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Exam tips?

macbook pro i5

macbook pro i5

macrumors 65816
Original poster
May 13, 2011
1,338
1
New Zealand
Hi got my exams in two weeks and need tips here are my subjects:

Science(bit of biology,physics and chem are dominant)

English(Comprehension,Annotating poem,Writing two eassys

Maths(Algebra-Exponents expanding and factorizing brackets,easy trig and Pythagorus theorem.Measurement eg conversions area perimeter circumference parts of circle)

Design-The isometric drawings,the design process etc.

Would really love input on how to revise for these subjects,Each and every answer is appreciated:)
 
I don't have specifics, but do not cram at the last minute, and make sure you get a good nights sleep before the exam. Revise and then sleep. A good nights sleep has been proven to help a person remember up to 30% more information. Sleeping helps your brain process and absorb the information it was presented with during the day.

Also make little notes, with vital info on, and stick them up, little things that are likely exam questions. Being exposed to these pieces of information often helps, when I was studying for Watchman Radar maintainance, I used to stick post-it notes around my mirror with crucial voltages and frequencies on them. As I shaved and brushed my teeth they'd be there to read, and thet sunk in.
 
Last edited:
Benjy91 said:
I don't have specifics, but do not cram at the last minute, and make sure you get a good nights sleep before the exam. Revise and then sleep. A good nights sleep has been proven to help a person remember up to 30% more information. Sleeping helps your brain process and absorb the information it was presented with during the day.
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Thanks a lot for the advice:)
Is it a good idea to listen to music while going over notes?
 
Revise? I assume that's the British equivalent for studying? edit: nevermind, New Zealand.

Anyway, for math, the best way to study is to do a lot of practice problems. Reading the book can only help so much. Same for isometric/oblique/2D drawings (I don't have experience with isometric in regards to design classes, but I took an engineering CAD class that required these drawings).
 
macbook pro i5 said:
Thanks a lot for the advice:)
Is it a good idea to listen to music while going over notes?
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Generally you'll want to revise in the conditions you'll be in when you sit the exam. I don't see any harm in listening to music while going through and organising notes, but make sure to do practice papers in exam conditions (timed preferably).

The most important thing you can do is practice, practice, practice. Go on the exam board's website and go through the most recent papers. Do them in exam conditions, then go through the mark scheme and pick up on any areas you weren't sure about.

Edit: Given that your exams are only two weeks away, you probably want to cover the content within the next couple of days, then do the practice papers as soon as possible so you can identify your weaker areas.
 
calb said:
Generally you'll want to revise in the conditions you'll be in when you sit the exam. I don't see any harm in listening to music while going through and organising notes, but make sure to do practice papers in exam conditions (timed preferably).

The most important thing you can do is practice, practice, practice. Go on the exam board's website and go through the most recent papers. Do them in exam conditions, then go through the mark scheme and pick up on any areas you weren't sure about.

Edit: Given that your exams are only two weeks away, you probably want to cover the content within the next couple of days, then do the practice papers as soon as possible so you can identify your weaker areas.
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Thats a lot of notes to go through:eek: but nonetheless I have to:(
 
I only cram. Never studied until 24h before exam, then studied for 24h straight. I still remember quite a bit.

Not recommended for everyone.
 
Don't listen to anything acidfast7 has to say.


Beyond that, when it comes to math and science subjects, I'd recommend not only doing practice problems but focusing on understanding the fundamental processes. Don't concern yourself so much with how to solve a particular problem but rather why these systems behave they do. Understanding the why will make the how almost obvious.
 
mobilehaathi said:
Don't listen to anything acidfast7 has to say.


Beyond that, when it comes to math and science subjects, I'd recommend not only doing practice problems but focusing on understanding the fundamental processes. Don't concern yourself so much with how to solve a particular problem but rather why these systems behave they do. Understanding the why will make the how almost obvious.
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Thank you this is the best piece of advice I have gotten here:)
 
Look at the curriculum, the headlines in your books and hold it up with your notes. This will give you an overview. Fill in with details from your textbooks if there is time and need for it.

Do not study the last day before an exam. You have to prepare yourself mentally for going through the exam, or you will get nervous and lose confidence in your abilities to nail an A. This applies in particular to Mathematics and Science.
 
mobilehaathi said:
Don't listen to anything acidfast7 has to say.


Beyond that, when it comes to math and science subjects, I'd recommend not only doing practice problems but focusing on understanding the fundamental processes. Don't concern yourself so much with how to solve a particular problem but rather why these systems behave they do. Understanding the why will make the how almost obvious.
Click to expand...

This is truth for all subjects bounded by math (in many ways). Always try to understand what is going on and why something is happening. There are several ways you can do a problem (or certain problems). Understanding why is key. Memorization in math is suicide.

Also, for other subjects, such as English only learning by memorization is key.
 
Benjy91 said:
If it helps you focus, something happy. I doubt listening to 80's Speed Metal would help. ;)
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Often music without lyrics helps me to focus more. Depends what you like listening to though I guess. For me I quite like ambient and electronica so I listen to that when revising.
 
macbook pro i5 said:
What about dubstep? Is that fine?
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listen to trance (http://paris-one.com)
2 weeks is not enough to learn many concepts in a math-based subject
2 weeks is long enough to do a huge amount of memorization

learning/understanding takes a huge amount of time and it takes repeated cycles of learning/sleeping to comprehend (i never studied until the last 24h because I could learn/understand just by going to the lectures.)

you probably have a week or so left, i would prioritize and memorize only, that will produce the best result with the time left.
 
acidfast7 said:
listen to trance (http://paris-one.com)
2 weeks is not enough to learn many concepts in a math-based subject
2 weeks is long enough to do a huge amount of memorization

learning/understanding takes a huge amount of time and it takes repeated cycles of learning/sleeping to comprehend (i never studied until the last 24h because I could learn/understand just by going to the lectures.)

you probably have a week or so left, i would prioritize and memorize only, that will produce the best result with the time left.
Click to expand...

Stop scaring me:eek::D
 
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