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www.library.qut.edu.au

Preparefor Exams

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Prepare for Exams

For specific information on multiple-choice, short answer, essay, case study and open book exams download handouts from Exam Preparation on Studywell

This presentation outlines generic strategies to help you organise and prepare for your exams

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Studying for exams

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Studying for exams

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Know where the exam will be held Know the date of the exam

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Know the time of the exam Know what you are allowed to take into the room

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Check– unit outline

• Topics• Readings

– unit objectives• Knowledge• Skills

– exam parameters• Multiple choice• Short-answer• Essay

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Find out which resources will be examined, e.g.– Lectures– Text book– Handouts– Additional readings etc...

Know the level of understanding you are expected to achieve from each resource, e.g.

– Overview– Detail or– Critical analysis

Write notes throughout the semester at the same level of detail you need for the exam.

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Studying for exams

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Remember:– lecturers use the unit outline

to write their assessment tasks

Organise your materials– main topics from the unit

outline• sub-topics from lectures,

tutorials, textbook, additional readings

– map the structure of the course on a table or concept map. Concept map of multiple choice exam

materials for unit HHB102

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Remember:– ideas in the readings that

are also discussed by your lecturer or tutor are more likely to be on the exam.

– lecturers write exam questions from their own point of view.

• Put yourself in their shoes.

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Studying for exams

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Remember: Lecturers often give additional information about the exam in the first and last lecture of the semester.

Attend the first lecture Attend the last lecture

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Go to Study Management in Studywell for more help planning your time.

Write a study plan Write an exam plan

EXAM 60 minutes. 60 multiple choice questions

PLAN Spend 1 minute per question.

EXAM 1.5 hours. 2 essays each worth 30% and 8 short answer questions worth 5% each.

PLAN Spend 20 minutes per essay

PLAN Spend 5 minutes per question

PLAN 10 minutes to revise at the end

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Unit content is often based on the text book ...the same questions can appear

on the exam

Do the revision questions at the end of each chapter of the text book...

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Avoid passive reading Study Actively

Highlight

Re-write

Underline

Map

UU

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Revise regularly to retain information

The more you revise, the

more easily you remember

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Revise using post it notes, posters and flash cards

The more different ways you revise, the more you remember

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Make mnemonics (sentences or words

to help you remember )

Use flash cards

Draw diagrams

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Study without distractions

Enjoy frequent breaks

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`

Study with a friend

Ask for help from your

peers & tutor

Form a study group

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Write your own exam

questions as though you

were the lecturer

Swap questions with a friend and answer each

other’s questions

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Reduce and summarize your notes

– reduce recall anxiety on the day of the exam

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Eat a good breakfast on the day of the exam

Bring the right materials to the

exam

Get to the exam

location early

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Start with questions you can answer easily

Read instructions twice

BreatheLeave time to review

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Image bibliography (in order of appearance)PAGES 1-15

Samuel, 'Exam Hall', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/non-partizan/2806197476/, ed, 2008, Empty examination hall with desks.

ITS QUT, 'gp_wireless_map', In: http://www.its.qut.edu.au/oncampusaccess/mobilecomputing/wireless/coverage/GP/gp_wireless_map.jpg, ed, Map of Gardens Point campus.

Andrew West, 'June Exams', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/krypto/13401837/, ed, 2005, Screen capture of exam calendar.

H_is_for_Home, 'Vintage purple 1970s twin bell Westclox alarm clock', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/h_is_for_home/2460111952/, ed, 2008, A purple alarm clock.

Pablo, 'Nevermore!' In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordferguson/1561320157/, ed, 2007, Pencil, calculator, notes, highlighter, pen.

QUT, 'Unit Outline', In: unit_outline.JPG, ed, 2009, Screencap of QUT unit from blackboard.

'student', In: http://www.sastt.ca/images/student.gif, ed, illustration of a stack of books.

Kate Devitt, 'QUT Course Concept Map', In: course_concept_map.jpg, ed, 2009, Concept map of readings for QUT unit.

herval, 'Wishful Thinking', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/herval/26406106/, ed, 2005, Cartoon of girl looking up.

Rachel Cobcroft, 'John Wilbanks', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/felix42/2278259037/, ed, 2008, A lecturer giving a lecture in MELT classroom.

Anders Sandberg, 'Threat refuted', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/arenamontanus/2581472438/, ed, 2008, lecturer addresses class with whiteboard.

Mark Wainwright, 'Revision', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/m-a-r-k/504416145/, ed, 2007, A close-up photo of a text book.

Adam Raoof, 'Exam Stress', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/adamraoof/3512627144/, ed, 2009, A student sitting at a table in an exam room doing an exam

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Image bibliography (in order of appearance)

PAGES 16-19

Kaitlyn, 'Day 178 - 7-26-09', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaitastrophic/3760236898/, ed, 2009, A student reads a book lying in bed.

Karin Dalziel, 'Can't erase the highlighting in Zotero', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nirak/772741433/, ed, 2007, Screen capture of highlighted text.

Nick Aldwin, 'Tools of Evil', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ninja999/2191121767/, ed, 2008, pencil, eraser, page of maths workings.

dplastino, 'WU MING - Mind Map', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/marea/4035666628/, ed, 2009, A multi-coloured concept map.

'2students', In: http://www.rcc.edu/students/images/2students.jpg, ed, girl and boy sitting on stairs talking with book on lap.

Rob Friesel, 'multi-tasking', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/found_drama/2635866475/, ed, 2008, mum with laptop juggles baby and study.

Kate Devitt, 'Reviewing', In: reviewing.jpg, ed, 2009, A graph showing percentage remembered over time with or without review.

ccarlstead, 'Eraser', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cristic/2579854471/, ed, 2008, student in exam.

'college-student', In: http://firstnyfcu.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/college-student.jpg, ed, student cross-legged with book in park.

audreym, 'revision wall 1', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/audreyrobowen/271214699/, ed, 2006, A poster of the periodic table with study notes beneath.

Kate Devitt, 'Active Learning', 2009, Graph depicting the impact of active learning strategies on retention.

Ali Nassiri, 'To-do list', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alinassiri/3874169787/, ed, 2009, girl with post-it notes on hand.

Steve Keys, 'ThinkMac's iKanji 1.0', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36645776@N00/2711191611/, ed, 2008, screen capture of Japanese kanji flash card program.

J.G. Davis, 'Life cycle of the alfalfa weevil', In: http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5365593, ed, 2008, A diagram of the life cycle of the alfalfa weevil.

Lee Pilich, 'Music cross-rhythm, what atrocious weather.PNG', In: _what_atrocious_weather.PNG http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Music_cross-rhythm, ed, 2003, mnemonic diagram to help music student remember

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Image bibliography (in order of appearance)PAGES 20-23

Iris Shreve Garrott, 'facebook status', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/circulating/1841000835/, ed, 2007, A screen capture of a facebook status update.

Bashar Al-Ba'noon, 'Two feet watching TV!' In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrex/59956502/, ed, 2005.

Daniel, 'Texting', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ydhsu/3183824689/, ed, 2009, A person using a mobile phone to send a text message.

Kevin Paul Jones, 'Day 136: Procrastination', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/53537358@N00/2282744795/, ed, 2008, A Playstation II controller.

Jesse Millan, 'water piple at wahclella falls hike', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stopdown/2623172225/, ed, 2008, student relaxing with foot in water fountain.

Elsie Escobar, 'supported legs up on the wall pose', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/everydayelsie/406504707/, ed, 2007, person in inverted yoga pose.

Ahmed Rabea, 'Love Coffee', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahmedrabea/274197870/, ed, 2006, A cup of coffee with heart of foam.

MC Quinn, 'Study', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcquinn/2302027163/, ed, 2008, two girls sit in library studying.

QUT, In: 081015qut_srp361.jpg, ed, 2008, blonde girl faces camera, boy and girl face towards her.

QUT, In: QutPhoto3185.jpg, ed, 2008, six students work together on a group project.

herval, 'Wishful Thinking', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/herval/26406106/, ed, 2005, Cartoon of girl looking up.

Rachel Cobcroft, 'John Wilbanks', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/felix42/2278259037/, ed, 2008, A lecturer giving a lecture in MELT classroom.

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Image bibliography (in order of appearance)

PAGES 23-25

Kate Devitt, 'Studying for Exams', In: studying_for_exams.jpg, ed, 2009, Diagram of how to study for exams.

exlibris, 'Breakfast', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/exlibris/3036351064/, ed, 2008, a breakfast omlette with bacon, mandarin slices and a bagel.

Pablo, 'Nevermore!' In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordferguson/1561320157/, ed, 2007, Pencil, calculator, notes, highlighter, pen.

ITS QUT, 'gp_wireless_map', In: http://www.its.qut.edu.au/oncampusaccess/mobilecomputing/wireless/coverage/GP/gp_wireless_map.jpg, ed, Map of Gardens Point campus.

ccarlstead, 'Writing exams', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cristic/359572656/, ed, 2007, students in an exam

adhiwus, 'Jennifer in Meditation', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/adhiwus/1247880594/, ed, 2007, A girl sits in meditation