Exam & Revision Techniques / Types of unstrategic approaches to exams and how to avoid similar problems

The disorganised person

Experience

Dora has lost the scrap of paper that she used to note when and where her exam was. She plans to arrive at the time and place she vaguely remembers and see if she recognises anyone in the queue. Her bus is late however, and everyone has already gone in. She arrives breathless at her seat, only to find she’s forgotten her pen and it’s an Atomic Physics paper rather than Edwardian history..

How to avoid this problem

Dora could:

• Have checked the details the night before

• Have planned to take the earlier bus to allow for hold-ups

• Have used a checklist to make sure she has everything needed

• Speak to the invigilator, who can give her correct information

The nervous exam sitter

Experience

Nadeem is totally consumed by nerves on the day of his big exam. He needs to visit the toilet immediately beforehand and then nearly throws up. In the exam, the words on the exam paper swim before his eyes and he can’t make sense of the first question, nor any of the rest. The questions don’t seem to relate to any of his course work. He rushes out of the exam hall, frustrated and anxious…

How to avoid this problem

Nadeem could:

• Reflect ahead of time on his view of exams – why he feels nervous – and try not to allow a spiral of anxiety to develop

• Try to exploit his energy rush positively, for example, buy brainstorming key points as soon as he goes in the hall thus giving him confidence

• Use relaxation techniques within the exam hall

The ‘get-me-outa-here’ student

Experience

Graham would rather be anywhere else than in an exam hall. He rushes thorough his answers, then hands in his paper 30 minutes before the end and speeds over to Don’s Tavern to wait for his friends to come out. During post-exam discussions, he realises that one of his answers is incomplete and he hasn’t even attempted section B…

How to avoid this problem

Graham could:

• Familiarise himself with the format of the paper before the date

• Plan his time in the exam so that he uses all of it profitably

• Use spare time for checking answers to ensure he has done as instructed

The perfectionist

Experience

Patsy has spent ages revising and knows the topics inside out. When she turns over the exam paper, she is delighted to find her idea question and knows she can produce a brilliant answer. One and a half hours later, it’s nearly finished. The only problem is, she now has another two answers to complete in 30 minutes….

How to avoid this problem

Patsy could:

• Do much the same as Graham, but also recognise that she will gain a better mark for doing reasonably well in all the questions, rather than extremely well in just one

• Practices writing answers against the clock to improve her technique

The mind-blocked writer

Experience

Mike has prepared for the exam well, but when he looks at the question, his mind has gone a complete blank. He can’t remember anything to do with the subject material and feels like leaving the exam straight away….

How to avoid this problem

• Mike could:

• Begin by brainstorming a topic he knows well, from a nucleus of information that he can add to, and relate this to the questions asked

The laid-back dreamer

Experience

Lin can’t really be bothered with all the hassle of exams and the need for all that stress. At the start, she takes ages to choose a question and more time to think over her answer. In the middle, she finds herself dreaming of the summer vacation. Suddenly, the exam is over, and she’s only half way through her first answer….

How to avoid this problem

Lin could:

• Focus on the exam and why it’s important to her

• Make conscious decision to concentrate on the job in hand

• Consider how much vacation time she will need to spend on revision if she fails.