Examination Skills

LAN - EAP/ELS - 111
Examination Skills
Semester 1
Outline
 Examinations Skills
 Examination Tips
 Key words used in examinations
 Habits of highly effective people
Examination Skills
 Examinations are the proof of learning that can
be used to demonstrate one’s skill level
 Failure in examinations can be attributed to exam
nerves or as a result of the negative effects of
stress. However, it is usually poor preparation
and planning which results in exam failure.
 It is therefore important that you take control and
organise your time and employ strategies to
ensure better performance in examinations.
Examination Tips
1. Preparation
a) Revision
• Draw up a realistic revision timetable – this should
include some social time to allow you to relax;
• Organise your notes by module or topic – if you
have followed advice in the Note Taking section,
you will find getting started on revision easier;
• Decide what topics to revise;
• Use past exam papers to guide your revision;
• How many questions do you have to answer for
each paper?
• Use past papers to practice writing answers to
exam questions;
• Be positive about your learning;
• Ask tutors for help or to clarify information if
necessary.
b) Memory
• Recall of information is essential for successful
performance in examinations. Better recall can be
achieved by time management of study periods
and regular over learning.
c) Study Habits
• Plan your school work and leisure work
• Try to study periods of not less than an hour
• Take regular short breaks of 10 to 15 minutes;
- After each break spend 10 to 15 minutes
reviewing work covered in the previous
study period
- Review again after 24 hours
• Be aware of when your concentration slips –
it may be shorter than 40 minutes;
• Find a quiet place to work to avoid being
distracted during revision periods;
• Make sure you drink plenty of water to keep
your body hydrated and eat regularly.
• Concentrate – do not use your study time to
think about your problems.
• Ensure you have adequate sleep – continuous
night study is bad for health
d) Timed Examinations
• Make certain you know where all of your
exams are being held in advance of the start
time;
• Organise pens, pencils, rulers etc. the night
before;
• Don’t let other people panic you and if
necessary avoid them.
Techniques to help make information
memorable
• Use multi-sensory methods – write it, say it, see
it, hear it;
• Use Survey, Question, Read, Recall, Review,
when reading through text;
• Summarise key information onto one page using
coloured paper;
• Use mind maps;
• Put key information into poster format and stick
on your wall;
• Use coloured pens to highlight important facts, to
link ideas or to separate arguments;
• Use technology – TextHelp Read & Write
programme allows you to hear and read
information simultaneously;
• Record your revision notes or answers onto to
tape or disc. Hearing the information may help
you to remember it;
• Group revision – you may find it helpful to spend
some time revising with friends.
2. Writing
a) In the exams
• Before you turn over the exam paper, write down
key dates, definitions, quotes names or other
information you feel you may forget;
• Read the instructions on the question paper
carefully. They will tell you if there is a compulsory
question and how many questions you must answer;
• Scan through the paper and tick all questions you
could answer;
• Calculate the time needed to answer each
question and the order you wish to attempt them;
• Read each of your selected questions carefully
underlining key words or phrases. Also check
how many parts there are to each question;
• Plan your answer to the first question and write
it. Keep to the plan and avoid including
information which is not relevant;
• Plan your answers for all the remaining questions
to avoid panic towards the end of the exam.
b) Remember
• Write in short clear sentences;
• If you forget a word, spelling or chunk of
information, leave a gap and come back to try
to fill in the detail later;
• Make your writing legible;
• Less information and evidence is needed in
comparison to course work;
• Essays are shorter;
• Allow time for proof reading.
Strategy for taking essay exam
• Prepare for the exam by reading textbooks
• Read entire exam before beginning to write
• Adopt a discipline- appropriate perspective –
understand particular ways of thinking in a
discipline
• Adapt the writing process according to the time
allocated for a question.
Important key words in exam
questions
• Summarize: sum-up, give the main points briefly
• Evaluate/Review: give the good points and the bad
ones, appraise, give a opinion regarding the value of
talk over the advantages and limitations.
• Contrast: bring out the points of difference
• Explain: make clear, interpret, make plain, tell
‘how’ to do, tell the meaning of.
• Describe: give an account of , tell about, give a
word picture of
• Define: give the meaning of a word or concept,
place it in the class to which it belongs,
• Compare: bring out points of similarity and
points of difference
• Discuss: talk over, consider from various points of
view, present the different sides of
• Criticize: state our opinion of the corrections or
merits of an item or issue.
• Justify: show good reasons for, give your
evidence, present facts to support your position,
i.e. justify the American entry into World War II?
• Trace: Follow the course of, follow the trail of ,
give a description of progress
• Interpret: make plain, give the meaning of, give
your thinking about, and translate
• Prove: establish the truth of something by giving
factual evidence or logical reasons
• Illustrate: use a word picture, a diagram, a chart
or a concrete example to clarify a point.
• Assess: to make judgement about situation after
thinking carefully about it
Study Method for Exams
The SQ3Rs Study Method
Survey: Glancing over or skimming through the
material to get a quick idea of what it
involves.
Question: Ask yourself what you expect to gain
from the material. Make a list of points
you are interested in.
Read: Read at least twice in order to
understand the material
Recall: Sit back and try to remember what you
have read.
Review: Check the facts to make sure that what
you recalled were correct
End of Presentation
Thank you!!!!!

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LAN - EAP/ELS - 111

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