Amelia’s Secret Test and Exam Revision Tip

DSC_0142Hi everyone,

Today I wanted to tell you about a revision technique that I’ve been using in the lead up to my exams and tests over the last few months. With exams coming up in a few weeks I thought it would be a good time to share this with you!

So here it is:

Grab some whiteboard markers and write on a mirror, window or whiteboard, whatever’s handy. You can do this at home or you can utilise the whiteboards at uni.

mirrorwriting

Here’s why I find it so effective: writing things out really helps me to reinforce concepts and enables me to write more effectively and efficiently in the test or exam. It’s one thing to read through my notes or textbook and say ‘yeah, I understand that, I can follow that’, and another to actually be able to get into the exam and have that knowledge ready to go to write a good, solid response. Practicing writing it out enables me to achieve this, whether it’s theory or even practical questions from sample exams or tutorials.

With this technique, writing vertically on a different surface means I’m mixing up my learning experience, which I find reinforces my understanding even further. Personally, I use my bedroom mirror. Once I’ve filled my mirror up, I talk about it to myself (which also really helps!) and then rub it out with a tissue and repeat.

I’ve found it’s also a good technique to use when I’m studying with friends, as we can discuss and visualise things with each other (shout out to Cath. Yay for Financial Management study times!).

Do you have any wacky study tips that you want to share? I’d love to hear them!

Until next time,

– Amelia

3 thoughts on “Amelia’s Secret Test and Exam Revision Tip

  1. Hello Amelia,
    I’m currently studying A&P (Anatomy & Physiology) 1 For Health Professionals and am really finding this subject difficult.

    The amount of content covered is WOW. While undertaking my EN’s course last year I averaged over 3 exams 84%, but i’m finding here it’s gone about two levels higher and it’s killing me.

    It wouldn’t be so bad if there were some indication as to what to focus on, but there’s no indication whatsoever and that means every single chapter has to be scrutinised. Now i’d like to think I do have a basic ability to be able to understand but it truly feels like an overflowing bucket where it doesn’t matter how much I read it just seems to be too much to take in.

    Do you possibly have any pointers that could help me in this.

    Take care,
    Brett

    1. Hi Brett,

      I’m Eric, another Student Academic Leader at FedUni. That overwhelmed feeling is definitely one that most students have felt at one point or another so don’t feel like you’re the only one. If it does feel like it gets to be too much, definitely go and talk to someone about it. There’s loads of services available to students.

      I’ve got a couple of study tips of my own that might help. I definitely agree with Amelia, writing things down helps. It moves it into longer term memory. But I don’t write everything down. I look for keywords (sometimes in textbooks they’re bolded) and put them, and their definition down on paper. You can maybe put them in two columns and separate them, so you can test yourself later. Or cue cards. Lots of students use cue cards as well to test themselves.

      Also, often lecturers will have their learning objectives for a topic on the moodle page, or sometimes in the course description. If they are there, these give a really good place to start focusing on. And text books will often have review quizzes at the end of a section. Those questions usually focus on the key content too, so they can be valuable.

      But, after all of that, the best tip I have is to ask for help. First, study in group, even if it’s just reviewing during the semester. Everyone can talk about all the concepts and try to agree which ones are the most important. And everyone is not going to understand everything. Often, the best way to understand something yourself is to teach it to someone else. And second, ask your lecturer. They may seem scary, but pretty much every one I’ve met wants their students to do well. They’ll be able to tell you which topics are more important, and which concepts are the key ones.

      I hope that helps. And you still need more help, just click the “Help!” link at the top of the page and you’ll get all sorts of info.

      Good luck!
      Eric

      1. Hello Eric,
        Thank you for the pointers and advice it’s much appreciated. I think I tend to be too hard on myself. I’ve waited a lifetime (well almost half a lifetime) to get the chance to study in a higher learning place. I don’t take this lightly as I want to achieve the best result I possibly can, even if it means losing what little bit of sanity I have left.

        So far i’ve spent nearly every night (4hours or more) going over material etc. But I just feel like an overflowing bucket, and the knowledge keeps pouring out over the edges. I think it comes to looking for the ‘key requirements’ other than trying to retain the WHOLE LOT.

        I want to get the most out of this chance and learn the most I possibly can.

        Thank you once again for your input, I will take the advice on board otherwise I’m going to burn out.

        Cheers, take care,
        Brett

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