Home » Education » Middle & High School » Middle and High School Books

Steps to Exam Success

4 Comments

13 Like

Like 13

Pin It

Ranked #5,562 in Education, #128,835 overall | Donates to Squidoo Charity Fund

Study Skills

Exams are all about preparation. Effective study skills, understanding of personal study style, learning to manage time more efficiently and learning the best way to prepare for exams are just a few of the steps required in order to improve the final outcome: exam result. To improve your performance in school as well as to increase your ability to learn in general, the following steps are very important. Regardless of what exam you are preparing for, the steps outlined in this lens should help you develop both strategies and habits that will enable you to maintain a regular learning pattern.

GOOD LUCK!

Step 1 Your Study Area

Create a space dedicate for study only. This space should be away from distractions and should be used for school work only. Whatever area you choose, make sure it is relatively pleasant and comfortable. Some people need silence to study, while others cannot study without some background music. However, if you find yourself singing along to the music or even tapping your foot, chances are, your attention is not on the study 100%. The mellower the music, the better.

Feng Shui and Study space

Feng Shui Your Home For Better Study Habits: 'A child's or students room can benefit greatly by ensuring that it is aligned in the most auspicious way to allow energy to flow freely and nourish their soul.'
Feng Shui study room tips: 'Study room needs a lot of positive energy and the concept of Feng Shui serves as the best source for the flow of positive Chi in your kid's study room.'

Feng Shui for Study on Amazon Search

Step 2 Long-term Planning

Start from your course outline or study guide. It outlines all the information you need to know about the subject content, assessment and timelines. At the beginning of the year, each term, each topic it is important to map the assessment tasks in every subject so that you have a clear understanding of the requirements of the course, the timeline, and the percentage value of each task.
You need:
- a wall planner that covers all the important events for the whole year;
- a weekly planner that covers your weekly activities including any extra-curricular activities
This will help you get into a study routine as well as helping you maintain a balance between study time, other activities and relaxation time.
Your exam preparation starts from day one of the school year.

Step 3 Time Management

Organise your time effectively.
- Set daily schedules. First, put down all of the daily requirements like classes, meals, etc. Now block in your study time;
- Politely say no to activities you are not interested in. Saying no give you more time to spend on things that are most important;
- Prioritize responsibilities and other activities;
- After scheduling becomes a habit, then you can adjust it.

Time Management on Amazon Search

Step 4 Organisation

Now that you have a good place to study and a good plan, it is time to get organised. Without a clear plan in mind and definite goals, the time you spend studying will be wasted.
- Decide beforehand what you are going to study during the study time;
- Decide how much you want to get done in the time set which means that you should set a realistic goal for each study period;
- Try to meet your goals and deadlines, as this will give you a sense of satisfaction;
- Have a five minute break every half an hour and half an hour break every two hours

Step 5 Notes and Learning

- Recognise the main ideas
- Identify what information is relevant to your task
- Have a system of note taking that works for you
- Reduce the information to note and diagram format
- Put the information in your own words
- Record the source of the information

Note Taking Tips and Techniques

Note Taking Techniques: 'The most comprehensive note taking systems require attention on your part. You must be alert enough in class to take legible, meaningful notes. You can't rely on "writing everything down" because a lot of information in a given lecture won't help you actually learn the material. If you have problems determining the specific relevant points in a particular class, you can always ask the professor to clarify them for you.'
JCU Study Skills Online: 'The note-taking process, like the learning process, involves more than just what happens in lectures. It is a process that requires you do things before, during and after lectures.'
The Learning Centre at the University of New South Wales: An outline of effective note-taking strategies to help you get the most out of lectures and readings. The guide suggests procedures such as symbols and abbreviations, diagrams and note cards.

Step 6 Regular Revision

Start early and revise often.
- Make a revision timetable;
- Identify the key points, examples and evidence for each topic;
- Prepare for questions that combine two or more different topics;
- Go over the same material quite quickly several times rather than spending a long time on one occasion;
- Answer questions from past papers.

Step 7 Seek Assisstance - Teachers and Peers

- Get the most from your teachers. Ask for assistance as soon and as often as needed;
- Complete all homework on a regular basis;
- Attend all classes and participate in class discussions;
- Organise and participate in a study group.

Study Groups: 'A study group can be helpful when you are trying to learn information and concepts and preparing for class discussions and tests. Read to learn about the benefits of a study group. Then read on to learn about how to start a study group and the characteristics of a successful study group. Finally, be sure to read about the possible pitfalls of a study group.'

Step 8 Keep Healthy and Fit

A healthy, balanced and varied diet helps improve concentration, learning and memory. The following snacks help during study:
- fruit smoothies (banana or frozen berries with milk/yoghurt and vanilla essence)
- wholemeal crackers with peanut butter
- pikelets made with mashed banana
- rice cakes with tomato and cheese
- fruit muffins
Activities to do:
- go for a walk or ride to school a few times a week
- join a sport team or a dance class
- take the dog for a walk

Was this helpful? Any suggestions?

Now that you have visited this lens,

Reply

jimmyworldstar Dec 13, 2011 @ 9:39 am | delete

Great tips. Having your own study space helps you eliminate distractions and keeping organized makes it easier and faster to start working.