Planning for Exam Revision

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Planning for Exam Revision

• This workshop will 
• Explore what feeds into preparing for revision,
  including the exam itself
• Assist you in setting up a revision timetable to
  aid effectiveness
• Offer tips on dealing with procrastination

Louise Livesey Academic Skills Adviser
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The Plan

1. Being effective in examinations
2. Common mistakes in revision strategies
3. Developing a timetable breaking the day into 6
4. How to solve procrastination

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1.Being effective in exams

• Be positive
• Make time for you and revision
• Create the right environment
• Know the exam
• Identify and apply recall strategies
• Use the time in the exam effectively
• Treat revision like a job

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2.Common mistakes in revision strategies
Activity 1 Common mistakes
Common mistake What to do
1. Leaving all revision until the last minute. Set a date now to start your revision. Set reminders (in diaries or using mobile devices). If the exam date is months off, formulate the first units you will be revising.
2. Finding there is always something more important to do than revise. Set short sessions initially, leaving yourself the option of studying longer if you get engaged. Re-assess personal priorities. Plan for your distractions
3. Spending too much time planning revision and too little time actually revising. Decide on a method for doing your planning and stick with it. Make it quick and visual and easily updatable Set time aside for this that is extra Admin is not learning
4. Meeting other people to revise but spending the time doing other things Meet in a study space so you will feel more like revising Set an alarm on your phone or other device for the end of the session Take a list of topics you want to discuss and tick them off as you go through them
5. Avoiding revision because it is boring Break up revision into different activities of varying lengths of time Set yourself short tasks to start with and lengthen them each week to build up your tolerance
6. Reading, revising or making notes for some time and not being able to remember much about it Break revision sessions into smaller sections with specific tasks Go through your notes at the end of each session to see what you have covered Dont just read your notes, transform
7. Spending a long time on the same subject without feeling you are making progress Little and often dont try to cover a whole topic in one session Start with an overview and then look for details Set specific goals for each session e.g. read a chapter, section, or article before taking a break
8. Revising too few subjects Plan more time to do more revising Always revise more topics than you originally think you will need Questions may ask for connections between subjects, so revise more topics than you think you will need
9. Not being able to identify the really key points about each topic Look for the main schools of thought, theories, models, debates, individuals, etc. to give you a start. Then, read around these topics If still unsure, speak to your tutors
10. Revising too much information Before the exam, filter out any detail you wont have time to cover in the exam, and go over this material
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3.Developing a timetable breaking the day into 6
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• Get to grips with what is required and any
  information from handbooks about what is being
  tested.
• Cover the actual material in a way that supports
  adequate knowledge recall
• Find or create ways to test this recall once the
  material has been covered.

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Break the day down into 6 segments
3.Developing a timetable breaking the day into 6

• Compulsories external factors giving you no
  choice e.g. lectures, labs, assignment deadlines,
  exam dates, paid employment, etc.
• Necessaries must be done but you have some
  leeway as long as you fit them in e.g. meals,
  sleep, etc.
• Protected time things that are important to you
  and your well-being, e.g. gym

Activity 2 Revision timetable
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What stops you from revising?
4.How to solve procrastination

• The task seems too big
• Its unpleasant
• I am no good at it
• I dont know how to do it
• The exam is far off
• I am too tired or panicking

• Break the subject down

Reward yourself
Revise what you like
Get help
Set a date
Sleep and relax
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4.How to solve procrastination

• Why are you doing your exams?

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References

• Barrass, R. (2002) Study! 2nd ed. Routledge Study
  Guides. London, Routledge.
• Cottrell, S. (2008) The exam skills handbook.
  Palgrave Study Guides. Basingstoke, Palgrave
  Macmillan.
•  

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Academic Skills Advice Service

• Where are we? Chesham Building B0.23. Give us a
  call or come speak to us Monday-Thursday
  10am-12pm and 1pm-4pm
• Who am I? Louise, the dedicated workshop adviser.
  
• Who can help me with study and writing skills?
  Lucy and Russell run Instant Study Skills Advice
  sessions Monday-Thursday and Writing Skills
  Clinics twice a week. You can also access
  self-help resources on our webpage.
• Who can give me maths advice? Helen and Michael
  specialise in Maths support for students though
  clinics and pre-booked appointments.
• How do I get in touch? Email academic-skills_at_brad
  .ac.uk Telephone [phone]

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Any questions?