Danny Harrington of ITS Education Asia has some solutions.
Regardless of whether you agree with exams as a method of assessment or the use of grades to allow progression, the reality is that this academic path is very hard to avoid. Of course, none of it is compulsory and you can get out in the world and give things a go without qualifications. But the vast majority of people want at least the security of choice. Each step you take along the formal qualifications pathway, the more choice you theoretically have for your future occupation.
And that means you will want to hit your grades. The simplest strategy is just to aim for maximum grades in every exam. However, this is not the only, nor always the most appropriate, approach. Every student is different and able to cope with different levels of workload. At different stages and in different systems you may be faced with very different ranges of subjects. The level of external support open to you will vary. And your own philosophy – from perfectionist to satisficer – will play into your goals as well.
The first stage of planning then, requires that you understand all these variables and how they impact your approach. How much time do you have? How much time are you willing to expend? How will you split your prep time across different subjects? A huge part of the “secret to success” is simply to be organised. If you address these questions and lay out a clear study and revision timeline, you are a huge way towards achieving your goals. But be prepared to adjust as you go. What you thought you needed on day one may not be what you need on day 30. Set mini-goals to achieve along the way and don’t beat yourself up if you miss any.
What about revision technique? Again, the answer is all about what suits you. By exam age, you should have an awareness of what learning techniques suit you best. If you haven’t, then deal with this immediately. Try a range of options and see what seems to work for you. Don’t blindly follow someone else’s advice… but note that educational psychology has pretty much nailed down some truisms.
Firstly, writing notes – no matter what form – helps consolidate memory. By writing revision notes you must decide what is important. Thus, you force your brain through a real process of learning and fixing ideas. A great technique is to write long-form notes and then write shorter revision notes from those long-form notes. You are reducing the volume of information you need to carry into exam day but everything you may eventually need is packaged up in your memory. Think of it as natural zip-filing.
Second is the use of past papers. Too many students waste these. Whatever you do, do not jump into full practice. Why practice writing rubbish answers? In the beginning, do some past paper questions with your books and notes open. The first step is to practice writing the best possible answer. Then you can try doing it from memory. Only then should you do it from memory in the time limit.
For help with revision techniques and more, contact ITS Education at www.itseducation.asia – we have years of experience and a tutor across all main subjects.