This selection of tips, from teachers and students, should help you get the most from your exam preparation.
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Two months before your exam, prepare your revision timetable. |
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Get a copy of the current syllabus. There's no point in revising something that's not on there and it would be a mistake to miss something that is. |
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Get as much information about the exam as possible. How long will it last? What types of questions will they be: multiple choice, essay, case study? How many marks does the exam count towards your overall mark? |
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Visit your local British Council library for books on exam techniques and stress management. |
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Balance your studying with other things. Remember to take a break from your revision and have some fun: meet up with your friends, go for a walk, spend some time doing things you enjoy. |
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Make a list of the main topics that are important for each paper. You can't learn everything. However, by learning important topics in more depth, you're likely to pick up more marks. |
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Make revision notes that condense the information down into more manageable, bite-sized chunks. |
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Revise at the right time for you: everybody has different body clocks. Some people prefer to work in the morning whereas others work better in the evening. Also, reveiew your notes at appropriate intervals. Read through your notes after each class, each section and each term; your revision will not be as daunting if you are already familiar with the material. |
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The day before your exam, check that all your equipment works and what time and venue the exam takes place. |
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If you use good revision techniques you will not need to cram the night before your exam, so use this time to relax. Try some deep breathing exercises and get a good night's sleep. |
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Do as many past papers as you can. |
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Make mind maps (connected ideas and facts) for each topic or set of notes. |
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Write index cards so friends and family can test you. |
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Annotate your revision notes – use colour pens and pencils to highlight key points. |
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Spend the first minutes of your exam reading the question through. Don't rush into answering. Select the questions that you are going to answer and then plan your response. |
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Plan and manage your time. Make sure you have enough time to answer all the questions. |
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Ensure that you structure your exam answer. Always have a beginning, middle and end. The beginning should explain what the essay is going to be about. The middle should contain all the detail and you should spend about 75 per cent of your time on it. The end should be a conclusion or summary to your essay. |
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