EXAM STRATEGIES. Pre-focus questions for teachers: 1. What affects student performance on exams? 2, How do you prepare students for writing exams? @. Toreview content, skills, etc b. Toaddress different learning styles ¢, To oddress physical/psychological/emotional needs of students: 3. How do you think we can improve student achievement in exams? “4, What do you “hink the purposes are of having an exam strategies session? WAYS TO USE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WITH YOUR STUDENTS 1 Pose the questions which follow to get a better idea of the students’ level of understanding and use of exam strategies (whole class, groups, pairs and ‘then share), 2, Involve the s-udents in the delivery of this information (rather than simply reading it to them) by a) dividing the class into small groups ') copying the pages of information, cutting each individual suggestion ‘and giving them to each group fo classify ) categories might be ‘New ideas", "Ideas that work (and why)", "Tdeas that have NOT worked (end why)", “Tdeas that Iwill try", ¢) dent other suggestions to add fo the lists 3. Review Multiple Choice strategies by completing the Multiple Choice quiz ct ‘the end of tris document, 4, Post the atteched information on the student website/make a copy for each student (Minis the multiple choice quiz) 5. Additional in‘ormation to include/other ways to present the information?Questions to ask students: 1, Why are exams given to students? 2, What kind of exams do you find most difficult to do? Multiple choice? Essey? Why? 3, Whot affects your ability to do well on exams? Positively? ii, Negatively? 4. How do you prepare/study for exams? Ts it different according to subject? The kind of test being written? 5. When do you begin to prepare/study for exams? 6. Tf you doit prepare/study for exams, why not? How hos this worked far you so far? 7. When youhear "strategies for exams" what does the phrase mean to you? 8. Whet exam strategies work for you? 9. What do you do when they don't work for you? 10. What can you do?EXAM PREPARATION - "Be prepared and know what you're getting into,” 1, Long Term preparation: > Attend clesses, de assignments, stay up-to-date in the course > Make notes and review notes regularly throughout the semester > Make sure you know whet the expectations are for the course. E.g. look cot the teacher's course outline and the program of studies for the course from the Alberta Education website > Establish a "homework space® ~ what would a homework space look like? > Establish a peer study/homework group 2. Early Review > Ask yourself what you clready know, focus on areas you need to review > Take advantage of professionally prepared review materials such as Alberta Eds diploma guides for students, the Key, teacher prepared review sheets, textbook review questions, etc, > Use e variety of methods to learn/review materials - USE AS MANY OF YOUR SENSES as you can A. Visual - read over notes, make flash cards (definitions, formulee, dates, events, e*c), rewrite information/notes using different colors, build concept webs 8, Auditory/Verbal - repect information out loud (or subvocalize - repeat to yourself under your breath), explain it to someone else, study/discuss with others CC. Tactile/kinesthetic - Make notes when you read, underline or highlight or circle important information, pace/walk os you study, draw pictures or maps or charts or webs with key information3, Final Review: > Spread your review over several doys before the exam (e.g. 5 units - take 6 days - 1 unit per day, 1 day for final review of all 5 units) > Overleorn- keep studying even after you know it, this is useful if you get nervous during exams > When reviewing review for 20-30 minutes with 5 minute breaks 2. BEFORE THE EXAM - TO REDUCE NERVOUSNESS > Check/double check the day and time of the exam > “Try and get a good night's sleep, set your alarm > Eat @ healthy breakfost - foods which have been shown to play role in enhancing memory include Fish, meat, egg yolks, sey, oatmeal, rice, peanuts, pecans % Avoid processed foods high in sugar, salt, saturated fot (junk food/pop) > Areive early 50 you aren't rushed Avoid dscussing the exam at the last minute > Bring all materials (calculator, pencils, erasers, fresh batteries, erasable pen, ruler) > Wear ear plugs if noise bothers you > Wear layers (sweater, vest), gym/classroom can be cold > Select o spot which minimizes distractions (e., sit away from the door or sit near the front so you car't see people behind you) > Bring tissues, water bottle3. DURING THE EXAM > Close your eyes, take several deep breaths from your belly. ignore ‘other people, think about relaxing your hands, say something positive to yourself > Listen to and/or read all directions before you begin > Skim ove whole test and 1. Dea SPLASHDOWN - jot down key words, dates, memory triggers, formulae, special information you can use 2. Budget your time - allow more time for questions that are worth more narks or are less fonilian > Read all questions twice > Poy attention to words in bold or italics > If there is a word you can't read or don't understand, read around it tnd ask “what word would moke the most sense here?" > Start wish questions you find easiest to answer, it builds confidence > Omit questions you can't answer ~ mark them with an * and come back ‘to them when you have finished other questions > Try not to leave any question unanswered. Tf you don't know the answer, make « BEST guess. > Highligh or underline important words in the questions > Tf you are asked for more than I type of information, number/underline each type you must include: 4, Exolain (1) the causes of the French Revolution, Tell (2) which ‘cause was mast important and wy (3)> For questions which have more than one step, jot down notes for each step of the question on scrap paper > Talk-hrough the steps in your head or subvocalize: “First T have to find aut..then I take thot number and...then T need to." > Remember to do your BEST. That is all anyone can ask of you. Websites Offering Advice for Studying: http://www. how-to-study.com/ / Jaw. net/ http://www studytips ora/ http://www. mece .edu/~kelld/paae1000,html (award winning focuses on math) ‘Websites With Advice About Multiple Choice Exams Alberta Education ‘tp/‘w education gov.gh.calk®SF 1estna/diplomal home page for a variety of info about dipioma exams, see...) Guides for Students [Examples of the Standards for Students’ Writing Previous Diplome Examinasions and Answer Kevs ‘Assessment Highlights + Infomation for Sigdents Planning to Write Dinloma Examinations Other Sites dnnpu/svunrinstcromto.ca%¢7EwSase/MCPavchologv ml {a psych profs set of suggestions) navi sacks view sh ca/eachrane classes sens/Enaish™i2020= 1 Aine? 20MC%20Exams him ‘Rocky View's guide for English students writing diploma exams) dupe parconline.netlaetvn asp =e (a guide for how multiple choice questions can be constructed) JmpJiwunw sde uu ca/learing/mewrit hum) (general suggestion for writing mvc tests)WRITING MULTIPLE-CHOICE TESTS ‘Multiple choice questions consist of 3 parts: 1. astem, which asks © question, poses a problem or presents an incomplete sentence 2, the correct answer, which appears among 3. anumber of “distractors” Your task is to identify the correct answer alternative, i.e. the BEST alternative ‘from among the given answer alternatives. ‘Sample Questions: Directions: Choose the best answer 1. When you get a test, itis important to loak it over and decide where to spend your time. On what area below should you spend the most time? 4) On the areas of the test worth the most marks b) On the easy questions ©) On the hard questions 4) On the essay question 2. What happens if you get stuck on a question? 1) Spend the rest of your time on that question bb) Ask the teacher ©) Ask the stucent beside you 4) Leave a mark beside the question and come back to it later 3, Tf you are stuck answering « multiple-choice question, which is the best way ‘to deal with it? a) Answer "e” because it is the answer used most often 'b) Leave it blark ©) Eliminate sone of the wrong or silly answers first and go with your gut feeling 4) Close your eyes and pick « letter with your Finger 4, Which is NOT ¢ strategy to use with multiple-choice questions? a) Attempt your oun answer to the question stem first 'b) Read all the answer alternatives carefully before choosing the best answer ©) Choose the first answer that appears correct <¢) Read each question stem twice and underline key word(s)