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Preparation for Your Personal Best Science Exams. Dr. Tamara O’Connor Student Learning Development Student Counselling Service Trinity College Dublin student.learning@tcd.ie http://student-learning.tcd.ie 896-1407. Objectives. Explore a framework for managing exams
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Preparation for Your Personal BestScience Exams Dr. Tamara O’Connor Student Learning Development Student Counselling Service Trinity College Dublin student.learning@tcd.ie http://student-learning.tcd.ie 896-1407
Objectives • Explore a framework for managing exams • Learn about active examination preparation strategies • Rehearse performance at your personal best – exam taking strategies for science & problem-solving exams
Sport Skills development Fitness training Strength Stamina Performance rehearsal Academic performance Learning new material Revision Understanding Memory Performance rehearsal Examinations As an Event
Personal Best Performance By managing: • Planning = Game Plan • Revision = Fitness training • Practice = Performance Rehearsal • Exam Taking = Performance Event • Performance Anxiety
Game Plan - Preparation • Know yourself • Familiarise yourself with exam • What topics to revise? • Skim all materials to determine what to cover • Overview work to be done & schedule time to do it
Know Yourself • What are your exam concerns? Why? • What do you do well? • What could you do better? • How do you study? • What strategies do you use to prepare? • How do you manage your stress?
Learn from the past • Get detailed information about what your exam paper looks like • Identify and revise topics you do not know well • What works for you?
Organise an Active Revision Program • Know your learning styles • Make revision fun • Use revision strategies where you move around • Draw pictures, maps, cartoons, diagrams, etc • Put key points around your walls • Teach “someone” else and ask them key questions (answer the questions yourself) • Listen to tapes or view video/DVD versions of the material • Make exam preparation a social occasion
Revision – Fitness Training MCQ Exams recognition & accurate knowledge Short Answer knowledge & understanding key ideas/facts at basic level
Thus for revision: • Think vocabulary, words, terms, concepts, systems • Make flash cards & test yourself • Recite for precision • Verbal & visual strategies to check mastery • Create summary sheets, diagrams, charts, tables, mind maps
Go! Conditioned Reflex – MCQ Practice • Read each question carefully • Circle key words or negatives • Identify modifiers and qualifiers (e.g. only, never, sometimes) • Read all options before making choice • Anticipate answer before looking at options • Check before marking answer
The following are all bones of the skull except: • Parietal bone • Temporal bone • Tarsal bone • Frontal bone
The function of dendrites is to: • slow down nerve impulses • provide myelin coating for nerve • synthesize neurotransmitters • pick up nerve signals
Go! Conditioned Reflex –Short Answer Practice • Deconstruct the question • Think in own words • Find and use key words • Show what you know: Define key words, concepts, theories • Complete sentences • Stay relevant
Outline the structure of fats OR carbohydrates • Choose question • What are they looking for? • How would I answer this? • How would I revise in order to be able to answer this? • Practice answering this type of question, varying topic
Outline and briefly discuss the three main approaches to understanding and defining stress • Stress – what is it? • 3 main theories • Compare & contrast – definitions, causes, etc. • Examples
Revision – Problem solving • Use active learning strategies • Develop a range of strategies • Compare textbook & notes • Similarities & differences between problem types & solution methods • How apply different situations or data • Try to solve the problem as far as possible
Revision – Problem solving • Practise problem-solving without your notes! • Work with others • Work problems ‘out of context’
Rehearse performing at your personal best • Practice by anticipating questions • Practice by answering old exam Q • Mark your own answers • Practice – un-timed and timed • Simulate exam conditions
Simulating Exam Conditions • The key to both intellectual and emotional preparation for exams is simulation • The closer a simulation is to the actual event, the more likely it is that preparation will be effective • A simulation engages both intellectual and emotional responses
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 you are rehearsing
Visualisation • Every athlete’s PB is in their mind • Visualisation is a vital part of performance preparation • Only ever visualise performing at your best
Keys to Your Personal Best • Game Planning • Organisation • Learn from the past • Fitness training using active revision strategies • Performance rehearsal using practice and simulation • Emotional and Intellectual preparation