How to ace your state exams - tips and tricks for students and parents
There are a number of important points you should bear in mind as the examination approaches:
1. Examine past examination papers. What has been asked before is frequently asked again. Answer many questions under mock examination conditions. Submit answers to your teacher. He/she may be able to offer advice on how to improve your answering technique.
2. Prepare examination answers on the basis of 5/6 points on each topic.
3. Work out a time allocation for each question according to the marks allocated. If a question asks for a simple list, a few facts, a short answer, give it less time. If it calls for a long answer, give it more time. Be ruthless as regards your time limits.
4. Be familiar with the ‘clue word’. The clue or key word in every question tells you exactly what the examiner is looking for. If you write more, you will not gain any extra marks and you will be wasting valuable examination time. If you write less than is required by the clue or key word, then, obviously, you will not attain the best possible mark. (See panel on clue words below)
5. In an essay or essay-type exams it is very important to plan your answers in advance. Use imagination and creativity. Organise before you answer. This will save time and get you a higher score. Don’t get carried away in essay-type questions. Facts and ideas get marks, not the length of your answer. Some people take a whole page to make one factual point. It is still only worth a limited mark. Don’t go into the wrong amount of detail.
6. The use of diagrams is impor-tant in examinations. A well laid out, clear diagram may be worth more marks than two pages of writing and will take a shorter time to complete.
7. In the weeks leading up to the examination, when revising, alternate your subjects to maintain interest and freshness of mind. Get adequate sleep (7/8 hours a night), recreation, exercise and regular, nourishing food.
8. There is no shame in feeling nervous and anxious about exams. A certain amount of stress or anxiety is normal. In general, excessive stress can be alleviated or prevented by practising relaxation techniques. There are many books, DVDs/tapes available on this topic in shops or libraries.
It is important to approach your examination cheerfully. A positive mental attitude will be a great asset to you. Repeat regularly to yourself: ‘I can and I will achieve my best.’
9. There is a popular myth that good examination results can be achieved by long hours of study on the nights prior to the examination. This may be true for a tiny minority of students but, for the majority, it leads to lack of clarity in thought, mental blocks and the lack of alertness necessary to sustain a concentrated effort over a long period of time in the examination centre.
Attitude and preparation are crucial to exam success
10. The day before the exam, do not attempt to learn new material — this will almost certainly confuse you. If you must study, do one or two hours’ revision, browsing through notes or points.
Avoid undue tension by concentrating on what you know, rather than what you don’t know.
Be positive: ‘I can and I will do well.’
11. Gather together the equipment that you will need for the exam — pens, pencils, ruler, rubber, admission card, etc. It is advisable not to use ‘deleting fluid’ during an examination. You will have to wait for it to dry before correcting the mistake and this wastes valuable time.
12. Try to relax by taking a good walk or a jog. You might listen to some tranquil music. Go to bed at a reasonable hour and try to put all thoughts of the examination out of your mind. A glass of warm milk with a spoon of honey will help you to sleep.
A clear and alert mind is essential for exam success.
13. E-Day — a plan of campaign:
Get up in plenty of time. Eat a good nourishing breakfast, even if you don’t feel like it. You might bring a bar of chocolate into the examination centre (if this is allowed). Relax in a chair at home for a few minutes. Don’t depend on buses or trains running on time, anticipate delays. Try to arrive at the examination centre half an hour before the start of the examination to give yourself time to relax. Do not enter into conversation with other examinees, they will just confuse you.
If you feel nervous, find a quiet place to sit and take five to 10 minutes to engage in deep, slow breathing.
Don’t take anything into the exam with you that could possibly have notes or codes written on it.
14. In the examination centre, write down your examination number and any other required details while the supervisor is giving out the papers.
15. Read the instructions on top of the paper carefully.
16. Read the entire paper a number of times. Underline the ‘clue’ words. Resist the temptation to write furiously on a topic you recognise. Plan all your answers in terms of major points (5/6) before writing any of them. Jot them down. While answering a particular question, additional points come to mind, jot them down also.
17. Stick rigidly to calculated time limits for each question. Leave space of about half a page. Try to conclude all questions. If you are short of time, make brief points/phrases, such as (a)... (b)... (c)..., or, there are three reasons why... 1st, 2nd, 3rd.
18. It is essential to attempt all the questions you are required to do rather than complete a few.
19. Avoid the temptation to write at length on one particular topic you know well. The examiner does not want to know how much you know on one topic; what he does want to know is:
A. How well you can summarise the essential answer in the time allowed and;B. How well you can do this for all the questions you are required to tackle.
20. Number your questions and sections of questions carefully.
21. Watch your grammar, spelling, punctuation and handwriting.
22. Do the easy questions first. This will help to build confidence.
23. In maths and science exams, make initial estimates of your final answers. This will help you to recognise if your calculations are going wrong.
24. If you feel nervous, under severe pressure, or feel panic coming on, adopt the following procedure:
Put your pen down, sit back, close your eyes and think of anything except the examination. Breathe in very slowly and deeply (quietly) through your nose and exhale very slowly through your mouth. Continue this for at least two minutes.
25. If you don’t know an answer, make a sensible guess. You may get something for something, but you’ll definitely get nothing for nothing.
26. In multiple choice questions, if there is no penalty for guessing, then guess. Answer every question, doing the easy ones first.
27. If you are using examples, three should be discussed thoroughly. If you are asked for reasons, three should be discussed fully. If you are asked for ideas, three should be developed thoroughly.
28. Reserve the final 10 minutes of the examination for reviewing your answers.
29. Do not leave the examination centre early. There is no point in something dawning on you when you are on the way home.
30. Do not carry out post mortems with other students after the examination, particularly if additional tests are to follow.
Remember that you will probably do better in an examination than your fears suggest. A student’s assessment of how he has done only occasionally coincides with that of the examiner. Be optimistic, after all, the vast majority of students do get through. Don’t they?
Be familiar with the ‘clue word’ in each question, it tells you what, specifically, the examiner is seeking. If you write more, you will not gain extra marks and you will waste valuable time. If you write less than is required by the clue word, you will not attain the best possible mark. Below is a list of the terms most frequently used. Bear in mind the level of the examination.
State the similarities or any differences between.
State the differences between.
Discuss, criticise, or explain the meaning as completely as possible.
Give the precise or exact meaning of a word or phrase. Describe accurately, as from a recommended textbook.
Give a detailed or vivid account of.
Describe, giving details and explaining the pros and cons.
Go through a numbered list.
Give your opinion, or some expert’s opinion, of a subject and its importance. Give the advantages or disadvantages.
To make plain, to interpret, and to account for.
Make known.
Use a figure, diagram, or drawing to explain or clarify; or make clear by the use of concrete examples.
Explain the meaning of; make clear by using examples and comment.
Give a numbered list of brief sentences.
Give a general summary, including the main ideas or general principles. Omit details.
Show by testing the accuracy.
To narrate, or show how things are connected, alike, or affect each other.
Critically survey a subject.
Present in a clear, brief form. Omit details.
State briefly the chief points or substance. Omit details and examples.
Follow the development or history of a topic.
Today, young people are being put under more and more pressure as they struggle under the weight of examinations. Parents have to deal with emotional outbursts, slammed doors and tears. Study the information below for some insight:
- Recent research concludes that many young people are suffering sleepless nights and stressful days. On average, they spend at least an hour a day thinking about examinations and unemployment.
- Stress at examination time is natural and good. It gets the student’s adrenalin flowing and pushes him/her to get on with the job of studying. Stress can stimulate and sustain motivation and activate hidden sources of energy. However, excessive stress can militate even against the good student. Watch out for sudden changes in mood or behaviour, talk to your GP, encourage the student to talk to his teachers, friends or an older brother or sister.
- Remember that an examination is both a physical and mental hurdle. The student should not give up recreation in favour of extra study time.
- Eight hours of sleep is essential. The brain, if starved of sleep, will not put to maximum use the information gained from study.
Encourage the student to finish study an hour before bedtime. A glass of warm milk with a spoon of honey is conducive to sleep.
nA nourishing diet is important. The student should never skip breakfast. The following is a rough guide to food intake: Breakfast — brown wholemeal bread, cereal, small glass of fruit juice.
During the day — fruit, homemade vegetable soup, milk, cheese, yoghurt, plenty of water.
In the evening — a selection of ‘good food’ in moderation, such as meat, poultry, oily fish, potatoes, eggs, beans, peas, nuts, pasta, rice.
- A major contribution parents can make during exam time is to be there, quietly, in the background, creating a sympathetic atmosphere. This is not an easy task. Create opportunities for the student to talk, even if it happens to be very late at night.
Nagging, shouting, criticising does not help. An occasional word of praise will help to build up the candidate’s confidence.
- Giving an occasional snack to the student while studying will help sustain motivation and, importantly, show that you care.
- Mobile phones should be removed from the study area and put on to a message service.
- Ensure that the study area is not too warm or too cold and has good ventilation and lighting.
- For a relatively quiet house, ensure no friends call during study time, younger children are not noisy, and the TV is not too loud.
- Finally, love and support need to continue after the exam and during results.
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