‘HOW TO’ GUIDES
HOW TO DO YOUR BEST IN EXAMS
Good preparation is essential in order to do well in exam essays. Use the following tips as a checklist to make sure you do everything you can to get your best possible grade.
BEFORE
Have a “revision
approach”
throughout the
year.
Take careful notes in lectures and when reading - you will need to revise
from them in future.
Go over lecture notes after each lecture and rewrite if necessary. Put
information into your own words. Try to understand information rather than
just regurgitate it.
Read widely throughout the course so that outside reading becomes second
nature and doesn’t seem like a huge hurdle around exam time.
“Try not to
spend more
time on your
revision
timetable
than on your
revision”
Draw up a plan of the days you have available.
Construct a realistic
revision timetable
and stick to it.
Check... the module
content.
Check... the
marking criteria.
Block out the hours you want to spend revising – not more than 6 hours per
day as a general rule. Put in plenty of breaks.
Try to give yourself enough time before the exam to work steadily rather
than in a rush at the end.
This can be found in the module description on the department website.
Make sure you have covered everything on the list.
You could use it as a tick-list for your revision or to create practise
questions.
You will find the marking criteria in your course handbook or on the
department website.
Condense
information as you
revise.
Memorise key
information.
Think through the
implications of what
you have learnt.
UNDERSTAND
the concepts”
The criteria help you work out EXACTLY what is required for the grade you
are aiming for. Aim high!
Past papers are available on ELE under Student Resources. They are a useful
guide to what to expect and can be used in several ways:
Check... past papers
for typical questions.
“Don’t feel
you have to
memorise
everything
word for
word,
it’s more
important to
•
to see what is expected of you
•
to identify gaps in your knowledge
•
to plan and write practise essays
Reduce your notes by writing them out in a different, more succinct format
each time you go over them. This process should commit more and more
to your memory.
At the final stage you should have small revision cards with key words that
spark off immediate connections to the memorized information.
“Choose to
memorise
quotes that
can be used
in the most
contexts - that
way a small
bank gets you
a long way”
Learn key names, details, processes, ideas, theories etc. Try using buzz
words which trigger your memory.
A list of facts alone is not useful. Make links between facts and think about
applying them to a structured argument.
You need to show that you can critically analyse material to achieve higher
marks - markers will know if you have just memorised the lecture slides.
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Share the revision
process with friends.
Discussing topics gives you alternative viewpoints and generates more ideas
than you could come up with by yourself, as well as helping to identifying
gaps in your knowledge.
This is often more effective if done with a friend.
Test yourself on
what you’ve learnt.
Make sure you haven’t just rote learnt something, but that you can talk about
the implications, applications and relevance of what you have learnt.
Practice writing timed essays by hand and monitoring your progress.
Remember what has
and hasn’t worked
well for you in past
essays.
Reread your coursework essays and take note of the tutor’s feedback.
Focus on some realistic and achievable steps that you can take to improve
your work/avoid mistakes.
DURING
Read the question
carefully and stick to
it.
Work out exactly what each question is asking you to do.
Select which questions
to answer and in
which order.
Try not to dither. Start with the question you feel most confident about.
Your brain will mull over the others whilst you work.
Shape your
information to answer
the question.
Plan before you start
writing.
Keep your writing
succinct and to the
point.
Keep enough time for
a conclusion.
“Try to
answer
the actual
question, not
the question
you want it to
be”
Underline the key words to focus your attention.
Instruction words - such as compare, contrast, analyse, discuss - should
direct your answer.
Do not write everything that you know about a topic – only include
information that is relevant to the question and demonstrates or adds to
your arguments.
Consider the sections/paragraphs you want and write down a few key
words or phrases for each. A flow chart is often an efficient way to plan.
Once you have a sense of direction, your writing will become easier.
Make sure you write the most important points early in the essay in case
you run out of time.
Focus on getting your points across rather than using elaborate language; it
will save you time and improve your marks.
“Plan, plan
plan. It will
help you
gather and
order your
thoughts, so
your essay is
succinct and
concise”
“Try to work
out which
lecturer has
written the
question and
it might help
you work
out what the
emphasis
should be”
Adjust your answer if necessary to keep within the time limit. This might
mean having to reduce the amount of detail for each point made.
Don’t underestimate the importance of a well thought-out conclusion.
Carry out final editing.
Leave enough time to read through each essay and add in anything you’ve
forgotten.
Take a minute to
refocus.
Use relaxation techniques to keep calm, such as deep breathing. This can
help you not to panic and to refocus your attention.
Have you seen the
other Guides in
this series?
How to…
Manage your time
AFTER
Read effectively
Reviewing strategies
and approaches
Consider what went well and areas you need to improve for the next
exam. Did your revision strategies work? How successful were your exam
techniques?
Relax
It’s over… You can’t change anything now; just concentrate on your next
exam.
Write essays & reports
Reference & avoid
plagiarism
Make the most of lectures
Give presentations
Manage groupwork
For further information, please go to ELE -> ‘Student Resources’ -> ‘Undergraduate Skills’.
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