Exam preparation for face to face exams

Ask FY’s how they prepare for their exams. Ask how many have already started
revision.

Discuss their expectation of the exams. Discuss the following information regarding
exam preparation.

Although the purpose of exams is to test your understanding, the

way exams are set up often requires you to memorize content. But
meaningful memorization can only take place if you do understand
your work. You will remember from the PM session on revision tips
that planning & recall are essential for revising. When you focus on
studying, you are storing the information in your brain. Recall is
when you retrieve that information from your brain in order to apply
the information. Think of this as a tidy cupboard – if your cupboard
is tidy, then when you search for your favourite jeans, they are easy to find. If you studied
without focusing and just mindlessly wrote out notes, then your cupboard (brain) has not
stored the information neatly and in an organized fashion. Hence when you try to retrieve
the information, it will be like searching for your jeans in an untidy cupboard. You will
become flustered and stressed, and still not find the jeans.

Start planning your revision as soon as possible. If your notes are not upto date, don’t
despair. Start immediately and use the Cornell method for note taking. Avoid writing pages
and pages. You want to read, close the work and write notes on what you remember. Then
open the work and go and check what you have forgotten. Read, close the work and write
again. Think about what you are writing. Mindless writing notes whilst you are thinking
about other things, is a waste of your time.

Before the exam:

Make sure that your notes are upto date, especially if you have missed a class.

Ensure that you attend the last few lectures of the semester, as this is when lecturers share
important information about the exam. Also ensure that you know what format the exam
will take and what content you will be required to cover.

Draw up a revision timetable and make sure to mix the subjects up so that you do not get
bored focusing only on one subject. You could try dividing the day into three study periods:
morning, noon and night. Try to ensure that your revision timetable allows for each module
to be covered at least 4 to 5 times.

Practice using old exam papers. Identify in which areas you are experiencing challenges and
spend extra time on that work.

For practical subjects such as accounting and mathematics, make sure that you understand
the work and spend time practicing old papers and doing extra exercises. For learning
subjects, you also need to understand but you should also spend tie practicing recall.

Practice WRITING. If you are writing a face to face exam, you will be required to write the
exam. Many students today are out of practice when it comes to writing, because they are
used to texting or typing. Traditional methods for exams will require you to write enough
information in a limited amount of time, in a legible handwriting. This takes practice.

Check that you have the correct timetable, check where the venue is and make sure you
know the time of your exam.

Check that you have the right equipment eg spare pens, calculator if need be, your watch
etc. Make sure that you remove all notes from yourself before you enter the exam room.
Switch off your phone, or better yet, leave it somewhere safe. Pack your student card in a
well.

Make sure that you get up early and catch the taxi early enough so as to work in possible
delays. You don’t want to arrive late and then be stressed. Arrive at the venue at least 30
minutes before the exam starts.

Dress comfortably, especially if the venue is cold.

Make time to eat breakfast and drink something. Choose a nutritional meal. Thinking
requires calories. But don’t eat so much that you feel like sleeping.

Pitfalls:

Avoid taking drugs or medication to stay awake all night to study.

Avoid studying with your phone as this poses a distraction.

Avoid cramming. Start your revision now.

During the exam

Read the questions and the instructions through carefully. Write your name & student
number on the paper.
Determine how much time you need to spend on various questions. A “list” question will
require less time and a “discuss” type question.

When answering your questions, make sure you think about the answer. Build up logical
statements that flow from each other and that answer the question with logical reasoning.

You can jot down your first thoughts on your question paper in case you worry that you may
forget. Take some time to think about how you will answer the question, but not so much
that you waste time. If you have used the mnemonic method to practice learning for essay
questions, then write your mnemonic down on your question paper.

If you find a question that you don’t know how to answer, leave a space and continue with
the other questions. Later, see if any of the words in the various questions help jog your
memory for possible answers. Make sure that all your questions and answers are numbered
correctly, especially if you leave a section open to come back later.

Keep an eye on the time and stick to the allocated time for each question. Don’t spend 30
minutes on a 5 mark question. A rule of thumb is about 1 minute per mark.

If you are running late, jot down as many answers as you can in point form. This may still
get you a few marks.

If you have enough time, read through your answers again, and check calculations.

Possible exam formats include a combination of: multiple choice, short questions,
paragraph questions and essay questions. Do not be fooled by open book exams, thinking
that you will not need to study. You need to prepare and know where to find the
information. You will also need to understand the work

After the exam

Take a break, do some physical exercise. Eat or drink something. You can check back
through your question paper and see where you may have gone wrong. Check what you
should have written.

Give yourself sufficient time to relax and clear your mind before you start studying for the
next exam.

Active recall

This form of studying requires you to think about what you are studying. Read through the
work, then close the work and ask yourself questions. Now can you answer those questions?
Maybe only some. Go back to the work and try to find the answers. You can use the SQ3R
method whilst reading. You can also use the questions at the beginning of the chapter of
our study guide as your guiding questions to think about the text when you read.

Mnemonics

If you have long essay questions that you are preparing for, you can use the mnemonic
method. This method involves identifying a key word for each section, and then taking the
first letter of that key word: the example below has used BUNCUB to study and memorise.
Then using active recall, the person uses the letters to remember the key words and then
writes the essay accordingly.

(Palmer & Chalmers, 1988: 86-87)

Exam preparation requires you to have proper notes and make use of revision methods. If
you have attended your mentor sessions you will have had access to this information. If you
are only joining PMP now, then all is not lost. You can still find access to these resources on
the ethuto platform.
Sources: Palmer, R. & Chalmers, G. 1988. Flying start: the key to successful study.
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