Get Exam Ready!

Posted on Monday, April 25th, 2016

exams studying algonquin collegeWe’ve highlighted some helpful tips and handy tools to get you ready for exams and presentations, as well as info about how to stay calm under pressure.

Online:

Are you familiar with the Essential Study Skills website? This awesome resource features the key components for academic success, with units on time management, reading and note taking, and the big ones for this time of year: presentation skills, studying and test-taking, and (equally important) stress management. The format is engaging and easy to follow, and there are a ton of videos, quick tips, templates, and checklists you can use.

Below, we offer a snapshot of a few of our favourite features of the site:

  • You’re in the middle of your presentation and something goes wrong (ack!). Check out the tips to avoid common pitfalls, from dropping your cue cards to dealing with a bored audience.
  • If you’re embarking on a cram session, use the “Stop Light Technique” – start with what you know the least (red), followed by what you sort of know (yellow), then quickly review what you already know (green). It helps to physically highlight these sections in the corresponding colours, with the purpose of the exercise to move material from “red” to “green.”
  • Practise mindfulness. Mindfulness focuses your attention on what you are experiencing in the present moment. This practice helps you experience events as they are, instead of getting lost in the past (“I should have done X”) or the future (“What if X happens?”).
  • After you’ve read a chapter of text, test what you remember by trying to write down the key points without referring to your notes. Check back to see how you did, then focus on areas where you were the weakest.

It’s test time! When you get your test, plan how much time to spend on each section, with the questions that count for the most occupying more of your time than those that count the least. Then do a “knowledge dump” and use the back of your test to write down any formulas or key points you’re worried you may forget. Refer to this info when you get to the relevant sections. For more great tips like these, visit the Essential Study Skills website.

Ottawa Campus:

Student Learning Centre Workshops:
Every Tuesday from 5-6 pm, the SLC (C210) at the Ottawa campus offers workshops that tackle key skills you can apply to your academic career.

Stress Management (April 5) Balancing your course load and personal commitments can be a stressful experience for many college students. This workshop, led by an Algonquin College counsellor, will help students learn more about stress. It will also introduce practical strategies to help with stress management so that you can focus better on your learning!

Exam Prep (April 12 & 19) For many students, exam time can be filled with stress, anxiety, and worry. These workshops will help you to plan out your time in the weeks leading up to your exams so that you have enough time to study each subject adequately. It will also introduce the “Stoplight Study Technique” to help you determine what material you need to cover. Other strategies covered will include active study techniques, memory tools, and test-taking tips that can improve your exam results.

Register for these workshops here.

Perth Campus:

If you’re a student at the Perth campus, stop by the “Exam Prep Resource Table” in Student Commons on Tuesday, April 5, from 3-4 pm, or Thursday, April 7, from 12-2 pm. This is your chance to chat with Student Success Specialist Emily Appleyard in an informal environment, and you can also pick up some hard copy resources. Emily will be offering information on getting ready for exams, memory tips and tricks, dealing with test anxiety, answering multiple choice and essay questions, and overall test-taking strategies.

Pembroke Campus:

Students at the Pembroke Campus should look to their program’s Blackboard page for information about extra faculty-supported tutoring, extra lab times, and a review schedule. In addition, Meaghan Haycock, the academic coach, has extended hours until classes are finished at the end of April. Meaghan is available:

Monday: 11 am- 4
Tuesday: 3-7 pm
Wednesday: 8-11 am & 12 -5 pm
Friday: 12-4 pm

Please book an appointment with Meaghan through the Library reception desk.

The above content was adapted from the AC Hub Newsletter, a monthly publication produced by Student Services.


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