Preparing for Final Exams

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Paradise Valley Comm. College Learning Support
Center Rick Sheets, Ed.D.
Easing Away Test Anxiety
Metacognitive awareness
http//www.pvc.maricopa.edu/lsc/online.htm
Confidence/ Attitude/Drive
Preparedness/Practice/ Knowledge
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Outline

• Goals
• Cycle of Anxiety
• Long term goalsReal work for real changes
• Magic pill?No, short term strategies
• Checkpoints progress
• Did I win?

Metacognitive awareness
Confidence/ Attitude/Drive
Preparedness/Practice/ Knowledge
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Long term goalsReal work for real changes

• Get help support to break the Cycle of Anxiety
  before it manifests itself physically
• Identify negative thoughts, self-talks, images,
  events, and sensory related triggers...
• Use strategies and relaxation techniques
  including relaxation response, meditation,
  reframing, re-programming, or others...
• Realize the resources available to you through
  PVCC Counseling Services and Fitness Center...

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Magic Pill

• No.
• Strategies to help when
• to better deal with the
• Physical Symptoms
• of anxiety

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Learning Preferences
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Studying preferences
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Strategies for Studying
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Time Management

• Time management systems
• 168 hours in a week
• Block out committed times Work/School/Other
  required commitments
• Block out sleep, eating, and personal readiness
• Look at times left and other needsinclude
  homework/study times needed weekly
• When should the most difficult courses be studied

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Strategies to beat test anxiety

• Be prepared
• Spend your study time wisely Practice anxiety
  reduction
• Taking Tests

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Prepare for exams

• Identify exam prep needs
• What materials should I study?
• Sequence what, how, and when to study.

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Spending Your Time Wisely Lowering Anxiety

• Relax!...
• Count/Visualize/Unplug the toe/ReprogramSelf-Talk
  s
• Prepare/Maximize learning/When is your best time?
• Rituals - Preview/study/take breaks/review
• Test yourself
• Index Cards/Where to get the information?
• Mnemonics (silent m, long e)
• Memory Dump
• Others

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Ways to avoid procrastination

• Study with others
• Step back and check your progress from time to
  time
• Start/Use 5 minute plan
• Be specific
• Visualize success or completion
• Smart cramming
• Find a reward
• Others

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Test Prepping Strategies

• What is important to study?
• What materials should you use?
• Type of questions Essay, Multiple Choice, T/F,
  Fill-in, Matching
• Learn from your mistakes
• Time yourself
• Practice reducing anxietydont wait until test
  day
• Should I cram?

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Test-taking Strategies

• Mind Set
• Preview test
• Plan your time/Points/Weighted
• Memory Dump/Anxiety Reduction
• Read question carefully
• Strategies for essay, multiple choice,matching,
  T/F, fill-in
• Skip or guess
• Be last to Finish
• Review test, be sure it is complete
• Others

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LSC Online Links
HowToStudy.Org (14 sites on Overcoming
Test Anxiety) http//www.howtostudy.org/resource
s_skill.php?id16 Learning Your Way
Performance and Testinghttp//www.pvc.maricopa.ed
u/7Esheets/lmw/perfo.htm Overcoming Test
Anxiety http//www.studygs.net/tstprp8.htm Top
Ten Survivor Tips for Math Anxiety
http//www.pvc.maricopa.edu/lsc/online/Handout_Mat
h_Anxiety.doc
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Checkpoint Progress
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Did I win?...
Balancing goals and strategies!
Metacognitive awareness
Balancing
Strategies Goals
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Paradise Valley Comm. College Learning Support
Center Rick Sheets, Ed.D.
Easing Away Test Anxiety
Metacognitive awareness
Confidence/ Attitude/Drive
Preparedness/Practice/ Knowledge