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EXAM PREPARATION


Examinations play a very important role in your evaluation. They can range in value from 10 to 60% of your final mark in high school, and up to 100% in university. Thus it is obvious that special attention is required when studying for exams. 

Use the following steps to maximize your potential: 

DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR

  • attend all your classes and take notes
     
  • do your homework regularly
     
  • organize your notebook
     
  • review the week's worth of notes for about half an hour each weekend
     

A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE EXAMS

  • your weekly reviews should make studying easier
     
  • prepare a special study schedule for the exam period
     
  • make summary sheets of the essential formulas, facts, dates, etc.
     
  • ask your teacher about the exam format (multiple choice, essay questions, etc.) and prepare yourself accordingly
     
  • check your school's library for copies of old exams   (Most schools keep a few years' worth of old exams for the benefit of its students.)
     
  • pay close attention to the material being taught right before the exam (if the teacher is trying to cram it in over a short period of time, expect it to be on the exam  - BIG Time!)
     
  • study in intervals of 25-40 minutes, followed by 5-10 minute breaks (this strategy has been proven to be more effective than prolonged sessions)
     
  • take relaxation sessions 
     
  • If you have a high-speed Internet connection, download this 25-second movie clip of a man having a bad day at the office. It serves as a reminder of what not to do when you're feeling frustrated
     

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THE NIGHT BEFORE

  • don't spend all night cramming (it won't help!)
     
  • relax, take a brisk 30 minute walk outside
     
  • have some 'down' time before sleep
       
  • have one last look at your summary sheet before you go to bed
     
  • set your alarm (you don't want to be late on the big day!)
     
  • don't panic
     
  • if you can't fall asleep, take deep breaths and think about something relaxing (ie. your March break trip to Acapulco)
     
  • have a good night's sleep  (studies have shown that 8 hours of sleep the night before an exam improves your mark by 25%, especially when the test is multiple-choice)
     
  • if you don't know it by now, you'll never know it, so relax!

THE DAY OF THE EXAM

  • have a good breakfast but not something 'heavy' like bacon and eggs (since your blood flow will be directed towards digesting your meal and not going to your brain)
     
  • wear layered clothing  (you never know how hot or cold it will be in the exam room)
     
  • arrive for the exam early
     
  • make sure you have everything you need (pen, pencil, ruler, compass, calculator)
     
  • don't panic like the other kids!
     
  • take a quiet stroll alone around the school and recite the info in your head
     
  • enter the exam room with confidence 
     
  • breathe deeply and remain calm

  

   THE EXAM

  • when you pick up the exam, don't start writing immediately
     
  • make sure your exam has all the pages
     
  • read all the questions and directions (check for sides of the paper)
     
  • look at the marking scheme
     
  • spend the majority of your allotted time on the heavily weighted sections
     
  • pay close attention to any verbal instructions  given by the teacher
     
  • once you start, plan your time wisely
  • start with questions you can easily answer
     
  • leave any multiple-choice questions till the end (they're designed to waste your time)
     
  • read the questions and directions carefully (if you don't answer the question as directed you'll get zero!)
     
  • re-read your answers to make sure they actually answer the question
     
  • if you don't understand a question, ask the teacher
     
  • if you're stuck on a question, go onto the next one (the answer may pop into your head later)
     
  • even if you don't know the answer, try to write something down (you might get part marks)
     
  • never leave multiple-choice questions blank (if you don't know the answer and there's no penalty for guessing, go right ahead!)
  • at the end of the exam, review your answers, and correct minor errors
     
  • don't erase anything you're not sure of (it's probably right!)
     
  • before you hand in the exam, make sure your name is on every page
     
  • hand in your exam and relax (You deserve it!)

 

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