Exam Preparation

1. Exam Preparation

2. How do I get ready for exams? • Preparation is of the utmost importance if you want to succeed in exams • You need a well-organised revision timetable • Regular study sessions are much better than cramming the night before • Start early

3. Know your learning style • Use revision strategies which are suited to your preferred learning style – summaries, dot points, topic cards, posters, etc • When is your concentration level at its peak – morning or evening? • Schedule study sessions for then if you can • If you can’t answer either of these questions it is worth spending some time on finding the answers • Be aware of when your concentration is at its best • There are numerous online learning styles tests – do one

4. Other Commitments • Ensure that you ask for time off work or organise a replacement staff member to do your shifts well in advance of the exam period • Prioritise your commitments so that exams take precedence during this time • Make sure that your family understands that you’d like their support to do well in your exams

5. Exam Format • Familiarise yourself with the structure of the exam • How many sections are there? • How many questions do you have to answer in each section? • Read the instructions carefully

6. Criteria Assessed • Take notice of the criteria to be assessed for each question • Refer to the standards of evidence for each criterion • These tell you what the examiners are looking for

7. Australia in Asia and the Pacific • Three sections: • Part A - Essay • Part B & C - Hypothetical • You must answer one question from each section • 3 hours plus 15 mins reading time

8. Revision means looking again but with your brain switched on • Learn the information – make it meaningful to you • Be active with your revision – pay attention • Look at practice hypotheticals done in class • What does the feedback suggest you need to work on?

9. Section A - Essay • There will be a question for every module studied around the state: • Geography • Tourism • History • Economics • Societies, etc • Answer the question on Tourism or Geography – you have not been prepared to answer any other question even if you think you can!

10. Section B – HypotheticalShort Answer Questions • In this section you will again find questions from all the modules studied statewide: • Geography • Tourism • History • Economics • Societies, etc • You have been prepared to answer on Tourism or Geography

11. Section C – HypotheticalReport • In this section you will again find questions from all the modules studied statewide: • Overseas Aid • Natural Resource Use • Human Rights • Multinational companies and Foreign Investment • You have been prepared to answer on Overseas Aid

12. Section A Essay

13. Revise - Tourism • Make a list of all the things that contribute to Tourism growth including local, regional and global • Look at why people travel • Look at what trends there are • Volunteer Tourism • Ecotourism • Adventure Tourism, etc…

14. Be familiar with the impacts FROM tourism • Economic • Cultural • Social • Environmental • Remember to look at positive and negative impacts • Use relevant examples (AAP, not elsewhere) • Use statistics • Ensure answers are balanced between all parts of the question • Don’t rely on general answers – use specifics

15. Revise - Geography Physical Geography Theme • Natural disasters • Flooding and Tsunami • Geological processes – what causes it • Specific examples – what happened, what was the relief response • Examples – different development levels and sub-regions

16. Human Geography Theme • Population Growth and Decline • Density and Distribution • Ageing population • Poverty • Religion • Family Planning (or lack of) • Rural – urban drift etc Examples from different development levels and different sub-regions

17. Essay Structure • Ensure that you write in a clear essay format: • Have an introduction, body and conclusion. • Write in third person, not first person (Don’t use “I”). • DON’T use headings. • Avoid emotive, poetic, sensationalised descriptions should be avoided; for example ‘astonishing’, ‘amazing’, ‘alarming’, the ‘famous Mt Fuji’, the ‘noble mountains’, the ‘mighty Murray’.

18. Don’t use ‘etc’ in your writing • Ensure your answer is balanced. Don’t concentrate on only one half of the question.

19. Criterion 4 & 6 • 4 – Analyse and evaluate ideas and information • 6 – Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of events and ideas that shape the region

20. Section B Hypothetical Short Answer Questions

21. Part A & B Tourism: • Make a list of why tourism rates change - reasons for growth/decline • Look at the impacts Geography • Impact of physical geography theme • Impact of human geography theme

22. Make sure you are answering the question!!! • Keep answers A and B separate rather than one extended response.

23. You Should: • Be familiar with the sub regions (what are the surrounding countries) • Know the basic geography of the subregions in order to describe your hypothetical country • Give the country a name (not Country A) • Provide an introduction to the country • Speak about the country as if it is real and these things are happening now. • Use the data from the blurb but relate it to the question

24. Remember • The region determines what types of tourism/geography issues will be relevant and what difficulties may be faced • If you talk about historical factors as a reason link them back to your country. • Including factors that limit growth (tourism) is also worth considering – Financial crisis, Swine flu, political unrest, overtaxing, etc.

25. Criterion 5, 6 & 7 • 5 – Apply problem solving skills • 6 – Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of events and ideas that shape the region • 7 – Apply knowledge in a hypothetical context

26. Section C Hypothetical Report

27. Overseas Aid • Make sure this is in report format. • The use of headings and subheadings and dot points is vital in order to do well. • Clearly label parts A and B. • If you do not write in this format you will be penalised.

28. Report Format • Give a title – Report on overseas Aid to Country A • Say which organization it is for • Say who the author of the report is (NOT your own name!) and the date completed • Provide a brief introduction to the country • It would be unusual for a country to receive aid from just one source

29. Criterion 4, 5 & 7 • 4 – Analyse and evaluate ideas and information • 5 – Apply problem solving skills • 7 – Apply knowledge in a hypothetical context

30. To Prepare • Look at past papers • Look at examiners reports • Look at work done in class – act on the feedback • Revisit the AusAid website • Learn the report headings • Visit smarttraveller.com.au • Revise regions and countries: http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Asian_Geography.htm • Use your Case Study Report for Overseas Aid

31. Self Care • Exercise • Sleep • Nutrition

32. Time Management • Double and triple check your exam timetable – know exactly when your exams are running and how long they go for • Know how much time you have for the exam and allocate it accordingly • Build in time for planning, writing and proof reading • Don’t go over time on a question!

33. Never leave before the time is up – you haven’t done enough • Even if you have a mental block, stay there – the information may come back to you • Exam supervisors record the time you leave on your exam paper

34. Plan • Use the 15 minutes Reading Time to analyse the questions, read the stimuli and plan your answers • Make a list of dot points on the question paper – but do not write on the answer paper or it will be taken away from you • Make sure you answer each part of the question

35. Do not prepare an essay – you have no idea what the question will ask • It is much more effective to learn a list of flexible dot points and accompanying evidence • These points can be adapted to any question asked

36. General Tips • Write in pen • Write on one side of the paper only • Rule a margin if the page doesn’t have one • Write formally, not colloquially • Avoid abbreviations and contractions • Keep your writing legible – if it can’t be read it can’t be marked

37. Finishing Off • Proofread your answers • Make sure you have answered the whole question • Make sure you have filled in the booklet correctly – name, numbered answers, teacher, etc

38. Summary • Preparation – mind maps, summaries, mnemonics • Practice – past questions • Timing – allocate time for each section and don’t go over • Sleep – 9-10 hours per night is needed

39. Remember • An exam is a chance to show your skill