Exam time is drawing near. Edel Walsh outlines some practical steps you can take to set yourself up for exam success
With examinations right around the corner, it’s time to start looking at what steps you can take to ensure you are prepared for the big day.
Get your folders in order
The sheer volume of notes you might have can feel overwhelming. Your colleagues and friends might be eager to share their notes with you. You might hear of a student with an “excellent” set of notes that are a “must-have” for your folders. Be careful of this.
Less is more when it comes to your notes. It is best to have one folder per subject, which is your go-to folder and then any additional notes can be kept in back-up folders.
Remember, the details of what is examinable for each subject can be found in the competency statement. Organising your notes in line with this is a great place to start.
Plan your study
To keep yourself on track, planning your study schedule for the week ahead is worthwhile.
Ensure your study plan is realistic. Otherwise, it can feel too demanding and result in procrastination and demotivation.
In addition to planning your study schedule, reflect on the following questions for the week ahead:
- What are my top priorities?
- What learning goals am I going to set for each subject/topic?
- What obstacles might I face?
- How can I overcome these obstacles?
- What am I going to do to look after my well-being?
Before you start your study each day, consult your weekly plan. Take the next five minutes to prepare a schedule for the day ahead and set a learning goal for the study session to keep on track.
For example: “My learning goal is to understand how to account for depreciation in the financial statements”.
When you’re done studying for the day, take a few moments to reflect on how it went. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What went well with my study today?
- What could have gone better?
- What do I need to learn for more mastery?
- What one thing can I do tomorrow to make it better than today?
Practice, practice, practice
Practising exam questions under exam conditions is, in my opinion, the most effective form of study.
This is also known as ‘retrieval practice’, which involves deliberately recalling information from memory and then checking that you provided the correct information once you are done.
Retrieval practice gives you feedback on what you know and do not know. When you make mistakes practising a question and take the time to learn from these mistakes, this will result in deep learning.
As well as using practice questions, it’s essential to familiarise yourself with the Cirrus Platform well in advance of the exam.
The Institute provides Professional Examination Committee (PEC) and FAE reports in the student section of the website. They are detailed documents that include examiner comments for each exam question.
These reports contain valuable information about where students are doing well in the exam and where they are losing marks. If your exam has an exam paper and you have been practicing, read the report to see if you are making the same mistakes the examiners have commented on.
Manage your mental state
There is no doubt that the lead-up to exams can be stressful. Here are some tips for managing your mental state for your exams.
Break it down
Take each topic or subject in small manageable chunks. It will feel less overwhelming.
Play to your natural rhythm
There will be times of the day when you are most productive. Plan to study your most difficult subject or topics during this time.
Schedule deep, productive breaks
Take 10 minutes to clear your head after a study block. Go for a walk, call a friend, or do some meditation. Don’t use this time to scroll on your phone as this can increase stress levels.
Remind yourself of the big picture
Remember your goals as you are studying. Knowing I would receive my qualification at the end of the exams always kept me on track.
Edel Walsh is a student coach and education consultant www.edelwalsh.ie