EXAM PREPARATION

• Check your summary with the teacher to make sure it is correct, this will give you security if you feel unsure and help you to learn how to pick out the right material by trying it first on your own.
• Find the best place for studying.
• Maintain your physical efficiency with regular meals, regular sleep and exercise.
• Use of self rewards when you achieve a study goal (eg. food, music, rest time every hour etc).
• Make a personal decision - what do I give up? (eg. TV, sport, etc).
• Maintain some social activities.
• Do as many practice questions as you can and ask a willing teacher to mark them so you can get some additional feedback. Use an alarm clock to set a specific time like in exams.

• Anxiety is often aggravated when you focus unduly on what you don't know or on what you fear you won't know.
• Be positive! Give sufficient attention to what you do know and consolidate it.

There are two types of exams:

1. Objective (ie. multiple choice, short answer etc.)
2. Subjective (ie. essays and extended responses)

• Answer all questions. No answer means no mark, even if you are unsure it is better to make a choice rather than to leave a blank.
• If you must choose from 4 or 5 multiple choice answers, eliminate those that are obviously wrong and choose from those remaining.
• Try and avoid words like "always" and "never".
• The amount of marks the question is worth will usually indicate how much information is required (eg. 6 marks requires 3 to 6 pieces of information about the question).
• The number of lines will indicate the depth the examiner requires in the answer, but remember that quantity is not a substitute for quality.

• Read directions and questions carefully, take note of questions where there is a choice, allot time per question according to the value of the question.
• Read all the questions first and then decide on your preferred options.
• Make certain you answer the questions asked (ie. analyse, discuss etc.)
• If important points jump into your mind as you are doing the initial reading of the paper, jot them down on a piece of paper, then continue reading.
• Organise your answers before you write them, plan the essay, make certain you know what you want to say, think more and write less.
• Be brief, concise (ie. don't waffle around the point) and accurate and be as complete as possible in answering the questions.

• Start studying early (ie. not at the last minute).
• Answer questions at the end of a chapter when reading text books to test your knowledge.
• Remember what the teacher emphasises - it is obviously important.
• Review your work with serious class mates but do your last review by yourself.
• Make sure you know the contents of the course and exam structure.
• Make yourself thoroughly familiar with set texts.
• Use lessons as a starting point for futher reading.
• Check the adequacy of your notes - especially if you have missed lessons.
• Look for gaps in your knowledge by testing yourself with written expression and verbally with others.
• Use corrections on essays and assignments to pin point your weaknesses and build up a self evaluation dossier.
• Get a good nights sleep the night before the exam.
• Get up early on an exam morning and be wide awake - perhaps take a short walk.
• Eat a good breakfast - not excessive or heavy.

• Look over the whole exam quickly - then go back and make the most of all of the reading time.
• Read the instructions very carefully.
• Don't spend too much time on one question and neglect the others.
• Cross out any work which you do not want marked - cross out neatly.
• Look for and underline key words in questions.
• Allocate your time thoughtfully.
• Plan your answers - particularly in essay and extended response.
• Re-read your answers if you have time - to add any points you have forgotten and to check spelling and expression.