Exam Workshop
2 May 2012
Adam Sandelson
LSE Student Counselling Service
Neil McLean
TLC
The format of the Workshop may differ from this powerpoint
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Preparing for exams – the last
few weeks
Neil McLean
Teaching and Learning Centre
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Overview
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Time available
Best use of time
Resources
‘Team spirit is an illusion created by winning.’
Parker (2009)
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Time available
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Exam session starts on 14th May
Exams run until 13th June
For an exam on 15th May, you have 96 working hours
(no weekends or evenings)
Dividing this up into essay plans, for instance, you
could make 68, you probably need to make 12 – 15
to be ready)
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Time available
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Planning – divide time based on the
scheduling of your exams
Where possible focus on the next exam
in the few days leading up to it
In an 8 hour day, break time up into
1.5 hour blocks, working on answering
different questions
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Best use of time
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You need to be good at the exam tasks – these tasks
include performance and time
(e.g. for 1 hour essays, most people write 800 – 1000
words, therefore an introduction and 4 or 5 paragraphs
and a conclusion. The introduction answers the
question and outlines the argument in support of this
answer, each paragraph begins with a clear statement
that helps answer the question and combines reference
to the literature and other sources to justify and
support the main idea of the paragraph in a detailed
and convincing manner.)
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Best use of time
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Complete and practise exam tasks, using texts /
lecture notes etc. as you get stuck
Look to produce answers that
 Show you can think (answer the question)
 Show you’ve done the reading (references /
context)
 Show expertise (detailed knowledge, real world
context or use, locate the debate etc.)
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Resources
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Each other – read each others essays,
try the same questions and talk through
the solutions (good end of day task)
Revision sessions – examiner’s mindset,
marking preferences etc.
Office hours – take answers / plans
rather than questions of detail
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Exam Psychology
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Practical techniques for revision and
exams
Common psychological issues
Stress management skills
Adam Sandelson
LSE Student Counselling Service
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Part 1
Techniques for
dealing with
revision and
exams
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Revising well
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Don’t compare yourself to
others
Work out your own schedule,
be flexible if necessary
Explore ways/ places to work
Don’t be obsessive!
Talk to others, ask for help
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Time and Targets
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Set realistic and achievable goals
Break down huge tasks
Short term targets and longer term
strategies
Recognise short term achievements
Revise study skills, time management skills
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Focussing on the task
Concentrate on the task, not the outcome
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Remember past successes
Recognise you are likely to pass
Be methodical, and allow time for breaks
and space to breathe and think
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Use mind maps, scribble ideas
Go for a walk, talk out loud
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On the day of the exam
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Don’t cram, sleep
Relax, visualize it being OK
Read the question
Sketch out thoughts, mind map
Plan answers
Keep notes for later questions
After – avoid show-offs
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Part 2
Psychological Issues in
approaching revision
and exams –
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Family Dynamics
Procrastination
Perfectionism
Change
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Underlying dynamics
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The family / historic context for your
success, eg keeping the family together
Trying to please others
Wanting to be the best
Setting yourself impossible targets
Repeating past anxiety, trauma, failure …
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Dynamics of study, work, life ...
Past
relationships
Current
relationships
Relationship
with LSE or
exams or
or work or …
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………Procrastination
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Putting off tasks
Anxiety, stress, guilt, shame
Disguise avoidance by being busy
We may find things to do that are
interesting or even useful, but don't
contribute towards the main goal
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Why do we procrastinate?
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time management
inability to prioritise, task
overload
Anxiety/ boredom
fear of failure/ success
perfectionism
all-or-nothing thinking
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Overcoming revision blocks
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Stop new reading if this is avoidance
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make notes, summarize ideas, list key quotes…
Practice questions
Practice drafting bullet points
Break work down into chunks
Take a break/sleep on it/talk to someone
Talk to the computer or your hand?
Acknowledge your procrastination!
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Challenge perfectionism
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Perfectionism can reduce achievement.
Experiment with your standards for success
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Focus on the process of doing an activity not
just the end result
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try for 80% or even 60%
evaluate success in terms of what you
accomplished and whether you enjoyed the task
Challenge ‘all or nothing’ thinking
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Thinking about life after LSE
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Not everyone knows what they want
to do afterwards - it’s OK to wait
Transition and change are stressful
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Going home
Losing Social Network
How to keep in touch with others
Preparing for work; the Rat Race
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Preparing for change
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Don’t deny endings
Be willing to say goodbye
Don’t obsess too much
about endings
Remember that endings
are part of life
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Part 3
Review your Stress
Management Skills
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Stress Management Skills
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Regularly switch off
Good self care – sleep,
diet, caffeine, alcohol,
physical activity
Time management
Take regular minibreaks to relax
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Breathing or relaxation
exercises
Allow yourself time out
without guilt
Anxiety is normal –
don’t deny it!
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Cognitive Strategies
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Challenge negative thinking
Distract yourself from negative thoughts
Difficulties and setbacks can be good
for learning and personal growth?
Tolerate not knowing – try to see
shades of grey, not black and white!
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Challenging negative thoughts
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Apply ‘Socratic reasoning’ or imagine
this being tested in a Court of Law
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Identify the negative thought
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Eg, I am going to fail all my exams
Ascertain the evidence For and Against
Ask if you are making a ‘thinking error’
Propose a more reasonable alternative
thought
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Thinking errors
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All or nothing thinking
Discounting the positive
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Over - generalizing
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Only seeing the negative side of things
because it happened in the past it will
happen again in the future
Catastrophising
Emotional Reasoning
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If I feel it then it must be true
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Part 4
What sources of
advice and help
are available?
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Sources of advice and help
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Academic Adviser/
Departmental staff
TLC
Learning World Website
Student Services Centre
Deans
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Student Union and Advice
Centre
Medical Centre
Mental Health and
Wellbeing Advisor
Disability and Wellbeing
Office
Don't wait until
problems have grown
impossibly large!
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Further resources
Learning World - http://moodle.lse.ac.uk/
See powerpoints on:
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Exams I: Planning and Preparation Resource
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Exams II: Last Minute Preparation and Sitting the Exams
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Exams III: Using Past Exam Papers Resource
Student Counselling Service website
http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/studentCounsellingService
See powerpoints/ video podcasts on:
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Psychological Issues Involved In The Task Of Writing
Overcoming Perfectionism
Procrastination workshop:
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LSE Student Counselling
Service
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Free and confidential
Mainly offers short term counselling
Appointments need to be booked in advance
See Website for
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Stress management handout
Self help resources on study – related and
personal difficulties
Relaxation MP3’s
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Final thoughts
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Focus on the task, not the outcome
Transition can be stressful, but also
allows us to grow as a person
Imagine looking back in 5 years
Talk to others (if not yourself)
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