Strategies for Surviving Exams: Tips and Techniques for Success

1. How to survive an exam For more information, please see: OWLL: : http://owll.massey.ac.nz/main/tests-and-exams.php, and Becker, L. (2010). 14 days to exam success. Pocket Study Skills. Palgrave Macmillan

2. Learning Outcomes By the end of this session you will know more about: • What to take in with you • Six steps to surviving the exam • Strategies for answering different questions

3. What to take in with you In a clear plastic bag or ziplock bag … Student ID Card (or other photo ID if you do not have a student ID card) Several pens that work for exams Highlighter Calculator and other permitted equipment Clear plastic water bottle No food If open book, text and permitted notes Online exams: Many of these will still be needed (e.g. for note- taking) Check beforehand with your lecturer about what is permitted

4. What to take in with you (all exams!) Online exams: Set your computer up for success … • Plug into the wall if possible • Do any updates a few days before • Have the contact details for IT Support in case of tech issues - screenshot if needed • • Sense of calm Sense of confidence Think positively  Remind yourself of what you do know Avoid panic  Find the exam room (or the exam link – and test the link) ahead of time,  Check the time it begins, and the time allowed If you are feeling stressed, try breathing in and out slowly – it works!

5. What to expect: The exam room You will be allowed in 15 minutes before the start Time to get settled Listen to the instructions 10 minutes reading time Online exams: There may be restrictions about what papers you can have with you, or programmes you can have open. Check the requirements with your lecturer beforehand so you know what to expect. Desks are allocated according to papers, not people Likely to be several different papers being examined at the same time Clock clearly visible so you can check time as you go On the desk Exam paper/s Answer booklet

6. What if... What if I go blank? Distract yourself: take a sip of water, change position Relax: take some deep breaths Free writing: brainstorm ideas on a blank piece of paper If these techniques don’t help, move on to the next question What if I get writer’s cramp? Practice writing / typing before the exam Try gripping your pen loosely (or using a fatter pen) Put your pen down / take your hands off the keyboard and flex your hands in between questions

7. Six steps to surviving the exam During the ten minute reading time Step 1: Check the exam paper Step 2: Read and re-read the instructions Step 3: Allocate your time Step 4: Choose your question order At the start of the exam Step 5: Memory dump Step 6: Start writing

8. During the 10 minute reading time • Check the exam paper • In-person exams: Are you in the right room? • Online exams: Did you use the right exam link? • Does your exam have all the pages it should have? • In-person exams: Can ask the invigilator for a blank piece of paper

9. During the 10 minute reading time Read the instructions How many questions do you have to answer? Are all sections compulsory, or do you get to choose from different options? Check for words that indicate options (“either”, choose two”) Check for other specific instructions (“all working calculations must be shown”, etc.)

10. During the 10 minute reading time Allocate your time You want to complete all the compulsory questions You don’t want to run out of time Allocate your time for each question based on: how much it is worth the type of question whether the section is compulsory

11. During the 10 minute reading time Allocate your time One way is to turn the marks the section is worth, into the percentage of time you’ll spend (e.g, a section worth 60 marks, spend 60% of your time) But remember that multiple choice often take less time (another option is to allocate 1 minute for each question). Remember too, that you might: plan, write, and check. (If you have 45 minutes to write an essay, you might: brainstorm points for five minutes, write for 35 minutes, and spend 5 minutes at the end checking what you’ve written). Allocate your time so that you can move from question to question and get through the entire exam – don’t stay too long on one question

12. During the 10 minute reading time Choose your question order If you can, consider deciding what order you are going to complete your questions It’s a good idea to attempt the questions you feel most confident about first Can also choose which sections to answer first – do you want to write your essays first or last?

13. At the start of the exam Memory dump Write down all the information you can remember for the questions you are answering Start writing Don’t leave until you have checked your answers and attempted the right number of questions

14. Strategies for answering questions 1. Essays 2. Multiple-choice 3. Short answer questions

15. Essays Choose the questions you will answer during reading time During the first 5 minutes write down the relevant points you can remember (if you haven’t done this during the memory dump) No need to provide full APA style references do acknowledge theory and research using relevant names

16. Essays Understand the question examine keywords and command words understand what aspect(s) of the topic you’ve been asked to write about For the structure of the essay, follow the structure of the question develop a thesis statement from the question and include it in your introduction As a general rule: one paragraph = one point supported by an example, explanation, evidence  use the first and last sentences of the paragraph to clarify your main point

17. Essays Example Question: In this essay, identify and describe both the institutional and the personal bases of the power of the New Zealand Prime Minister. “New Zealand’s Westminster system of government means there are core institutional bases of power for the Prime Minister; however, there are also crucial personal bases of power”.

18. Multiple choice 2. According to Cantor and Harlow, successful problem solving requires: 1. self-regulation. 2. clearly defined behavioural plans. 3. a personal value system. 4. constant feedback.

19. Multiple choice • Do not read through the test during reading time • If the correct answer looks obvious, still check to make sure • Read the questions carefully and highlight key words • Go through and answer the easier questions first – come back to the tougher ones later

20. Multiple choice Try and choose the most correct answer - Sometimes they are all mostly right, but there is no “all of the above” choice Top two tips: 1. Cover the answers and try answer the question yourself o Look at the options and choose the one which most closely matches your answer 2. Try eliminating answers you know are definitely wrong

21. Short answer Keep your answers short Usually a paragraph Sometimes only 2 or 3 sentences (7 lines max) Answer the question given Think of what points, key words, phrases and ideas the examiner will be looking for Don’t fall into the trap of writing everything you know Be aware that different short answer questions are sometimes allocated different marks marks ranging from 2 to 6, for example

22. Short answer Sometimes can fit this pattern: Statement: answer to the question/definition/description Support: evidence/explanation, the why, the because Apply: provide examples or case studies Example: Name the three countries that are said to have ‘unwritten’ constitutions. The three countries that are said to have unwritten constitutions are ***. This is because… For example…..

23. Short answer Top three tips 1. Leave 1 or 2 lines after each answer in case you remember something else important later on 2. Stick to the time you have allocated 3. Keep your answers short, sharp and to the point

24. Open book and ‘seen’ exams For open book: Check what information you can have with you Make sure you are familiar with the book and the material before the exam you’ll need to be able to retrieve information quickly and efficiently. Don’t just copy from the textbook For seen exams: Don’t try to memorise entire essays Practice writing an intro and conclusion, and leave the rest in plan form

25. As the exam proceeds … Check you are keeping to time If one question is taking too long – leave a gap and move on You are likely to get more marks by starting another question than adding to one that you have already written some information on If time is very short – write an answer in brief notes.

26. Mini quiz • What sort of questions are on the next slides? • How would you go about answering them?

27. Mini quiz You would not expect covered in an exam seminar how to: A) Answer essay questions B) Prepare for the exam C) Cook dinner D) Be strategic in your response to multiple choice questions

28. Mini quiz Define the terms exam and panic, explaining how they can be differentiated (5 marks). The term exam can be defined as a method for assessing the level of knowledge a student has about a paper or course. The term panic can be defined as feelings of extreme anxiety often eliciting a “fight or flight” response. Exam and panic can be differentiated in that while sometimes people experience them together, with careful preparation and good study habits, “panic” can be reduced to “productive stress”.

29. Mini quiz Why is calmness considered to be such a valuable commodity during an exam? Calmness is considered to be a valuable commodity during exams for four main reasons: it aids memory, helps with the writing process, being relatively calm helps get you through if you’ve got more than one exam, and it increases your overall enjoyment of life.

30. Over to you! Best wishes =) Good luck with your exams!

31. Need help? We have a range of free services to help you with your assignment writing and study skills: Individual Support: Want to discuss your assignment before you hand it in? Want to discuss study skills (e.g. how to manage time)? Book an appointment at https://massey-nz.libcal.com/ Pre-Reading Service: Submit a draft assignment and receive individual written feedback on your assignment’s structure, focus, referencing, and use of sources. This service is available to first year internal and all distance students. You can access the forum through the Academic Writing and Learning Support site on your Stream homepage. Workshops: Seminars and workshops are run on campus and online, which can help you with writing and study skills, such as essay writing, referencing, and writing research proposals. See here for programmes and registration details. See http://owll.massey.ac.nz/about-OWLL/workshops.php Academic Q+A forum: Ask our consultants a question about academic writing and/or study skills. The Q & A forum is a place for students to receive help with quick, study-related questions. You can access the forum through the Academic Writing and Learning Support site on your Stream homepage. OWLL: Information about academic writing and study skills, including assignment planning, essays, reports, and referencing. Go to http://owll.massey.ac.nz/index.php Disability Services: A range of services and support for students who have health and disability issues that are impacting their study. Pacific Massey: Whether studying as an internal or distance student, you can also access Learning support from the Pasifika Learning Advisors. Te Rau Tauawhi: Ko tā Te Rau Tauawhi he āwhina i ngā tauira Māori ki te tuku aromatawatai ki Te Reo Māori, ki te tautoko hoki i ngā āhuatanga whakarite tuhinga. The Te Rau Tauawhi Māori Student Centre can help you to submit your assignment in Te Reo Māori and provide general assignment structure support. • • • • • • • •

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