Preparing for Final Exams

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Preparing for Final Exams
Paradise Valley Comm. College Learning Support
Center Rick Sheets, Ed.D.
Balancing
Strategies Goals
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Outline

• Preferences, Learning Studying
• Strategy Toolbox
• Time Management/Study Plan
• The ABCs of Preparing for Final Exams
• A. Organize
• B. Spend your study time wisely
• C. Strategize to overcome problems
• Practicing for Your Final
• Taking Your Finals

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Learning Preferences
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Studying preferences
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Your Toolbox of Strategies for Studying
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Strategies for Studying
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Time Management

• 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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The ABCs of Preparing for Final ExamsUniversity
of Saskatchewanhttp//students.usask.ca/support/l
earning/studyskills/abc/

• One of the most common difficulties that
  students encounter when preparing for finals is
  not having allocated enough time for studying.

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The ABCs of Preparing for Final ExamsUniversity
of Saskatchewanhttp//students.usask.ca/support/l
earning/studyskills/abc/

• Students who plan their study strategy and
  manage their anxiety and time effectively are
  able to study their course materials
  systematically and have enough time to cover the
  material they need to know for their final exams.

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The ABCs of Preparing for Final ExamsUniversity
of Saskatchewanhttp//students.usask.ca/support/l
earning/studyskills/abc/

• By scheduling time to write practice exams
  similar to the final, they increase their
  confidence and reduce their exam anxiety.

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The ABCs of Preparing for Final Exams

• A. Organize
• B. Spend your study time wisely
• C. Strategize to overcome problems

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A Organize Final Exam Schedule
http//www.pvc.maricopa.edu/cal/spr07final.html
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A Organize - Study Plan

• For each class identify difficulty and final exam
  preparation needs.
• What materials should I study?
• Sequence and develop a study plan.

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B Spend Your Time Wisely

• Plan for adequate sleep, exercise, and normal
  meals (watch too much coffee soda).
• The remaining class and study times are precious.
• Watch your energy and anxiety levels.
• A little anxiety is a good thingwhat if you have
  too much anxiety?

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B 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
• Input/Output 50/50
• Test yourself
• Index Cards/Where to get the information?
• Mnemonics (silent m, long e)
• Memory Dump

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C. Strategize to overcome problemsWays of
handling the rest of the world

• Pay attention to your attention
• Agree with living mates about study time
• Get off the phone/TV
• Learn to say no
• Hang out a do not disturb sign
• Avoid noise distractions
• Notice how others misuse your time

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C. Strategize to overcome problemsWhen you get
stuck, ask yourself

• What is one task I can accomplish?
• Am I being too hard on myself?
• Does this need to be perfect?
• Can I do just one more thing?
• What is the best use of my time right now?
• Can I delegate this?
• How did I just waste time?(cleaning bathroom)

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C. Strategize to overcome problems Ways to avoid
procrastination

• Make your plans a part of public record
• Study with others
• Step back and check your progress from time to
  time
• Start/Use 5 minute plan
• Be specific
• Verbalize your excuses
• Visualize success or completion
• Find a reward

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Practicing for Your Final

• 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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Taking the Final

• Mind Set
• Preview
• 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

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Which Strategies for your toolbox?
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Preparing for Final Exams
Paradise Valley Comm. College Learning Support
Center Rick Sheets, Ed.D. Richard Morales, M.A.
Ed.
Balancing
Strategies Goals