EXAM PREPARATION

WORKSHOP
Facilitator- Denise Dennis.,M.Ed
Educator, Curriculum Developer
When should you prepare for an exam?
◦ Well before
◦ The week before
◦ The day before
 Develop a positive mindset

FIRSTLY,
Recognize your strengths and
BELIEVE IN
weaknesses.
YOURSELF

Set realistic goals

 Talk with your Teachers

SCHEDULE A TIME IF BE PREPARED TO SHOW THEM ASK FOR

POSSIBLE TO SPEAK WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE CLARIFICATION ON
TO YOUR TEACHERS. BEEN STUDYING AND YOUR CONCEPTS WITH
STUDY PLAN FOR THE TEST WHICH YOU MAY BE
STRUGGLING 
 Use homework and past papers

STUDY Discuss aloud, Use flash cards, graphic

organizers, concept maps

SMART, Use quizzes and chapter tests to prepare

for exam

NOT HARD! Review old test! What did you get

wrong?
Teach a friend.
Write keyword
 What should I be doing the week of exam??

Don’t Just
know your
formulas,
practice to use All study activities are not created equally
them and Don’t just continue to read your notes. Do more
teach others with the material.
to do the Passive Active
same! Lecture Reading Audio- Demonstration Discussion Practice Teach Others/
Visual Group by Doing Immediate Use

5% 10% 20% 30% 50% 75% 80%

Average Retention of Learning

Interactive learning can explode long-term
retention rates by up to 10x.
 Day before the exam
Prepare Physically and Emotionally

◦ Physical preparation
◦ Maintain regular sleep routine
◦ Follow regular exercise program
◦ Eat right
◦ Emotional preparation
◦ Know your material
◦ Practice relaxing
◦ Use positive self-talk
◦ DON’T CRAM Use this day to:
◦ Assess your learning with quizzes
◦ Teach the material to someone
◦ Test your understanding
 Get a good rest the night before
the test. Cramming does not
Care for your work, and you need to sleep for
you brain to do its best work

brain and
body You will perform better if you
have a good breakfast before
the test. While you eat take
time to review.
What should you do during an exam?
◦Use time wisely
◦Answer questions strategically and
thoroughly
◦Manage test anxiety
Use Exam Time Wisely
◦ Prepare materials before the test (phone off, calculator,
pencils, scratch paper, etc.)
◦ As soon as the exam starts, do a memory dump
◦ Read instructions carefully
◦ Quickly scan the test and plan how you will use the allotted
time
◦ Plan to finish early so you have time to review
During the exam
1. Be careful. Read directions.
2. Calmly scan entire test
3. Use time wisely
4. Jot down idea starters
5. Answer easy questions first
6. If you panic or go blank, stop and relax
7. Try to answer every question
8. If you finish early, check your answers
Answering Essay Questions
1. Budget exam time
2. Actively read entire question
3. Develop outline before writing
4. Write concise, organized answers
5. Know key task words

Answering Short answer questions

1. Keep answers short and to the point.
2. Use the mark allotted as a guide
3. Do not restate the question
When what you studied and what is on the test
doesn’t match …
don’t just memorize!
Identify Explain Compare Argue Assess
Questions which ask Requires essays which Requires an analysis Requires that you take Involves describing
for short, direct are fully thought out in essay form which a position on an issue acceptable criteria and
answers and usually and developed in as emphasizes and defend your defending a judgment
do not require fully much detail as you similarities, argument against on the issue, idea, or
developed essays. have time for. differences, and reasonable question involved.
connections between alternatives.
Ask yourself: “What is Ask yourself: “Why is these ideas or Ask yourself: “What
this idea or concept?” this the case?” and concepts. Ask yourself: “Why is does this idea mean?”
“What does this “What are the main this correct?” and “Why is it important?”
Ask yourself: “What
mean?” and “What are points?” “Why is this true?” “What are the
are the similarities?”
the main strengths?” and “What
and “What are the
characteristics?” are the weaknesses?”
differences?”

Key Words: List, Key Words: Key Words: Key Words: Prove, Key Words: Criticize,
Summarize, Discuss, Analyze, Compare, Contrast, Justify Evaluate, Interpret,
Enumerate, Explain, Illustrate Relate Review
Describe, Define,
State
Multiple-Choice Questions
◦ Take advantage of cues
◦ Suspect words: always, never, only
◦ Review surrounding answers
◦ Predict answer before reviewing choices
◦ Return to confusing questions later
Answering Multiple choice
◦ 1. R.T.Q.2
Read The Question Twice. 
◦ A very useful reminder for text-based exams, especially multiple choice tests, to help avoid making silly
mistakes when the answer is known but given incorrectly due to rushing and misreading the question.
Symptoms of Test Anxiety
◦ Butterflies, nausea, queasiness
◦ Mild to severe headache
◦ Increased heart rate
◦ Hyperventilation
◦ Muscle cramps, shaking, sweating
◦ “Going blank”

Test anxiety can be subject-specific.

Strategies for Dealing with
Test Anxiety
◦ Breathe
◦ Stretch
◦ Sit well
◦ Create positive
mental messages
◦ Keep confidence high
◦ PRACTICE taking exam before
◦ Sit at table with blank page © Bedford/St. Martin’s
Distributed by Bedford/St. Martin's/Macmillan Higher Education strictly for use with its

◦ Write what you remember products. Not for redistribution.

◦ Write how to begin a math problem

◦ Write the formulas you’ve been studying
 Remember, You Got This!

Try a power pose, create a Arrive early so you can take A positive attitude goes a
playlist to psych you up, do time to relax and get focused long way
positive self-talk on the test
Thank You & Questions

ALL THE BEST !!