Exam-Taking Techniques ‘To build confidence!

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To build confidence, we must be excited about what we believe and act on it. Doing is
believing.

How do I do this for exams?

1. Focus on what you are doing! Be present in the moment! Believe you will do it!

2. How do I pick the low-hanging easiest fruit?

1. Get Prepared, Practice past papers to time. Find the 80/20 rule. Find the top 20%
Ask your professor what the main concepts are I can study and prepare for.

2. Follow Instructions:
Read the exam paper all the way through. Don’t miss anything. The power of the
subconscious.

3. Do your best question first. Lowest easy hanging fruit, go for the marks.

4. Plan your answer: Write out an outline or formulas on a separate piece of paper. Jot
out an intro, 2 or 3 main paragraph points, and a conclusion.

5. Keep to TIIME: Use a watch, use a calculator to calculate your time.

Example: 120-minute exam, 4 questions 25 marks per question.
a) Go for the low-hanging fruit. You do not need to start with question 1, do the easiest
question first. This will help you from panicking during the test if you do not know the
answer to a question. The mind can multi-task and while you are answering the easy
questions your mind can come up with the answers to the other questions.
b) Write your time deadline next to each question. Close, stop, and move to the next
easiest question.
Do not pull all-nighters before the exam. Try not to ever work through the night and sleep during the day. Trust
your mind. Go into the exam feeling awake and fresh, a good night’s sleep actually prepares your mind, and you
will recall more of what you have learned over the entire course. Sleep is like stretching before you run the race.
Smile! Say to yourself “I got this”, the power of positive thinking.

Active Learning Techniques:

1. Take good notes: see below

2. Write about it. Think of a story you can imagine using this information.
3. Teach Someone. Critical Thinking: Study/Revise together for Critical Thinking:
Getting a study group together can really help, no more than 4 people.
Date 1/1/23 # Heading

Lecture 1 Study Skills. How can I study to improve my marks to get 70%+?

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Cue words Concise Notes

Questions Concise meaning, giving a lot of information clearly and in a few words.

Principles Think Exam Time, Record, questions, recite, reflect, review,

Why SLEEP? How many hours do I need to Sleep? 8 hours at night

Why? Place the day’s info, into memory. REM Sleep

Prepare my brain for the next day’s study.

Efficiency? Note Taking Define? Reduce into small categories

Do not write in complete sentences or highlight everything

Know your Syllabus, Record dates, Think Exam Time Marks

Repetition? Study in short hour blocks, Review all notes weekly.

Solidify short-term memory. Improve concentration Graph.

Attend every lecture, tut, practical. This is part of repetition.

Exam Skills How do I pick low-hanging fruit? Read the entire exam.

Answer the easiest question first. Keep to Time.

Outline your answer, Formulas, Highlights. Practice Past E.

Reading Wisely and discerningly, Ask Professors what is important.

Skills Scan all headings. Read every word of the first chapter.

Write summary notes after each chapter.

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YES. I can improve my marks to 70%+ by having a study plan and sticking to it.