Discussion
2hrs? What exams are you revising for?
The foolproof tactic is to get old exam papers and learn how to answer the questions. The amount of question recycling is normally high. I started out by creating 'model' answers for all the questions, with my notes. I then moved on to trying to answer without notes and comparing to the earlier prepared answers.
The foolproof tactic is to get old exam papers and learn how to answer the questions. The amount of question recycling is normally high. I started out by creating 'model' answers for all the questions, with my notes. I then moved on to trying to answer without notes and comparing to the earlier prepared answers.
Need to isolate yourself from whatever is distracting you.
If its the web, then have the discipline to print a few hours worth of reading material and then take yourself off to wherever you can guarantee a quiet time to read it.
Write margin notes.
I also found it useful to write mini briefings on each likely topic.
I then condensed the mini briefings to one liners.
In doing that you force yourself to focus in on the nub of each thing and filter out all the dross.
Stay hydrated and well fed.
Don't have long nights.
Listen to your body - if your attention span is 1 hour, study for that period. Shut the books and GO OUTSIDE - a walk to the paper shop or something - reward yourself with a bag of hula hoops and then get back inside, cuppa and back to another hour.
I also found it useful to switch between subject areas - ie if i had 3 exams I would do a session on one, go out, come back and do the next session on another topuic rather than trying to cram a single topic all day.
Dont make the mistake of concentrating on the first exam until it arrives and then switching to the second exam - you need to get decent marks in all of them and your brain will go downhill over the period of the revision and exams so you need to spread your efforts.
Best of luck.
If its the web, then have the discipline to print a few hours worth of reading material and then take yourself off to wherever you can guarantee a quiet time to read it.
Write margin notes.
I also found it useful to write mini briefings on each likely topic.
I then condensed the mini briefings to one liners.
In doing that you force yourself to focus in on the nub of each thing and filter out all the dross.
Stay hydrated and well fed.
Don't have long nights.
Listen to your body - if your attention span is 1 hour, study for that period. Shut the books and GO OUTSIDE - a walk to the paper shop or something - reward yourself with a bag of hula hoops and then get back inside, cuppa and back to another hour.
I also found it useful to switch between subject areas - ie if i had 3 exams I would do a session on one, go out, come back and do the next session on another topuic rather than trying to cram a single topic all day.
Dont make the mistake of concentrating on the first exam until it arrives and then switching to the second exam - you need to get decent marks in all of them and your brain will go downhill over the period of the revision and exams so you need to spread your efforts.
Best of luck.
I'm in the same boat (engineering) - 5 exams in the next 2 weeks 
I'm reading notes, making revision notes, doing questions and will shortly be moving onto the past papers 
Out of interest - do mods have the power to ban me completely from even viewing PH over the next 2 weeks?
I'm reading notes, making revision notes, doing questions and will shortly be moving onto the past papers Out of interest - do mods have the power to ban me completely from even viewing PH over the next 2 weeks?
Edited by arryb on Thursday 8th January 16:15
ultegra said:
I also found it useful to switch between subject areas - ie if i had 3 exams I would do a session on one, go out, come back and do the next session on another topuic rather than trying to cram a single topic all day.
I found the opposite when revising for my physics finals. I had to totally saturate myself with one subject for days at a time.Spend your time learning how to cheat. How do you think people get ahead? By cheating all the time. If you cheat and fail, you're a cheater. If you cheat and succeed, you're savvy. Learn what's on the test before they give it to you. And if you get caught, don't panic, just say these words: "I misinterpreted the rules". You didn't cheat, you "misinterpreted the rules". It's okay to cheat, as long as you cheat your way to the top.
130R said:
Spend your time learning how to cheat. How do you think people get ahead? By cheating all the time. If you cheat and fail, you're a cheater. If you cheat and succeed, you're savvy. Learn what's on the test before they give it to you. And if you get caught, don't panic, just say these words: "I misinterpreted the rules". You didn't cheat, you "misinterpreted the rules". It's okay to cheat, as long as you cheat your way to the top.
You get caught, you're f
ked. I invigilate exams these days and you always get a few. No degree, 3 years wasted, muppets. I studied for an hour or two, then lay down and had a snooze.
repeat as required.
10 years later, upon reading some research that what you've learnt only tends to move to long term memory in your sleep - it all makes sense
ETA:
If you have house/flatmates, don't study at home, go to the libary. Even better work out a timetable with them, so you all go the libary say 10-12, then all go to mcdonalds for lunch, then all go back to the library 1-4, then all go the pub.
That way you have a timetable, you don't get distracted by them and you don't think you're missing out on any of their social activities.
repeat as required.
10 years later, upon reading some research that what you've learnt only tends to move to long term memory in your sleep - it all makes sense
ETA:
If you have house/flatmates, don't study at home, go to the libary. Even better work out a timetable with them, so you all go the libary say 10-12, then all go to mcdonalds for lunch, then all go back to the library 1-4, then all go the pub.
That way you have a timetable, you don't get distracted by them and you don't think you're missing out on any of their social activities.
Edited by 2something on Thursday 8th January 16:55
Write notes for everything you read, condense the facts so they give the gist of what you're reading.
I had to do this for my finals as I have a concentration span that can be measured in milliseconds, and I would simply switch off mid-sentence while reading something. When making condensed notes you're forced into taking in what you read as you need to process it and cut the waffle out. It worked for me.
Oh, and don't study for too long at a time, maybe an hour or 2 at most, there's only so much you can take in at once.
I had to do this for my finals as I have a concentration span that can be measured in milliseconds, and I would simply switch off mid-sentence while reading something. When making condensed notes you're forced into taking in what you read as you need to process it and cut the waffle out. It worked for me.
Oh, and don't study for too long at a time, maybe an hour or 2 at most, there's only so much you can take in at once.
Edited by Neil_H on Thursday 8th January 16:55
130R said:
Spend your time learning how to cheat. How do you think people get ahead? By cheating all the time. If you cheat and fail, you're a cheater. If you cheat and succeed, you're savvy. Learn what's on the test before they give it to you. And if you get caught, don't panic, just say these words: "I misinterpreted the rules". You didn't cheat, you "misinterpreted the rules". It's okay to cheat, as long as you cheat your way to the top.
How can I teeeeeach these keeeeeeeds?peepsy said:
Any good techniques ? Im revising for uni exams but end up browsing on here most of the day, so I would like a plan that lets me learn lots in say 2 hours ? thanks
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