Planning for Exam Revision Louise Livesey Academic Skills Adviser 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 17/12/15Academic Skills Advice1

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 17/12/15Academic Skills Advice2

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 1.Being effective in exams 17/12/15Academic Skills Advice3

2.Common mistakes in revision strategies Common mistakeWhat 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 - Don’t just read your notes, transform 7. Spending a long time on the same subject without feeling you are making progress - ‘Little and often’: don’t 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 won’t have time to cover in the exam, and go over this material Activity 1: Common mistakes 17/12/15Academic Skills Advice4

What is required Cover material in a way that supports your recall Find or create ways to test your recall 3.Developing a timetable: breaking the day into 6 17/12/15Academic Skills Advice5

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 17/12/15Academic Skills Advice6 3.Developing a timetable: breaking the day into 6

2/18/2016Academic Skills Advice 7 AM 8-10AM 10-1PM 1-3PM 3-5EVE 6-8EVE Mon PrepWorksho p 1-2 Admin 2- Worksho p Worksho p Relax Tues PrepWorksho p 1-2 Admin 2- Worksho p Worksho p Masters taught session Wed PrepWorksho p Administration7-8 Aquafit Thu PrepWorksho p 1-2 Admin 2- Worksho p Worksho p Masters study 8-9 Masters study Fri Research and AdministrationRelax Sat RelaxHouse chores Masters studyRelax Sun Relax10-11 Aquafit Masters studyRelax 3.Breaking the day into 6 Activity 2: Your timetable

What stops you from revising? ? The task seems too big ? It’s unpleasant ? I am no good at it ? I don’t know how to do it ? The exam is far off ? I am too tired or panicking 4.How to solve procrastination ‪ Break the subject down Reward yourself Revise what you like Get help Set a date Sleep and relax 17/12/15Academic Skills Advice8

Why are you doing your exams? 17/12/15Academic Skills Advice9 4.How to solve procrastination

Barrass, R. (2002) Study! 2nd ed. Routledge Study Guides. London: Routledge. Cottrell, S. (2008) The exam skills handbook. Palgrave Study Guides. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. References 17/12/15Academic Skills Advice10

Academic Skills Advice Service Where are we? Chesham Building B0.23. Give us a call or come speak to us via B0.23 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 every weekday 10-4 and Writing Skills Clinics three times a week. You can also access self-help resources on our Who can give me maths advice? Helen and Michael specialise in Maths support for students though clinics and pre-booked appointment. How do I get in touch? academic- Telephone: academic- 23/12/15Academic Skills Advice11

Any questions? 17/12/15Academic Skills Advice12