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Exams 5: Revise and de-stress6th May 2015

Adam Sandelson Neil McLeanLSE Student Wellbeing Service TLC

The format of the Workshop may differ from this powerpoint

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Preparing for exams – the last few weeks

Neil McLeanTeaching and Learning Centre

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Overview

Time available Best use of time Resources

‘Team spirit is an illusion created by winning.’Parker (2009)

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Time available

Exam session starts on 14th May Exams run until 13th June For an exam on 15th May, you have 96 working

hours (no weekends or evenings) Dividing this up into essay plans, for instance,

you could make 68, you probably need to make 12 – 15 to be ready)

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Time available

Planning – divide time based on the scheduling of your exams

Where possible focus on the next exam in the few days leading up to it

In an 8 hour day, break time up into 1.5 hour blocks, working on answering different questions

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Best use of time You need to be good at the exam tasks – these

tasks include performance and time

(e.g. for 1 hour essays, most people write 800 – 1000 words, therefore an introduction and 4 or 5 paragraphs and a conclusion. The introduction answers the question and outlines the argument in support of this answer, each paragraph begins with a clear statement that helps answer the question and combines reference to the literature and other sources to justify and support the main idea of the paragraph in a detailed and convincing manner.)

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Best use of time Complete and practise exam tasks, using texts

/ lecture notes etc. as you get stuck

Look to produce answers that Show you can think (answer the question) Show you’ve done the reading

(references / context) Show expertise (detailed knowledge, real

world context or use, locate the debate etc.)

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Resources

Each other – read each others essays, try the same questions and talk through the solutions (good end of day task)

Revision sessions – examiner’s mindset, marking preferences etc.

Office hours – take answers / plans rather than questions of detail

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Exam Psychology

Practical techniques for revision and exams

Common psychological issues Stress management skills

Adam SandelsonLSE Student Counselling Service

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Part 1

Techniques for dealing with revision and exams

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Revising well Don’t compare yourself to

others Work out your own schedule,

be flexible if necessary Explore ways/ places to work Don’t be obsessive! Talk to others, ask for help

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Time and Targets

Set realistic and achievable goals Break down huge tasks Short term targets and longer term

strategies Recognise short term achievements Revise study skills, time management

skills

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Focussing on the task Concentrate on the task, not the

outcome

Remember past successes Recognise you are likely to pass Be methodical, and allow time for

breaks and space to breathe and think Use mind maps, scribble ideas Go for a walk, talk out loud

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On the day of the exam Don’t cram, sleep Relax, visualize it being OK Read the question Sketch out thoughts, mind

map Plan answers Keep notes for later questions After – avoid show-offs

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Part 2

Psychological Issues in

approaching revisionand exams – Family Dynamics Procrastination Perfectionism Change

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Underlying dynamics

The family / historic context for your success, eg keeping the family together

Trying to please others Wanting to be the best Setting yourself impossible targets Repeating past anxiety, trauma, failure

…

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Dynamics of study, work, life ...

Pastrelationships

Relationshipwith LSE or

exams oror work or …

Currentrelationships

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………Procrastination

Putting off tasks Anxiety, stress, guilt, shame Disguise avoidance by being

busy We may find things to do that are

interesting or even useful, but don't contribute towards the main goal

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Why do we procrastinate?

time management inability to prioritise,

task overload Anxiety/ boredom fear of failure/ success perfectionism all-or-nothing thinking

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Overcoming revision blocks

Stop new reading if this is avoidance make notes, summarize ideas, list key

quotes… Practice questions Practice drafting bullet points Break work down into chunks Take a break/sleep on it/talk to someone Talk to the computer or your hand? Acknowledge your procrastination!

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Challenge perfectionism

Perfectionism can reduce achievement. Experiment with your standards for success

try for 80% or even 60% Focus on the process of doing an activity

not just the end result evaluate success in terms of what you

accomplished and whether you enjoyed the task Challenge ‘all or nothing’ thinking

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Thinking about life after LSE

Not everyone knows what they want to do afterwards - it’s OK to wait

Transition and change are stressful Going home Losing Social Network How to keep in touch with others Preparing for work; the Rat Race

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Preparing for change

Don’t deny endings Be willing to say

goodbye Don’t obsess too much

about endings Remember that

endings are part of life

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Part 3

Review your Stress Management Skills

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Stress Management Skills Regularly switch off

Good self care – sleep, diet, caffeine, alcohol, physical activity

Time management

Take regular mini-breaks to relax

Breathing or relaxationexercises

Allow yourself time out without guilt

Anxiety is normal – don’t deny it!

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Cognitive Strategies

Challenge negative thinking Distract yourself from negative

thoughts Difficulties and setbacks can be good

for learning and personal growth? Tolerate not knowing – try to see

shades of grey, not black and white!

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Challenging negative thoughts Apply ‘Socratic reasoning’ or imagine

this being tested in a Court of Law

Identify the negative thought Eg, I am going to fail all my exams

Ascertain the evidence For and Against Ask if you are making a ‘thinking error’ Propose a more reasonable alternative

thought

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Thinking errors

All or nothing thinking Discounting the positive

Only seeing the negative side of things

Over - generalizing because it happened in the past it

will happen again in the future Catastrophising Emotional Reasoning

If I feel it then it must be true

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Part 4

What sources of advice and help are available?

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Sources of advice and help Academic Adviser/

Departmental staff TLC Learning World

Website Student Services

Centre Deans

Don't wait until problems have grown impossibly large!

Student Union and Advice Centre

Medical Centre Mental Health and

Wellbeing Advisor Disability and

Wellbeing Office

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Further resources

Learning World - http://moodle.lse.ac.uk/See powerpoints on:

Exams 1: Planning and Preparation Exams 2: Last Minute Preparations and Sitting the Exam Exams 3: Using Past Exam Papers Exams 4: Quantitative Exam Preparation

Student Counselling Service websitehttp://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/studentCounsellingServiceSee powerpoints/ video podcasts on:

Good Writing Psychology Overcoming Perfectionism Overcoming Procrastination

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LSE Student Counselling Service Free and confidential Mainly offers short term counselling Appointments need to be booked in

advance See Website for

Stress management handout Self help resources on study – related and

personal difficulties Relaxation MP3’s

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Final thoughts

Focus on the task, not the outcome Transition can be stressful, but

also allows us to grow as a person Imagine looking back in 5 years Talk to others (if not yourself)