1. Examinations – Preparation for Your Personal Best – Essay Type Questions Laurie Lumsden Student Counselling Service Trinity College Dublin Last modified April 04

2. This Workshop Will Cover: Planning your time Answering the question asked Breaking down the examination task Rehearsing performance at your personal best Control of the examination environment Developing strategies and rehearsing techniques for reducing performance anxiety

3. Equal Time for Equal Marks Maximum gains for time are in the early stages of your answer Plan your time in advance Rehearse producing quality work in to time available

4. The Most Common Reason for Exam Failure Is Not Answering the Question Demonstrating that you understand the question is the first step in producing an answer How you structure your answer is as important as what you know More is not better

5. Go! - Conditioned Reflex - Build an Introductory Paragraph Deconstruct the question Restate the question in your own words Find and use the key words Show that you know what the point of the question is by defining the key words/concepts/theories/etc Say how you are going to answer the question

6. Say How You Are Going To Answer The Question 1.Tell ‘em what you’r goin to tell ‘em (8) 2.Tell ‘em (2) 3.Tell ‘em what you told ‘em (6) Mark Twain

7. Answer the Question Use headings that come out of your introductory paragraph Stick to your plan Know how much you can write in the time Convert the introductory paragraph into your summary Say why the issues raised by the question are important

8. Rehearse Techniques for Personal Best Performance Visit the exam venue and get comfortable in it Use photos, sketches, etc to bring the exam venue into your study space Mentally place yourself in the exam venue when your are rehearsing

9. Visualisation Every athlete’s PB is in their mind Visualisation is a vital part of performance preparation Only ever visualise performing at your best

10. What If? Know your potential examination anxiety Simulate coping with exam anxiety at home Practice “time out” in place and other recovery strategies Maintain your physical and mental health

11. Rehearse Performing at Your Personal Best Practice your starting procedures Practice writing full answers using your introduction as a template Mark your own answers as critically as possible Practice – un-timed and timed

12. A Word About Performance on the Day Avoid common mistakes Stay focused Recall the rehearsed processes for your answers Go for maximum gains Manage performance anxiety