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Exam Performance - diagnostic and tips

" The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function." --- F. Scott Fitzgerald Have you recently received your exam results? Are you preparing for an exam? I have made a short list of some of the best tips that will help you to improve your exam results in the future. How many of these strategies DID you follow (or not) in your recent work? Employ short blocks of time for work. Develop a balanced workload between all subjects means variety. Select days off work for leisure. Write down a list of reasons to be motivated. Reward yourself for doing the hours planned. Starting to revise too late in the process. Don't just rely on your revision sessions run by your school or college. Summarize your notes. Create Mindmaps or other visualizations to aid recall. Devise your own mnemonics or memory games. Read and study past exam papers. Ensure that you know what the

GCSE - SOS Q&A - What to do next

Can I improve my exam and/or revision technique? Absolutely. You can typically improve your exam performance by working on technique, and by having a better revision strategy. Seek out the other tips on this site for more information. You might be able to improve your grades by 5-25%. T ry this programm e. How important are GCSEs ? It depends. Our culture is traditionally dominated by paper qualifications. Typically you will need Maths and English for career progression, plus 3 other subjects. But GCSE performance does not predict success at A-level or at University, unless you've scored 10 X A* . Remember that life skills, social skills, volunteering and other experience are also valued by employers. I have to confess that despite my C in English Literature, I went on to receive the class medal, and first class honours in this subject. What should I do if my results are not up to scratch? Consider re-taking key subjects such as Maths or English. Seek advice fro

Strategies to avoid exam stress and anxiety

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As we have noted in earlier blogs on this site, exam stress and anxiety is built into this mode of assessment. That's partly because the exam is typically a two or three hour endurance test in which you are deprived of home comforts and familiar supports. For many students exams present an image of clinical discipline and dehumanisation. Sitting exams may also cause you to revisit similar occasions in the past that involved a traumatic sense of disempowerment, defeat and failure. But despite the huge potential downside of exams presented in these terms they do mimic real life experiences where you may have to work under pressure, use your wits, or demonstrate that you can plan and manage your time. Exams are here to stay! Nonetheless, it will be helpful to recognise that there are some common anxieties that exam candidates experience. They may fear that there isn't a question that they can answer, or they may fear being seized with writer's block as they stare at a b

63 Tips for More Effective Memory and Recall of Quotations, Texts and Speeches

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As a tutor I am often asked to help students who are having trouble with their recall of texts and quotations. But before I outline my 63 memory-recall tips, it is worth observing that many public speakers avoid trying to memorize speeches with word-perfect duplication of the original. Spontaneity and improvisation in speech making is far more natural and attractive than stressing-out over perfect recall. Momentary silences focus attention and create a sense of and sincerity, which may draw more applause than a speech that sounds arrogant and excessively confident. We want pathos not parrots. In fact, some audiences will be turned off by an artificially memorised speech that sounds like a robot in replay mode. LEARNING CLASSIC SPEECHES for RECITATION or PERFORMANCE But if you are learning a classic text , such as a speech from Shakespeare , you will need to aim for highly accurate recall, as the audience will spot errors, and mistakes may also ups

SMART Revision Planning for Exams - 16 Tips

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You have probably come across the SMARTER model as a way of organising a project.  It works like this S          Specific              Significant, Stretching, Simple M         Measurable              Meaningful, Motivational, Manageable A         Attainable Appropriate, Achievable, Agreed, Assignable, Actionable, Ambitious, Aligned, Aspirational, Acceptable, Action-focused R          Relevant           Result-Based, Results-oriented, Resourced, Resonant, Realistic T          Timely Time-oriented, -framed, -based, -bound, -Specific, -tabled, -limited, Trackable, Tangible E          Evaluate, Ethical, Excitable, Enjoyable, Engaging, Ecological R          Reevaluate, Rewarded, Reassess, Revisit, Recordable, Rewarding In order to apply these practical strategies to your revision work for exams, I would also recommend: Short blocks of time for work A balanced workload between all subjects means variety  Days off work for leisure Writi