English

STUDYING FOR EXAMS

Year 11 and Year 12 students should be preparing for upcoming end of course and HSC exams. For Years 7-10, exams or topic tests may be undertaken next term. Here is a guide on how students might prepare.

1. Gather Information - Students should know what is required in each module and what is on each exam. This can be found out by revisiting the module descriptions, exam notifications and sample exams.

Students then need to revise the material that has been taught. The following reading strategies may be helpful when revisiting texts and readings (It is best to revisit the original text/reading, rather than revising notes, which may lead to the simplification or distortion of meaning):

- Stop and summarise

- Annotate

- Take notes and make notes

- Connect to other texts/readings

- Draw onto concept maps

- Create a glossary

2. Memorise - Once they have gathered information in the form of quotes, key terms, notes, summaries, and flashcards, students should revise this material in preparation for the exam. Some strategies to remember are:

- Test yourself

- quizzing

- flashcards

- quizlet

- chunk or cluster together information to be learnt

- create associations between known information and to-be-learnt information

- Spaced Repetition

- Distribute practice so that you revise information at regular intervals. For example, 4 x 15 minute revision sessions are likely to be more efficient than a single, one-hour session

3. Practice Writing

Writing is a cognitively complex process. As such, it should be practiced prior to the exams. Practice exams are one way of practising written responses. Students could also practice reflective, analytical, discursive or imaginative writing. 

Mr Shaun Ellis | English KLA Leader