Preparing effectively
for Examinations
Aims & learning
outcomes
• To evaluate your revision working
habits and strategies
• To become aware of the resources
needed for revision
• To be able to practise strategies for
different note-taking approaches
• To become aware of different
memory strategies
Where are you?
• What sort of learner are you?
• What sort of environment do you
revise in?
• What is your level of stress?
• Are you comfortable with your
revision plans?
• Remember: ‘if you always do what
you have always done, you will
always get what you have always
got’.
Revision location
• Where do you revise?
• Is it noisy?
• Are there comfort factors involved?
• Do you prefer to revise alone or with
friends/both?
• What is likely to distract you?
• What time of day do you prefer to
revise/study?
Revision techniques
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Writing out notes again to
remember facts
Reducing/condensing
information to shorter notes
Memorising essay answers
Writing out essay plans from
past questions
Writing essay answers or
working through past papers
under timed conditions
Using mind maps/spider
diagrams/branch notes
Audio-taping information
Pairs/group revision with
friends
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Being active in learning
Using colour e.g.
highlighters
Reading lecture notes
Spending long periods
revising in the week prior to
exam
Using memory triggers to
help
Preparing flash cards with
key words as a basis for
understanding
Any other methods
Preparing yourself
for examinations
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Look at your learning outcomes
Consider/understand the
assessment criteria for all units
Start a system for organising
your lecture notes at the ‘start’
of your unit e.g. file dividers,
coloured floppy discs.
Select important theories and
evidence
Goals of self-expectation
should be realistic
Note-making – develop an
efficient organisational strategy
Learning thoroughly promotes
greater retention of facts and a
deeper understanding of your
subject
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Get ‘past’ exam papers and
answers
Go to revision sessions if
offered
Join an examination writing
group – practise questions
with others to make the
process interactive
Read your exam timetable
early and make own plans
Make sure you know the
format of the exam
Get a good nights sleep
Take several pens and a
working calculator with you
Enjoy (if not then its not
working!)
Notes for revision
Your system should provide you with ‘useful
notes’ and be an ‘efficient’ use of your time
and effort. Good notes will help you:
• Understand new/difficult concepts
• Get an overview of the topic by changing
written text into diagrams/flow
charts/mind maps
• Remember new terminology (highlight
words)
Mind map example
Common difficulties:
• productive working
• making changes
The right mind set:
• Preparing for effective
revision
REVISION
Aids to Memorising:
• Developing strategies
• Your memory strategies
Examination Techniques:
• Tips and hints
Revision Notes:
• About revising
• Organising key
concepts
• Revision
techniques
Organisation
• Gather all notes relevant to the
topic/examination.
• Decide how you are going to code
each section/topic
• Look for connections between
topics e.g. methodological
approaches to different or similar
topics.
Memory strategies
Rote learning: memorisation by heart
Deep learning: connecting material to
understand it and later recall it.
• What was your first day at school/college
like? (episode)
• What is your home postal code? (fact)
• Where did you have your last lecture?
(episode)
• How do you open a document on the
computer? (procedure)
• A key concept in your favourite topic/subject
(knowledge)
Practise examination
skills
• Analyse exam questions
• Plan essays
• Write appropriately and accurately
• Argue effectively using concepts/theories
• Analyse texts/evidence
• Select areas of knowledge
• Synthesise and reach a conclusion
• Decide what questions you are good at answering
• Time yourself answering questions
• Prioritise questions during an exam and the
information in an exam question
Coping with stress
• Take care of your mental, emotional and
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physical state
Continuous stress can be counterproductive
but a little is motivating. Adrenaline at the
right levels is good for exams
Include relaxation and periods free from
work
Include some physical activity
Don’t drink alcohol the night before exams
Seek help if it becomes too difficult
Academic Skills Guides
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Further guides at: http://www.academicskills.soton.ac.uk/develop.htm and include:
Learning styles
Reading academically
Writing effectively
Writing technically
Referencing your work
Getting the most from lectures
Working in groups
Giving a talk
Preparing effectively for examinations
Search Strategy
Writing your dissertation
Endnote – bibliographic software
Approaching mathematical problems systematically