Get the most out of your course and revision with Phoenix Health

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Get the most out of your course and revision with
Phoenix Health Safety
Revision and exam techniques
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Preparing to Revise

• It will be easier to get all the resources you
  need to revise well before you start.
• It will be easier if you organise and update your
  notes throughout the course.
• If you haven't done this, spend one evening
  organising and ordering everything you have.

• Types of study Aids
• Note paper
• Course manual
• Example exam papers and
• practical assignments
• Highlighters
• Coloured Pens and Pencils

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Preparing to Revise

• A Suitable Environment
• Your study environment should be
• Calm and quiet
• Well lit
• A good temperature
• Full of nice, fresh air to keep you awake
• Free from distraction (i.e. mobile phone, family,
  TV, alcohol etc.)
• Large table or desk
• A good chair and spacious desk.
• Stationary and other study aids course
  information
• Keep hydrated and ensure you drink plenty of
  fluids.
• It is important to work in a comfortable
  environment.

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Preparing to Revise

• Revision Timetable
• If you have a revision timetable, fill in your
  study
• Alternatively, make your own timetable, use a
  diary or wall-chart that is specific to you.
• Some people like to study early in the day,
  others prefer to study later on.
• Tips for Time Management
• Do not intend to study all day.
• Schedule breaks in your working day for fun,
  food, relaxation and exercise, but not all at
  once
• Too much work can be as unproductive as too
  little work. A good way to start is to work for
  50 minutes, then have a 10 minute break every
  hour.
• Try to give each subject equal time, do not
  concentrate on one subject at the expense of
  another.
• Do difficult tasks at times when you are at your
  most productive.
• Be realistic and disciplined - don't plan a
  schedule you can't manage.
• Be flexible - you never know when an emergency
  will crop up.
• Leave time at the end for reviewing what you have
  done and what you must still do.
• Reward yourself when you achieve targets or
  goals.

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Revision Techniques

• Revision should be as active as possible.
• The best way to do this is to take the
  information you have and put it into a different
  format.
• You should also try to use as many different
  parts of your brain as possible while revising.
• For example, writing something in bright colours
  gives you a better chance of remembering
  something than if you write it in black because
  you are stimulating the part of your brain that
  deals with colour as well as written information.
  

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Revision Techniques

• Mind Mapping
• If you didn't already know, a mind map is a kind
  of advanced spider diagram that makes good use of
  pictures, colours and spatial relations.
• Mind maps increase your chances of learning a
  subject because they stimulate multiple parts of
  your brain.
• A mind map that is constructed with thought and
  care will be a much more effective learning
  method than a simple page of notes or a simple
  spider diagram.
• Mind maps are easy to construct.
• You should be as imaginative as possible when you
  are constructing a mind map.

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Revision Techniques

• Mnemonics / Acronyms
• Mnemonics techniques are good methods for
  remember key information.
• You take the first letter or each word and form
  another word to remember.

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Revision Techniques

• Prompt Cards
• Make some revision notes on small index cards.
• You can carry round these prompt cards for
  revising in short breaks.
• Each card can contain a definition, a short list,
  a summary.
• Don't try to fill the card with information. It
  will be difficult to read - and remember..
• Integrate different revision methods remember
  that your brain will associate colours, symbols,
  pictures, music with different things.
• Small prompt cards with key words/dates can be
  just as useful as a page of notes, and you can
  carry them in your pocket

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Revision Techniques

• Write ideas and facts on cards to use as
  prompts
• Create memory aids such as diagrams or mnemonics
  (e.g. SMART). However, please remember that you
  cant use your diagrams as the sole answer in the
  exam you can use it as a basis and expand it
  when it comes to writing your answer.
• Write key facts on pieces of cards and display
  them around your house.
• Study with a friend and test each others
  knowledge
• Attend any revision classes that Phoenix HSC
  might be holding.
• Work through past exam papers this will test
  your knowledge and allow you to become familiar
  with the exam format. If theres a question you
  cant answer then you know you need to go back
  and revise that subject.
• Remember to reward yourself. Use rewards as
  incentive to do the revision.
• Try and read around the subject that you are
  revising. You should try and research aspects
  outside of what is taught in the classroom to
  give you a broader understanding of quality.
• It is also suggested that using real life
  examples will help illustrate your answers more
  effectively. Try and think of some examples that
  back up your answers in the exam.

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Learning Styles

• Visual (spatial). - You prefer using pictures,
  images, and spatial understanding.
• Aural (auditory-musical). - You prefer using
  sound and music.
• Verbal (linguistic). - You prefer using words,
  both in speech and writing.
• Physical (kinesthetic). - You prefer using your
  body, hands and sense of touch.
• Logical (mathematical). - You prefer using logic,
  reasoning and systems.
• Social (interpersonal). - You prefer to learn in
  groups or with other people.
• Solitary (intrapersonal). - You prefer to work
  alone and use self-study.

You will probably be a combination of learning
styles
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Learning Styles
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Learning Styles
KNOWING HOW TO LEARN, and knowing which
strategies work best, are valuable skills that
will assist you to perform well at your exams.

                                                
                                                
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Revision Techniques

• Strategies to be Avoided - They do not work.
• "I record the trainer on my dictaphone. If I play
  them
• to myself while I sleep, they'll sink in
  and I won't
• have to do any work while I'm awake.
• Am I clever or what?"
• "Cramming. Cram cram cram cram cram cram cram
• cram cram cram cram cram cram cram cram
  cram cram cram."
• "I work all day every day. There's no time for
  breaks at exam time. That's what I've always
  said."
• "I find that if I leave my revision as long as
  possible, it makes me panic so badly that I do
  everything really quickly and save myself loads
  of time."
• "I just revise a few topics from each subject.
  I'm a lucky guy, There's always something I can
  answer when I do that."
• "Revise? I don't have to revise, I remember it
  all the first time round, and if I can't
  remember, then it's not worth knowing."

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Exam Techniques

• Using Past Papers to Revise
• Passing exams is as much about technique as it is
  about knowledge.
• Understand the style of the questions and scoring
  criteria
• You need to practice your timing as well as your
  recall of knowledge.
• To start with, compare the notes you have against
  the questions asked on your example test
  questions.
• Make sure you have enough material to be able to
  answer all the questions.

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Exam Techniques

• Day before the exam 
• Use your revision tools (e.g. diagrams,
  mnemonics, prompt cards etc) to check facts
• Keep calm dont try to learn new topics so
  close to an exam.
• Dont stay up all night.

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Exam Techniques

• Answering Questions
• Read through the paper and any instructions
  carefully Before looking at the actual
  questions, read the instructions and complete any
  compulsory information (name, date etc).
• Work out the timing Divide your time according
  to the number of questions to be answered. Split
  it proportionately if you have some questions (or
  parts of questions) which attract more marks than
  others.
• Read the questions carefully. Read through the
  paper once and then re-read each question. You
  might think a topic you've revised hasn't come
  up, when it is there but the wording is unusual.
  Understand the concept of the question.
• Choose your best questions - Mark any questions
  you might answer, and then check that you fully
  understand it. Do you have some relevant
  knowledge, ideas and evidence for the ones you
  choose to answer?
• Decide on question order. Some people like to
  start with the topic they know best to give them
  a good start
• Read through your paper and analyse your
  answers- filling in gaps, correct any errors

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Exam Techniques

• Maximising your marks
• Think about what the question is actually asking.
  What are you expected to include in your answer?
  What material will be relevant? The most common
  complaint from markers is that the student didn't
  answer the question.
• Plan before you write The stress of working
  under time constraints in the exam room can make
  all your good study intentions disappear.
  However, this is when it's more important than
  ever to get your ideas across clearly and
  concisely. Take a few minutes to think and plan
• Underline the key words in the question
• Identify the main topic and discussion areas..
• Choose a few points/arguments about which you can
  write .
• Make a mini-plan which puts them in order before
  you start writing. You can cross it through
  afterwards.
• Referencing in exams You should be able to
  refer by name (spelt correctly!) legislation in
  your topic. You are not expected to give
  specific sections of the acts/regulations.
• What to do if your mind goes blank most
  students fear this happening. If it does put
  your pen down, take a deep breath, sit back and
  relax for a moment. If you're in the middle of an
  answer, read through what you have written so far
  what happens next? If you have to remember
  formulae, try associating them with pictures or
  music while revising. If you really can't
  progress with this answer, leave a gap. It will
  probably come back to you once you are less
  anxious.
• If you are running out of time don't panic.
  Look at the questions you have left to answer and
  divide up your remaining time to cover them all.
  Be very economical make one point support it
  with evidence and then move on to the next point.
  If you really can't finish in time, briefly list
  the points you wanted to make they could pick
  you up a few marks.

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Exam Techniques

• Maximising your marks
• Presentation - Handwriting and grammar do not
  lose or gain marks, however it has to be
  readable! Remember that the exams are marked by
  humans so the easier it is to mark, the easier it
  is to give marks for.
• Action Verbs - Take note of the action verb at
  the start of each question. As a general rule, if
  a question asks you to Identify, state" or
  list then a simple list will do. If however,
  the question asks for outline, describe or
  explain, then your answer should be in
  sentences, preferably with an example to
  illustrate.
• Keep it Brief - We have already said that you
  must comply with the action verb, but do not be
  tempted to waffle on or give long introductions
  to your answer this is not required. There are
  no marks for star quality just answer the
  question.
• Bankers - This is important. There are certain
  answers which will be relevant time and time
  again, for example risk assessment, training,
  supervision, PPE etc. Put reproducing this list
  without relating it to the specific question will
  not gain marks
• Outline the precautions to be taken when a minor
  repair is to be carried out on a fragile roof.
• Carry out a risk assessment 0 marks
• Carry out an initial risk assessment to identify
  the hazards from roof work and decide on the
  necessary precautions 1 mark
• Provide adequate information, instruction and
  training 0 marks
• Provide information, instruction and training on
  the hazards and associated precautions involved
  in roof work 1 mark

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Exam Techniques

• Action verb meaning
• define - provide a generally recognised or
  accepted definition
• describe - give a word picture
• explain - give a clear account of, or reasons for
  
• give - provide without explanation (used normally
  with the instruction to give an example or
  examples of ...)
• identify - select and name
• list - provide a list without explanation
• outline - give the most important features of
  (less depth than either explain or describe,
  but more depth than list)
• sketch - provide a simple line drawing using
  labels to identify specific features
• state - a less demanding form of define, or
  where there is no generally recognised definition

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Revision Techniques

• The most important points to remember when you
  revise
• Start early, the earlier the better.
• Be organised, make a timetable.
• Revise where you are most comfortable.
• Use techniques that are the best for you.
• Take regular breaks to digest and process
• information
• And finally. Enjoy !