr. Saundra Y. McGuire
• Center for Academic Success
• B-31 Coates Hall
• www.cas.lsu.edu

2
2004 National College Learning Center
AssociationFrank L. Christ Outstanding Learning
Center Award 
3
Reflection Questions

• Are any of your final grades already determined
  before you take the final exam?
• Why is the final exam so important?
• What study strategies have worked for you?

4
Prerequisites for Success

• Mastery of all Concepts
• (not rote memorization!)
• Realistic Study Schedule
• Effective Use of Resources (office hours,
  tutorial room, etc.)
• Managing Anxiety

5
This pyramid depicts the different levels of
thinking we use when learning. Notice how each
level builds on the foundation that precedes it.
It is required that we learn the lower levels
before we can effectively use the skills above.
Blooms Taxonomy
Evaluation
Graduate School
Making decisions and supporting views requires
understanding of values.
Combining information to form a unique product
requires creativity and originality.
Synthesis
Identifying components determining arrangement,
logic, and semantics.
Analysis
Undergraduate
Using information to solve problems transferring
abstract or theoretical ideas to practical
situations. Identifying connections and
relationships and how they apply.
Application
Restating in your own words paraphrasing,
summarizing, translating.
Comprehension
High School
Memorizing verbatim information. Being able to
remember, but not necessarily fully understanding
the material.
Knowledge
Louisiana State University ? Center for Academic
Success ? B-31 Coates Hall ? 225-578-2872 ?
www.cas.lsu.edu
6
So, What Can You Do for Finals?

• Spend enough time reviewing and mastering the
  material
• Aim for 100 mastery
• Use office hours for clarification
• Use the Study Cycle with Intense Study Sessions

7
The Study Cycle
Phase One Read or preview chapters to be
covered in class before class (Create chapter
maps) Phase Two Go to Class. Listen
actively, take notes, participate in
class Phase Three Review and process class
notes as soon as possible after class Phase
Four Incorporate Intense Study
Sessions Repeat
8
Intense Study Sessions

• 5 minutes Set goals for next 40 min.
• 40 minutes Read text more selectively/highlight
• Make doodles/notes in margins
• Create mnemonics, work examples
• Create maps
• 5 minutes Review what you have just studied
• 10 minutes Take a break
• Repeat

9
Get the Most Out of Lecture

• Arrive early
• Actively participate
• Review notes soon after class
• Rethink all examples covered
• in class

10
Cornell Note Format
Notes on Taking Notes, 9/14/98
Recall Column

• Uses of notes
• identify major points
• identify minor points
• There are 4 Kinds of Notes
• Running Text
• Formal Outline
• Informal Outline
• Cornell Note system

Reduce ideas and facts to concise summaries and
cues for reciting, reviewing and reflecting over
here.
11
Exam Preparation Stage I

• Before the Exam
• Use The Study Cycle
• Utilize Intensive Study Sessions
• Frequent Reviews

12
Exam Preparation Stage II

• 1 2 Weeks Before the Exam
• Plan Final Exam Review
• Aim for 100 Mastery!!!
• Construct Practice Exam with Friends
• Locate Exam Room
• Double check time of exam
• Eat Well, Sleep Well, and Exercise
• Visualize Success!

13
Survey the Task

• Gather Information from...
• instructor text lecture notes
• to answer the following questions
• 1. What will the test cover?
• 2. Is it comprehensive or non-comprehensive?
• 3. What kinds of questions will be used?
• 4. How many questions (of each type)?
• 5. Where/when will the test be given?
• 6. Will I need any special test materials?

14
Schedule Enough Time

• Make a Master To Do list
• List specific details (chapters to read, study
  exercises, etc.)
• How much time do I need to study for each
  class?
• Create a study schedule
• How much time do I have before the exam?
• Where and what kinds of time-blocks do I have
  available?
• How will I distribute my study time?
• Create intermediate deadlines
• Schedule time for fun
• Schedule time for consolidation

15
Study Schedule - Task Oriented

• Monday Thursday
• French Ch. 6,7 French Exam at 2 p.m..
• Johnson article Math Assignment
• Math assignment Comm. articles
• Tuesday Friday
• French Ch. 8, 9 Comm. Ch. 10, 11
• Lab assignment Make weekend study Comm.
  Ch. 9 schedule
• Wednesday Study Group
• Review/Self-test Saturday
• Math assignment Review/Self-test

16
Organize The Information

• Prepare charts or summary sheets
• Integrate notes with text information
• Make concept maps
• Predict test questions
• Memorize, create mnemonics
• Aim for 100 mastery!

17
Memorize Thoroughly

• Intend to remember
• Overlearn
• Preview/review frequently
• RECITE and WRITE!
• Learn in as many ways/modalities as possible
  Visually, kinesthetically, by association,
  organization (e.g. outline or map), study group
• Focus attention lose the cell phone dependency!
• Schedule time for assimilation
• Learn a variety of ways to trigger memory

18
Review

• Lecture notes and textbook notes
• Study Sheets and study group notes
• Self-tests
• Flash Cards
• Old exams (retake them!)

19
Tips for Science and Math Exams

• Develop a list of types of problems
• Develop problem solving protocols
• (steps for solving types of problems
• Develop a practice test with randomly arranged
  problems
• Practice solving problems quickly

20
Exam Preparation Stage III

• Day of the Exam
• Calmly rehearse facts, formulas, ideas
• Perform deep breathing to relax
• Use positive self-talk
• Arrive at the exam room a few minutes early not
  too early!
• Visualize success!

21
Exam Preparation Stage IV

• During the Exam
• Perform deep breathing to relax use positive
  self-talk
• Write down formulas on exam before you begin
• Read the directions VERY carefully listen for
  additional directions ask for clarification
• Survey the exam and budget your time
• Share what you know! And you know it all!!!
• Expect memory blocks
• Visualize success!

22
Tips for Multiple Choice Tests

• Try to answer the question WITHOUT looking at the
  choices
• Look at one option at a time, and treat each
  answer as a true or false question
• Note that the longest choice is often correct
• Make sure the answer is grammatically correct
• Read all choices before settling on one
• Note answers with all of the above etc.

23
Tips for True False Tests

• Watch for words such as always, never. These are
  usually false but not always!
• Watch for words such as seldom and usually. These
  are often true but not always!
• Use the rest of the test for information
• If in doubt go with your intuition
• Dont change an answer unless youre absolutely
  sure you should!

24
Tips for Essay Tests

• Examine the question and organize your thoughts
  before you start to write
• Outline or map your response before you write
• Have a beginning, middle, and end
• If you run out of time, outline the remaining
  questions for partial credit
• Proofread your answers make sure all are
  grammatically correct!

25
Exam Preparation Stage V

• After the Exam Plan
• Leave the area promptly dont talk about the
  test
• Let it go!
• Reward yourself for your hard work
• Resume preparation for next examination or
  celebrate that all your exams are over!
• If your final grade is lower than you expected,
  ask to see your final exam at beginning of the
  next term. There may have been a grading
  mistake.

26
Use Concept Mapping for Preparation and for Essay
Exams
27
Create a Chapter Map
Title of Chapter
Primary Headings
Subheadings
Secondary Subheadings
28
Ideas...
(Comments go Here.)
(Comments go Here.)
(Comments go Here.)
Cause and Effect
29
Persuasive Writing
Thesis
Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Details
Details
Reasons, Facts, Examples
Reasons, Facts, Examples
Conclusion
30
Compare and Contrast
Concept 1
Concept 2
How are they similar?
How are they different?
31
Test Preparation
Use Study Techniques
Balance Life
Get Organized
Class Material
Time
Continuous Process of Learning
Intense Study Sessions
Concept Mapping
Physical Spiritual Emotional Intellectual Social
1.goal 2.50 minutes 3.break 4.REVIEW
1.preview 2.Class 3.Review 4Intense Study
Session REPEAT
32
Mistakes to Avoid!

• Letting the time sneak up on you
• Basing your judgment of knowledge on your short
  term memory
• Letting others derail your study schedule
• Aiming for less than 100 mastery
• Failing to believe in yourself!!!

33
A Tale of Two More LSU Students

• Amy, junior organic chemistry student
• 54, 82, 76, 78
• Michael, senior pre-medical organic student
• 30, 28, 80, 91

34
If you think you can, you will! If you think you
cant, youre right. I KNOW you can!
35
The Center for Academic SuccessB-31 Coates
Hallwww.cas.lsu.edu

• Unlock your excellence!!!

36
Please write the following

• One study strategy you plan to implement to
  increase your mastery of course concepts and/or
  study for final exams.
• (Copy this for yourself as a constant reminder.)