Coping With Exam Stress.
Tips for coping with exam stress http://www.isma.org.uk/exams.htm
Inventory on Test Taking Skills
Print this worksheet and fill it out to see how prepared you are for your test. http://www.sla.purdue.edu/asc/handouts/Pdfs/Inventory%20of%20Test%20Taking%20Skills.pdf
BEFORE THE TEST
Organization, planning and time management are skills essential to becoming a
successful student; so start studying as soon as classes begin. Read assignments,
listen during lectures and take good classroom notes. Then,
reread the assignment, highlighting important information to study. Reviewing
regularly allows you to avoid cramming and reduces test anxiety. The biggest
benefit is it gives you time to absorb information.
Read difficult assignments twice. Sometimes a second reading will clarify concepts. If you are having difficulty with a subject, get help immediately. Meet with your instructor after class, use an alternate text to supplement required reading or hire a tutor (ask faculty members and other students for referrals).
REVIEW, REVIEW,
REVIEW
Plan ahead, scheduling review periods well in advance. Set aside
one hour on a Saturday or Sunday to review several subjects. Keep your reviews
short and do them often.
* Daily reviews--Conduct short before and after class reviews of lecture notes. Begin reviewing after your first day of class.
* Weekly reviews--Dedicate about 1 hour per subject to review assigned reading and lecture notes.
* Major reviews--Start the week before an exam and study the most difficult subjects when you are the most alert. Study for 2 to 5 hours punctuated by sufficient breaks.
Create review tools, such as flashcards, chapter outlines and summaries. This helps you organize and remember information as well as condense material to a manageable size. Use 3 x 5 cards to review important information. Write ideas, formulas, concepts and facts on cards to carry with you. Study on the bus, in waiting rooms or whenever you have a few extra minutes.
Another useful tool is a study checklist. Make a list of everything you need to know for the exam. The list should include a brief description of reading assignments, types of problems to solve, skills to master, major ideas, theories, definitions, and equations. When you begin your final study sessions, cross off items as you review them.
STUDY GROUPS
For some subjects, study groups are an effective tool. Study groups allow students
to combine resources; members share an academic goal and provide support
and encouragement. Such groups meet regularly to study and learn a specific
subject.
To form a study group, look for dedicated students--students who ask and answer
questions in class, and who take notes. Suggest to two or three that you meet
to talk about group goals, meeting times and other logistics. Effective study
groups are limited to five or six people. Test the group first by planning
a one-time-only session. If that works, plan another. After several successful
sessions, schedule regular meetings.
Set an agenda for each meeting to avoid wasting time. List the material that will be reviewed so members can come prepared. Also, follow a format. For example, begin by comparing notes to make sure you all heard the same thing and recorded important information. Spend 15-20 minutes conducting open-ended discussions on specific topics. Then, test each other by asking questions or take turns explaining concepts. Set aside 5-10 minutes to brainstorm possible test questions.
*This publication was prepared with funding from the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, under contract RR93002002. The opinions expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of OERI or the U.S. Department of Education. Permission is granted to copy and distribute this ERIC/AE Digest.