Academic Counsellor News

We’re getting close to the end now!

In an email I recently received from Lisa’s Study Guide, they wrote: ‘Everything you’ve learned so far has been leading up to these exams, and ensuring all your hard work pays off is essential. The reality is, this is crunch time. There’s no more room for delays – it’s time to knuckle down and give it your all.’ 

The next few week’s are going to be FULL ON and you might be feeling overwhelmed, but you’ve got this - you’ve been preparing all year. So, download this great checklist and read this Term 4 overview (both from Art of Smart), and get to it!

Practice Examinations

Notes and summaries have played an important part in remembering content up until this point (and still do), but to improve your examination mark, now is the time to sit practice exam questions.

Your teachers will guide you through this process, but here are some additional resources.

Art of Smart has put together a comprehensive list of past exams, guides and tips for English, Maths Methods, Legal Studies, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Psychology, Business Management, Physical Education here. 

TSFX suggests you use study using practice exam papers in three phases:

1. The learning phase (open book, open time). Do this for 3-5 papers. There is no time limit for completing these papers and questions, so take your time. Attempt the questions on your own if you can, then refer to your textbook/notes if you need reminding and finally correct them using the answer guide. The examiner’s report is also important to read. Art of Smart suggests at this point, you focus on questions related to content that you don’t know. “Don’t do another exam until you’re reviewed and understand every single mistake you’ve made in the previous exam. There’s no point doing lots of exams if you repeat the same mistakes.
2. The consolidation phase (closed-book, open time). Do this for 3-5 papers. During this period, don’t use any additional resources to assist your answers. You don’t need to complete a whole paper in the one sitting, but should aim to complete questions in the time you would have in the examination (e.g. half of the questions in a 90 minute examination should be done in 45 minutes). Art of Smart recommends that for every question that is incorrect, you find two similar questions and successfully answer these. 
3. The pacing phase (closed-book, closed time). Do this for 2-3 papers. In the days leading into your examination, complete the first practice paper under examination conditions and take note of your pace. Correct and reflect. Adjust accordingly for the following papers.

In between taking practice examination questions, remember that teaching others about content is also going to help you remember it. So get talking to those around you! You’ll also probably have your favourite tools (such as flashcards and mind maps) to assist.