Exam preparation

This resource will help you:

• Understand the principles of effective preparation for online quizzes, tests, and exams.
• Develop simple strategies to perform your best on the day of your online quiz, test, or exam.

Preparing effectively for a quiz or exam requires:

• Developing an effective study technique to help organise, remember, and understand the content of your course.
• Managing your time with a study plan and schedule.
• Taking care of yourself.

Planning for success

Developing a plan to prepare for and complete a quiz or exam is a great way to set yourself up for success and reduce anxiety. 

As you watch this video (5:49 min), identify one change you can make to how you currently prepare for exams and quizzes. 

Step 1: Understand the requirements of your quiz, test, or exam.

• Find out when and how long your exam will be and if it is open, limited or closed book.
• Be clear on what content you need to revise (which weeks, resources, and concepts). The learning outcomes in your modules can help clarify what you need to know.
• Determine the number and types of exam questions: multiple-choice, short answer, essay, or other.

You can find this information in your course profile, learning materials or by asking your lecturer or tutor. 

Step 2: Prepare for your quiz, test, or exam.

• Create a revision schedule, focusing on reviewing early and often using short sessions. It is a good idea to put a revision schedule together at the start of a course and aim to review each week's content at the end of the week.
• Focus on understanding key concepts and use active study strategies such as completing revision questions or explaining the concept to a friend (or pet, wall or houseplant!).
• Organise your course materials. It can be helpful to create short summaries of each module and a glossary for unfamiliar terms. 
• Don't get caught up in small details. Focus on what is most important.

Step 3: Do your best on the day.

• Manage your time carefully. One strategy is to allocate time to each question based on the number of points it is worth: avoid spending 10% of your time on a question worth 1% of your mark. 
• Read the questions carefully and be familiar with the most common types of questions.
• Double-check your work.

Try some of these quiz, test and exam preparation strategies.

• Create a realistic calendar with scheduled revision times.
• Organise your study area to minimize distractions.
• Take high quality notes. 
• Study with your classmates - this will help you fill in gaps in your understanding.
• Use charts, diagrams or flash cards to organise information.
• Develop your own revision questions, using the learning objectives as guides.
• Use rhymes and mnemonics to assist recall. For example, to remember electron loss and gain in oxidation and reduction, the following may be easy to remember: OIL RIG - Oxidation Is Loss; Reduction Is Gain (of electrons). 

• Get a good night’s sleep, both while studying and the night before an exam.
• Maintain good nutrition and avoid the excessive use of caffeine, as it can interfere with sleep and mimic symptoms of anxiety.
• Get regular exercise. Vigorous exercise can help release endorphins and manage the physical symptoms associated with stress/anxiety.
• Reframe your thinking: try reframing anxiety as excitement.
• Take some time out each day to do something enjoyable and relaxing.
• Talk regularly to a friend or family member about how you feel.
• Identify unhelpful thoughts and try replacing them with more encouraging self-talk.

This short video (1:45 min) discusses a study from Harvard that suggests excitement may help you overcome your anxiety.