Study Skills Exam Techniques Counselling Unit, UWI, Mona

Quotation for Discussion Learn from the mistakes of others—you can never live long enough to make them all yourself. —John Luther

Disarm Tests Grades are what we use to give power to tests Let go of your misconceptions about grades Don’t exaggerate the pressure on yourself Keep the risk in perspective

Remember… Grades are not measures of: –Intelligence –Creativity –Self-worth Test scores do not measure accomplishment in a course— they measure performance on a test

Before the exams Work consistently throughout the semester Get sufficient sleep Ensure an adequate diet Maintain your exercise regime Check time, date and place of each exam

On the day of the exam After a good night’s rest, have an adequate meal Ensure you have all that you will need for the exam

Get to your exam centre at least 10 minutes before the exam Spend that time relaxing in preparation for the exam

During the exam Read all directions TWICE before you begin the exam Orient yourself to the total exam – read through all the questions

Establish a time schedule before you start to answer the questions and stick with it Choose questions that you feel you know the best

Outline each answer before you begin In the margins, jot down memory aids, formulas, equations, facts Start with you second best question first

Look for answers in other questions Always leave time to review and edit your answers If short on time, offer an outline for what you intended to say

Multiple-Choice Questions Check directions to see if more than one answer is called for Answer questions in your head before looking at answer choices Read all answers to each question before selecting one

Your first instinct is usually best Use guessing techniques when appropriate

True/False Questions Answer quickly Read carefully Look for qualifiers –All –Most –Sometimes –Never –Rarely

Absolute qualifiers often indicate false statements –Always –Never

Essay Questions Find out precisely what the question is asking Make a quick outline Get right to the point Put the most solid supporting points first

Words to Watch for in Essay Questions AnalyzeDefineCompareCriticizeDescribeDiscussContrastExplainProveRelateStateSummarizeTrace

“F” Is for Feedback, not Failure Getting an “F” means only that you failed a test—not your life An “F” is feedback that you didn’t understand the material Feedback helps you change to promote future success

Studying with Others Test each other Teach each other Compare notes Brainstorm test questions Set an agenda Three at a computer Create wall-sized mind maps Lecture each other Ask for personal support

The Costs of Cheating We learn less We lose money Fear of getting caught promotes stress Violating our values promotes stress Cheating once makes it easier to compromise our integrity Cheating lowers our self-concept

Let Go of Test Anxiety Deal with your THOUGHTS Deal with your FEELINGS

Dealing with Thoughts Yell “Stop!” Daydream Visualize success Focus Praise yourself Consider the worst Zoom out

Dealing with Feelings Breathe Scan your body Tense and relax Use guided imagery

Dealing with Feelings Describe it Be with it Exercise aerobically Get help

Power Process: Detach

Attachments are addictions We can be attached to emotions as well as thoughts

Ways to Recognize an Attachment Strong emotions—feeling irritated, angry, jealous, confused… Feelings of nervousness, weakness, or nausea

Four Ways to Detach Practice observer consciousness Put your own circumstances into a larger perspective Ask: “What’s the worst that could happen?” Use breathing and relaxation techniques

Cautions When Using Detachment Giving up an addiction to getting an “A” is different from giving up being an “A” student Detachment is different from denial Being detached is not the same as being apathetic

Master Student Barbara Jordan “... it occurred to me that if I was going to succeed at this strange new adventure, I would have to read longer and more thoroughly than my colleagues...”

Remember, tests are opportunities to demonstrate your mastery

After the exam Avoid a post mortem Take a few hours break, get some rest and begin to prepare for the next exam If this is your last exam…. GO OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN

References Ellis, D. (1994) Becoming a Master Student (7th ed.) Rapid City, SD. Houghton Mifflin Co. Ellis, D. (2003) Becoming a Master Student (10th ed.) Rapid City, SD. Houghton Mifflin Co. s/master_student/10e/students/ s/master_student/10e/students/