RMSeuc 12.06 1 Semester Exams Preparation Techniques, Study Tips, & Motivational Strategies

RMSeuc 12.06RMSeuc 12.06 11

Semester ExamsSemester Exams

Preparation Techniques, Study Preparation Techniques, Study Tips, & Tips, &

Motivational StrategiesMotivational Strategies


How should you prepare?How should you prepare?

Manage Your Time EfficientlyManage Your Time Efficiently

Make Academics Your Top PriorityMake Academics Your Top Priority

Set Priorities for ExamsSet Priorities for Exams

Reduce Test AnxietyReduce Test Anxiety


Managing Your Time EfficientlyManaging Your Time Efficiently

Make a new calendar or planner for the end of the semester and Make a new calendar or planner for the end of the semester and exams exams – the 2-3 weeks prior to finalsthe 2-3 weeks prior to finals

Make a Task List Make a Task List – Write out all assignments, papers, projects, tests, & quizzes left in the Write out all assignments, papers, projects, tests, & quizzes left in the

semestersemester– List all outstanding assignments & realistically the amount of time you will List all outstanding assignments & realistically the amount of time you will

need to complete themneed to complete themChoose assignments to complete earlyChoose assignments to complete early– By finishing some assignments early, you allow for more preparation time By finishing some assignments early, you allow for more preparation time

for semester examsfor semester exams– Complete reading prior to due dates & just review the information as Complete reading prior to due dates & just review the information as

neededneededConcentrate on finals the five days prior to each final examConcentrate on finals the five days prior to each final exam– Organize early to have everything ready so you can study efficiently the Organize early to have everything ready so you can study efficiently the

five days before examsfive days before exams


Making Academics Top PriorityMaking Academics Top Priority

Push hard at the end of the semesterPush hard at the end of the semester– Especially the final two weeks of the termEspecially the final two weeks of the term

Keep up with all workKeep up with all work

Plan daily tasksPlan daily tasks

Schedule study hours & set daily study goalsSchedule study hours & set daily study goals

Although the last two weeks of class can be Although the last two weeks of class can be slower, do not slow downslower, do not slow down– Use the lighter weeks to get a head start on the last Use the lighter weeks to get a head start on the last

assignments and to organize for finalsassignments and to organize for finals


Setting Priorities for ExamsSetting Priorities for Exams

Look where you stand in each classLook where you stand in each class– When you know where you stand, you can determine When you know where you stand, you can determine

how much time & effort will be requiredhow much time & effort will be required

Evaluate your grades & classesEvaluate your grades & classes– Does the final exam have the same weight as other Does the final exam have the same weight as other

tests? tests? – Which class do you need to spend the most time on?Which class do you need to spend the most time on?

Consider all optionsConsider all options– If you cannot improve a particular grade, would it be If you cannot improve a particular grade, would it be

better to spend more time on another class where the better to spend more time on another class where the effort would make a bigger impact? effort would make a bigger impact?


Reducing Test AnxietyReducing Test Anxiety

Final exams carry more value, so there is more risk Final exams carry more value, so there is more risk involvedinvolved– More risk can cause more anxietyMore risk can cause more anxiety

Some anxiety is normal during finals weekSome anxiety is normal during finals week– Can’t eliminate all feelings of anxiety, however can keep the test Can’t eliminate all feelings of anxiety, however can keep the test

anxiety from affecting your performance on the examanxiety from affecting your performance on the exam– The more you know about the exam, the more prepared you can The more you know about the exam, the more prepared you can

be for itbe for it– If one of your finals will determine your grade, make it top priorityIf one of your finals will determine your grade, make it top priority– Get lots of rest, eat well & plan some time to relax Get lots of rest, eat well & plan some time to relax – Use stress-reduction techniques to lower test anxiety, especially Use stress-reduction techniques to lower test anxiety, especially

if you have used this before if you have used this before – Talk to your Personal & Academic Counselor if you are Talk to your Personal & Academic Counselor if you are

concerned; discuss your concerns with your parents concerned; discuss your concerns with your parents


Preparation StrategiesPreparation Strategies

Make a Final Exam Study Plan Make a Final Exam Study Plan

Set up a Study ScheduleSet up a Study Schedule

Prepare for Comprehensive FinalsPrepare for Comprehensive Finals

Use Active Study MethodsUse Active Study Methods

Stay MotivatedStay Motivated

Give your Best EffortGive your Best Effort

Monitor Your Progress Monitor Your Progress


Make a Final Exam Study PlanMake a Final Exam Study Plan

Make a reminder sheet for each exam you Make a reminder sheet for each exam you need to takeneed to take– Write the name of the class, day, date, time, Write the name of the class, day, date, time,

place place – Write what materials you will need to have for Write what materials you will need to have for

the examthe exam– Make a note about the type of exam it will beMake a note about the type of exam it will be

Examview, paper & pencil, send by attachment, Examview, paper & pencil, send by attachment, etcetcEssay, T/F, multiple choice, short answerEssay, T/F, multiple choice, short answer



Don’t start too earlyDon’t start too early– Good use of early time would be preparing study Good use of early time would be preparing study

sheets, maps, self-tests, flash cards, organizing sheets, maps, self-tests, flash cards, organizing notes, etc.notes, etc.

– Several weeks early can mean more material Several weeks early can mean more material covered, however may not retain if too far in advancecovered, however may not retain if too far in advance

Space your study to aid retentionSpace your study to aid retention– Need to get the information into your long-term Need to get the information into your long-term

memory in a logical & organized mannermemory in a logical & organized manner– Learn in small amounts & review it often Learn in small amounts & review it often

You can monitor you learning & reinforce the material you You can monitor you learning & reinforce the material you don’t know well don’t know well



Split your day when preparing for several exams Split your day when preparing for several exams – Need to prepare for several at same timeNeed to prepare for several at same time– Count back 5-6 days prior to each exam to determine Count back 5-6 days prior to each exam to determine

study start date (Day 3 for English may be Day 1 for study start date (Day 3 for English may be Day 1 for Religion)Religion)

Use a study schedule Use a study schedule – Actually schedule your time Actually schedule your time

Regular assignments; organizational time; preparation for Regular assignments; organizational time; preparation for finals; review time finals; review time

– Be flexible and re-evaluate dailyBe flexible and re-evaluate daily– Plan breaks; allow information to “sink in” Plan breaks; allow information to “sink in”


Prepare for Comprehensive ExamsPrepare for Comprehensive Exams

Is your final comprehensive?Is your final comprehensive?What is the percentage breakdown of new What is the percentage breakdown of new material (not tested on) versus old material material (not tested on) versus old material (previously tested on) (previously tested on) – Example – 25% of the final is comprehensive Example – 25% of the final is comprehensive

Spend 25% of your time on the “old” material & 75% of your Spend 25% of your time on the “old” material & 75% of your time on the “new” materialtime on the “new” material

Know the percentage breakdown of what will be Know the percentage breakdown of what will be coveredcovered– Example – 50% of the final is over chapters 1-12 & Example – 50% of the final is over chapters 1-12 &

the remainder of over chapters 13-16the remainder of over chapters 13-16Spend 50% of your time on chapters 1-12 & 50% of your Spend 50% of your time on chapters 1-12 & 50% of your time on chapters 13-16time on chapters 13-16


Use Active Study MethodsUse Active Study Methods

Write & recite in order to move the information to your Write & recite in order to move the information to your long-term memorylong-term memoryTest yourself with flashcards, self-tests & recitationTest yourself with flashcards, self-tests & recitationIf you have quality notes from the textbook and/or study If you have quality notes from the textbook and/or study sheets with textbook & lecture material – use these to sheets with textbook & lecture material – use these to review & draw information fromreview & draw information fromInstead of re-reading the notes, study sheets & maps, Instead of re-reading the notes, study sheets & maps, create new ones using the originals as reference & create new ones using the originals as reference & starting pointsstarting pointsBy making new study guides, you are reviewing the By making new study guides, you are reviewing the materialmaterialSelf-tests are a way to measure what you know & what Self-tests are a way to measure what you know & what you still need to learn you still need to learn


Stay MotivatedStay Motivated

Use strategies to stay motivatedUse strategies to stay motivated– Positive self-talk Positive self-talk – Reward yourself on your hardest study dayReward yourself on your hardest study day– Plan a reward for after your last finalPlan a reward for after your last final

Surround yourself with other motivated people Surround yourself with other motivated people – Join a study groupJoin a study group– Avoid people who will distract you Avoid people who will distract you

Remember that your academic goals come firstRemember that your academic goals come first– Reward yourself when your exams are finished Reward yourself when your exams are finished


Give your Best EffortGive your Best Effort

Work hardWork hardDon’t try to finish earlyDon’t try to finish earlyReview your answers Review your answers Use problem-solving strategies to try to find answers to Use problem-solving strategies to try to find answers to difficult questions/problemsdifficult questions/problemsConcentrate on the exam you are taking (one exam at a Concentrate on the exam you are taking (one exam at a time)time)Don’t allow your performance on another exam to Don’t allow your performance on another exam to interfere with your preparation or concentration on your interfere with your preparation or concentration on your other examsother exams– If you are upset about your performance on one exam, accept the If you are upset about your performance on one exam, accept the

fact that you may not achieve your goal in that class, but don’t fact that you may not achieve your goal in that class, but don’t give up on all your other exams/classes give up on all your other exams/classes


Monitor your ProgressMonitor your Progress

After the exam is over, evaluate your After the exam is over, evaluate your performanceperformance– Write down notes about how you think you didWrite down notes about how you think you did

Note any areas where you had difficultyNote any areas where you had difficulty– If you had problems in some areas, contact your If you had problems in some areas, contact your

teacher to see how you can improve in that area for teacher to see how you can improve in that area for the next semesterthe next semester

Review your study strategiesReview your study strategies– If they were not effective, revise them for the next If they were not effective, revise them for the next

semestersemester


ActivitiesActivities

Look for examples on Mrs. Seuc’s Look for examples on Mrs. Seuc’s webpage of: webpage of: – Final Exam Planning CalendarsFinal Exam Planning Calendars– Study ScheduleStudy Schedule– How to Set Priorities for Courses, How to Set Priorities for Courses,

Plan ways to stay motivatedPlan ways to stay motivatedTalk to your counselor help with Talk to your counselor help with preparation for semester exams & for preparation for semester exams & for individualized ideasindividualized ideas


ResourcesResources

Blerkom, D. L. (2003). Preparing for final Blerkom, D. L. (2003). Preparing for final exams. In exams. In College study skills: Becoming a College study skills: Becoming a strategic Learnerstrategic Learner. Belmont, CA: . Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning. Wadsworth/Thompson Learning.

Documents

RMSeuc 12.06 1 Semester Exams Preparation Techniques, Study Tips, & Motivational Strategies