UFCFA5-15-3
Information, Networks and Society
Lecture 11
Revision guide
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Exam and revision technique
People do better in exams when they have good
exam technique
Plan for effective revision
Know how to take the exam
If you’ve failed to prepare, you’re prepared to fail
Revision technique
The first rule of revision is – Start early!
long-term memory is far more reliable than short-term
memory;
once something has been learned, even if you think you’ve
forgotten it, it’s far easier to re-learn it, and
if you’ve left yourself lots of time, then this isn’t a
problem;
it will avoid the feeling of last-minute panic.
Be organized
Don’t get stressed
Revision technique
Make a Plan (and stick to it)
Identify the times and place(s) you are most
comfortable studying, and partition your work into
short periods.
Allow yourself plenty of breaks
Listen to your brain
Make room for friends, family, leisure, etc
If you fall behind in your revision, don’t completely
abandon your plan: just accept that you may have to
revise the plan and carry on.
Revision technique
Identify the topic areas you need to cover
Assign time according to the gaps in your knowledge and
where the marks are
‘Last minute’ revision is for material that is already
well rehearsed
Try not to start new work when the exam period
has begun.
Be realistic.
Revision technique
Vary revision topics (or subject areas) from one
session to the next, as this will help retain interest
and concentration.
Vary revision strategies regularly:
a bit of reading
a bit of thinking
a bit of written practice
a bit of verbal practice
list some key points
prioritise the importance of some facts or concepts
Revision technique
Create ‘milestones’
It’s important to have achievements
Keeping track of what has been done builds confidence and
morale.
Give yourself a ‘reward’ when something has been
completed.
Turn revision into practice at passing exams
Work with other students
Revision technique
Make revision active
It is not enough to read passively.
Active reading is normally done with a pen (or keyboard
/ mouse).
Make summary notes, mental maps or use a highlighter.
Identify key terms and concepts, then explain them in
your own terms.
Revision technique
Make revision active
It is not enough to read passively.
Read with an agenda in mind – as answers are found
they tend to register.
Ask questions of yourself and the text you’re reading.
‘What may I reasonably be expected to be able to do
with this ’
If you encounter an abstract term try to find a concrete
example to illustrate the concept
Revision technique
Make revision active
Develop ‘question banks’ – short sharp questions based on
what you think may be expected of you.
If you know how to answer a wide range of short, sharp
questions, you will be better equipped to answer longer
complex ones.
Compile question banks collaboratively – they will be more
comprehensive and testing.
Revision technique
Revision techniques known to be effective
Practising answering questions, – mentally, in note form, in
full, or against the clock
Writing answer plans for previous exam questions
Building mental maps, concept maps, spray or spider
diagrams
Prioritising key points for each section of a topic.
Working through your materials, devising your own
questions and practising answering them.
Revision technique
Revision techniques known to be
effective
Working with others and quizzing each other on likely
questions.
Getting someone who doesn’t know anything about the
subject to quiz you on it.
Building a glossary for your subject material.
Making a list of concepts, and for each concept
identifying as many uses as you can.
Most important: practice getting your ideas into
words (verbal or written)
Revision technique
Common causes of ineffective revision
Leaving revision until the last minute;
Unplanned reading through of course materials;
Reading notes over and over again;
Last minute review of lecture slides;
Keyword searching for revision topics in Google or
Wikipedia;
Writing out answers and learning them off by heart;
Finding ways of putting off revision;
Can’t cope with the boredom.
Exam technique
In the exam
Check the instructions
Read the whole exam paper through carefully
Work out exactly what each question is asking for
Choose the questions and decide their sequence
Plan your time
Always answer the required number of questions and no
more.
Always use the amount of time provided.
Exam technique
Answer the entire question and nothing else
Work out exactly what the question is asking for.
Underline key process words (discuss, describe, compare,
etc) and circle key content words.
Try to allocate time to marks.
Exam technique
Always try to plan your answer rather than letting
the pen take the lead.
This will help you think about what to say, reveal missing
information, repetition, etc.
You don’t want to discover you’d have been better
answering another question half-way through attempting
one you can’t finish
Exam technique
Answer the question.
If it asks you to ‘decide’, then decide!
If it asks you to compare, then compare!
The plan ensures
all the essential points are included
items are discussed in the correct order
incidental points are included only if there is time
Exam technique
The Plan
Read question carefully 2 or 3 times.
Underline key words and phrases.
Jot down key points (5 to 10 word list).
Look carefully at what you are supposed to do with
information -analyze, evaluate etc.
Think about how key points written relate to question.
Order the key points.
Write up relating to the question.
Exam technique
Always read through your answers. You will pick up more
marks by correcting mistakes, inserting missing information,
making writing legible, etc, than you will by continuing
writing. You can continue writing after you’ve made
corrections.
If you do run out of time, still make sure to read and check
your answers. Then make a list of the points you would have
discussed. Most examiners will award some marks for this.
Exam technique
How to lose marks in an exam
Let the pen take the lead
Second-guess the question
Choose to write what you know most about rather than
answer the question
No time-management
Don’t correct your answers
Leave before the end of the exam
Exam technique
How to gain marks in an exam
Read through all the questions beforehand
Identify which to answer and the order in which to
attempt them
Make sure you’re clear what the question is getting at
Plan your answer
Apportion time according to where the marks are, but
leave time at the end for corrections
Be ruthless with time management
Correct and amend your answers
Leave with a smile
Summary
Most important revision tips
Make revision structured
Turn revision into exam practice
Most important exam tips
Plan your answer
Answer all the question, and nothing else
Read and correct your answer