EXAM SUCCESS 2013
Prepared by Student Success
MAXIMIZED STUDY TIME REQUIRES:
Preparation
Memory
Strategies
PREPARATION

The GOAL of preparation is to create a state of
mind & body where you can
CONCENTRATE
PREPARATION – BRAIN STATE
Beta – necessary for life
Alpha – necessary for study
PREPARATION - ENVIRONMENT

Music and Distraction
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Place Association
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Comfortable
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Lighting
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Resources
PREPARATION – SETTING GOALS
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Define Goals and Objectives
 Realistic
 Concrete
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and Specific
“Failing to Plan is the same as Planning to Fail”
PREPARATION – MIND AND BODY
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Garbage IN Garbage OUT
 Stimulus
Pre-Study Matters
 Diet
 Thoughts
about your ability
 Whether
you think you can or can’t, you’re right.

Breathe

Muscles Relaxed
PREPARATION – ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Everything is Connected to SOMETHING
 Brainstorm
PREPARATION – SEQUENCE
1.
Get yourself to a RELAXED, UNSTRESSED
State
a.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Environment, Stimulus, Diet
Have an Open and Alert Mind
Breathe efficiently – fuel your engine
Feel positive about your ability as a learner
Activate as much prior knowledge as you can
MEMORY
MEMORY

From Short to Long Term Storage
MEMORY – “EFFECTS”
You must make use of these memory “effects”
1. Multisensory Effect
2. Regency and Primacy Effect
3. Similarity Effect
4. Association Effect
5. Repetition Effect
6. Multiple Intelligences
MEMORY – “EFFECTS”
1. Multisensory Effect
90% from multisensory – read, hear, see, say & do
60 % from what you DO
50% from what you SAY
40% from what you SEE
30% HEAR
20% READ
MEMORY – “EFFECTS”
2. Regency and Primacy Effect
 Lots
of shorter study sessions
3. Similarity Effect
 “chunk”
like material together
Rose, car, pen, desk, helicopter, bed, truck, crayon,
snap dragon, table, chalk, lilac, train, pencil, tulip,
couch, chair
MEMORY TECHNIQUES – “SIMILARITY”
Flowers
Vehicles
Furniture
Writing
Rose
Train
Desk
Pen
Tulip
Helicopter
Table
Pencil
Lilac
Truck
Chair
Chalk
Snap dragon
Car
Couch
Crayon
MEMORY – “EFFECTS”
4. Association
 Sense
 Attach
to a smell or visual
 Emotion
 Attach
to a feeling – avoid negative feelings
 Intensity
 Meaning
 Weirder
is better!
MEMORY – “EFFECTS”
5. Repetition Effect
6. Multiple Intelligences
Linguistic
 Mathematical / Logical
 Visual / Spatial
 Physical
 Inter personal
 Intra personal
 Naturalistic / Categorize

[write it out]
[mind map/ make connections]
[mind maps/sketch]
[move]
[teach someone]
[reflect on your learning]
[similarity grouping]
STRATEGIES
STRATEGIES
1. Tackle Procrastination
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Be aware of your alertness cycles
Prepare
Use Study Goals
Get a Clear Picture of the Cost
Get a Clear Picture of the Reward
STRATEGIES
2. Create a Menu
3. Output!
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Teach
Make Flash Cards
Create Mnemonic Devices
Create MIND MAPS
Give a Speech
Create a Song
Draw Pictures
Re-write notes Succinctly
STRATEGIES
Mind Map
 Emphasis
 Associations
 Clarity
 Personalize
 Hierarchies
 Order
STRATEGIES
4. Tackle Anxiety
 Preparation
 Learn
about the test [format, length]
 Relaxation Exercises – Muscles and Breathing
STRATEGIES – ON TEST DAY
Before
1. Get lots of sleep the night before
2. DON’T CRAM in the preceding hours
3. Take your stomach out of the equation
4. Arrive early
5. Stay Positive [visualize success]
6. Avoid talking to nervous students
7. Have all materials you need ready to go
STRATEGIES – ON TEST DAY
During
1. Read directions carefully
2. Ignore what others are doing
3. Budget your time
4. Pick the “low hanging fruit” first
5. Stay for the whole exam
STRATEGIES – ON TEST DAY
Multiple Choice
“low hanging fruit”
 understand ALL the options
 Root out the wrong /ridiculous
 Choose MOST correct answer
 Work Actively
 Visualise yourself studying the material
 When it comes to guessing...



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More likely “all of the above” than “none”
If one answer is substantially longer
If two answers are exact opposites
STRATEGIES – ON TEST DAY
Essay
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Make it easy on the Marker
Use the MC section for ideas
Take time to PLAN
Get to the Point
Be Obvious
Answer the question
Attempt every question
Spill it
CONCLUSION

Start Review Early and Repeat

Consciously Choose:



Your environment
Your mindset
Your strategies

Sleep between study sessions
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Discipline Yourself

End your sessions on a positive note!
THANK YOU!