Exam taking: Art or Science?

1. Exam taking: Art or Science? The Pony Club Instructors Conference Nikki Heath Symbiotics Ltd

2. Statements • Some exams can naturally de-select/select a particular type. • Some people are good exam takers but are less effective in the working or performing environment • Some exams do not test the appropriate skill sets for effective long term performance

3. Good Examinees: Born or Made? • Ability to feel they can change situation – not a victim of fate • Self Efficacy/belief • Perspectives – interpretation of events and attribution • Ability to manage uncertainty - robustness • Ability to deal with criticism – resilience • Preparedness and attitude – self defeater or perfectionist

4. Added kick for equestrians… …..Effects of the horse!

5. Why Because.. They add a large element of uncertainty… uncertainty is the biggest cause of anxiety Anxiety has a major impact on performance Loss of performance impacts on confidence…. The horse reacts to confidence…

6. Candidate differences • Personality differences • Perfectionist • Self Defeater • Learning Styles • Technical • Intuitive • Background, experience planning and training • Beliefs and style • Attribution • Anxiety type

7. Cognitive and Physical Tasks • Ability to sustain both effectively under pressure • Associated to learning style • Continuous open loop tasks heavily affected by intervention of thought • Anxiety type – somatic or cognitive

8. Anxiety Type • Somatic signs • Tense and jerky • Hesitant • Sweating • Aggressive • Cognitive signs • Joking and laughing • Yawning and lethargic • Poor concentration and focus

9. Interpretation of Behaviours

10. Exam Conflicts • Personal Goals vs Exam Goals • Personal Goals vs actual ability (dissonance) • Preparation vs reality • Perception of control • Over confidence vs under confident • Equestrian proneness to self consciousness • Over prepared • Rigidity • Violation of expectation

11. The impact of the horse • A learning organism that is also affected by environment • Is inconsistent and unpredictable • Can cause feelings of unequal playing field – creating anger or despondency

12. The impact of the examiner • Communication style • Perceptions of candidate behaviour • Body language • Perceptions by candidate of examiner behaviour

13. Controllable Internal wind ups • Feeling of not belonging • Fear of opinion – Gamesmanship • Guilt – responsibility of expectation • Lack of self belief • Under horsed/under prepared • Over tired and under resourced • Not in control – attribution and planning

14. 4 Cs of effective performance • Communication • Control • Planning and preparedness • Self management • Confidence • Anxiety • Attribution • Self Efficacy • Commitment • Stickability and resilience

15. Strong Candidates • Preparedness • Fall back strategy and flexibility • Ability to park problems or negative feelings • Understanding of organisational issues • Understanding of own contribution to problems • Taking control • Understanding own personal triggers and flashpoints

16. Examiners • Preparedness and planning • Effective communication • Even handedness • Understanding of the external issues if they have occurred – knowing when to be flexible • Tolerance when faced with a display of internally produced behaviours

17. Questions