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Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Preparing For Exams

1.YOUR STUDY SPACE

Get your desk in order! It really helps when you have one particular place to study, a clear desk, and all your books and notes near you, divided into subjects. Make things as comfortable as you can. Have pens and pencils at hand. Supply yourself with lots of blank pages for making notes..

2.A STUDY PLAN

Make a study plan. This will help you focus on what you have to do each day.
In your study plan, write a list of all your subjects, and give equal time to each. Fill in the times to be spent on each subject between now and the exam. At the end of each day, tick off what you have achieved, and have a look at what you will do the following day.

3.MAKE NOTES & DIAGRAMS

As you revise, highlight important points in your textbook, and take notes. There is no need to write lengthy notes. Use bullet points, spider diagrams, sketch maps, key word summaries, anything that will help you remember the information.

You can test yourself the following morning by glancing through these notes and then writing from memory a few points on the main topics. Every time you do this, you get better at remembering the material and your notes get shorter, so revision gets faster.


4.USE PREVIOUS EXAM PAPERS

Go back to previous examination papers, especially to the short-answer questions.
Read the questions carefully. Follow the instructions. Check the time allowed for answers. Write your answers neatly. Write the correct number for each answer. This is great practice for the exam, and remember also that questions tend to be repeated!

5.TAKE A BREAK!

Pace yourself! It is a mistake to cram at this point.
Give yourself time off to relax. It is better to study in short bursts and then take a break. That way, you won't be too tired and you'll actually be able to think!


6.BALANCE YOUR TIME

It is terribly important to relax. You need to get good sleep, eat properly, exercise and take time out with your friends. They're in the same boat, and the mutual support will go a long way to helping you keep a good balance.

7.BE CONFIDENT

Be confident! Remember the examiners want you to succeed. They've been there themselves.


8.EXAM TIME

As exam time approaches, and tension rises, it's sometimes hard to concentrate, because you're thinking of all you have to do! Don't worry, keep cool and try to remember the following overall points.

9.KEEP COOL

Now is the time to keep a cool head while you spend some time revising for the subject of the following day. Go back to your revision notes, diagrams, definitions, but do not cram. It is terribly important to have a relaxed mind.

10.ORGANISE YOURSELF

Collect your equipment, e.g. pencils, pens, eraser, ruler. Check out your exam timetable and have everything ready for the morning so that you're not rushed.

11.BE PREPARED

Get a good night's sleep. In that way, you will be refreshed in the morning, ready to be at the exam in good time and in good shape. Keep calm, and remember that there is a life after exams!

5 Steps For Exam Success

Do this simple steps get your maximum success

1. Read through the entire examination paper first. Start with whatever question you are most comfortable with.


2. Show all the steps that you take to get to your final answer. This will ensure that you should receive all the marks available for the question.


3. If you write down something that is wrong, simply draw a line through it. Do not use Tipp-Ex or cross it out. Each attempt is marked and the highest of the marks gained in the various attempts is used for the final mark awarded.


4. Make sure to learn the ‘Rules of Indices’ for use in Algebra. They are not in the maths tables but they are on page 53 and page 57 of Revise Wise Maths Leaving Certificate Ordinary Level Book 1: Paper 1.


5. The quadratic formula x = -b= +/- the square root of b squared – 4ac over 2a is very useful in both algebra and complex numbers see page 37, 38, 78 and 82 of Revise Wise Maths Leaving Certificate Ordinary Level Book 1: Paper 1.


6. Remember to use math’s tables when attempting the questions on calculus. The basic rule of differentiation is on page 41 and the ‘Product Rule’ and ‘Quotient Rule’ are on page 42. See pages 110 to 115 of Revise Wise Maths Leaving Certificate Ordinary Level Book 1: Paper 1.


7. Use graph paper for the function question. You may need to read answers from your cubic graph, quadratic graph, reciprocal graph or linear graph and this can only be done with reasonable accuracy if using graph paper. See pages 137 – 142 of Revise Wise Maths Leaving Certificate Ordinary Level Book 1: Paper 1 for further information.