1. End of Term 2 Review Wednesday 16 March 2016
Please note the workshop on
the day may be delivered in a
different format
Adam Sandelson
LSE Student Counselling Service

2. Aims Revision strategies Revision psychology/ Practical tips
Stress management skills

3. Revision Strategies

4. Best use of time Complete and practise exam tasks
Produce answers to show
You can think (answer the question)
You’ve done the reading (references / context)
Expertise (detailed knowledge, locate the debate etc)

5. Revising How many topics – 2n + 1
Look for repeated questions on same topic
Find links, key ideas – see the whole
Pareto Principle – 20% gets 80% of marks
Reduce each week to a single page
Pare down further as you get closer
New material if necessary and interesting
Find work you enjoy – motivation is key

6. Resources
Each other – read each others essays, try the same questions and talk through the solutions (good end of day task)
Revision sessions – examiner’s mindset, marking preferences etc.
Office hours – take answers / plans rather than questions of detail

7. 5 minutes exercise What are your top revision tips?
Revision strategies
Planning last two months
Managing workload
Use of time
Keeping fresh

8. Practical tips

9. Practical approaches Time management skills
Set realistic and achievable goals
Plan short term targets and longer term strategies
Recognise your achievements
Talk to others
Concentrate on the task, not the outcome

10. Focussing on the task Monitor perfectionism Remember past successes
Recognise you are likely to pass
Be methodical, and allow time for breaks and space to breathe and think
Use mind maps, scribble ideas
Go for a walk, talk out loud

11. Procrastination top tips
10 minute rule –at least make a start!
Time scheduling – SMART – specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timetabled (by when)
Utilise when you work best
Practice imperfection – aim for 80% or even 60%
Imagine looking back on this task in 3 months, 1 year
Talk to others/ check out if your fears are reasonable – can help get a sense of perspective

12. Perfectionism Perfectionism can reduce achievement
Trying to be perfect can reduce your satisfaction and make you achieve far less
It’s an undesirable illusion
Experiment with your standards for success
Try for 80% or even 60%
Focus on the process of doing an activity not just the end result.
Evaluate the outcome - what did you achieve?
Did you enjoy the task?

13. Underlying dynamics The family / historic context for your success
Wanting to be the best
Trying to please others
Setting yourself impossible targets
Re-enacting anxiety, fear of failure …

14. Dynamics of study

15. 5 minute exercise What are you top 3 tips for good revision
Psychology?

16. Stress Management Skills

17. Stress Management Skills
Regularly switch off with some kind of physical activity
Good self care – sleep, diet, caffeine, alcohol
Allow yourself time out without guilt
Acknowledge anxiety, rather than denying it.
Ask if your negative thoughts are realistic

18. Challenging negative thoughts
Apply ‘Socratic reasoning’ or imagine this being tested in a Court of Law
Identify the negative thought
Eg, I am going to fail the Course
Ascertain the evidence For and Against
Ask if you are making a ‘thinking error’
Propose a more reasonable alternative thought

19. Thinking errors All or nothing thinking Discounting the positive
Believing a catastrophe will happen
Emotional Reasoning
If I feel it then it must be true
Overgeneralizing
Because something bad happened in the past it is certain to happen again

20. LSE Student Counselling Service
Free and confidential
Short term counselling
Appointments need to be booked in advance
Drop in sessions – each day at 3.00
Relaxation MP3’s
Links to self help resources on a wide range of student issues, including study – related and personal difficulties