Strategies during the exam/SAC/test

All the preparation in the world means nought if you can’t rise to the occasion when the pressure is on.  Assessment is, by its very nature, a stressful occurrence.  Some people who can reel off all the concepts on the SAC at home the night before crumble when the pressure of the real thing hits.

True/False and Multi-choice can be deceptively difficult!

This is normal.  SACs and exams are meant to be difficult.  If they were too easy, too many people would achieve perfect or near-perfect marks making it difficult to discern amongst the top grades.  That being said, there are some measures you can take during crunch time to improve your chances of performing well and maximise your grade:

1. Read the question properly.  In any subject, this is the number one thing that lets people down.  There may be more than one ‘component’ to the question, so make sure that you have done everything you can to maximise your marks after attempting each question.
2. Use reading time well.  This is precious time to prepare your first answer (or two).  After a quick read-through of the paper, settle on a question you are confident with to answer first.  Don’t fall into the trap of wasting that first few seconds writing down your name.  While it is fresh in your mind, answer the first question which you had formulated in reading time.
3. Answer your best questions first.  Just because the questions are numbered 1 to 9, does not mean they need to be answered in that order.  Your most efficient use of time is to begin where you are most confident, and continue in that fashion all through the exam or test.
4. Ignore other people.  What others are doing should not directly affect how you perform.  They may be writing vigorously while you are thinking, or perhaps they finished early.  It does not matter what they do!  Focus your efforts from your brain onto your page and block out any distractions.
5. Recap once you finish.  It is a smart strategy to finish with a little bit of time spare so you can read through your responses and make edits to improve the answer.  Don’t underestimate the difference this last few minutes can make – you may notice something you did not on the first time through!
6. Read the questions properly.  Am I making myself clear?

Whatever you do, keep calm and trust your ability.  If you have studied for the test/SAC/exam, you know the material – it is simply a matter of communicating that effectively.

The next post ‘Communicating with your teachers’ can make all the difference in your understanding of important concepts.

As always, please follow my Twitter account @LukeBoosh22 to stay informed of when a new post is updated.  Guest bloggers are also welcomed on any topic relating to conquering VCE!  Get in touch via twitter.

Thanks for reading

-         LB

How to study well: Part One

This post is somewhat of a culmination of many of the ideas discussed in previous posts.  Going beyond how to use your time effectively, this post will provide some tangible suggestions of activities you can use to build your knowledge in your subjects.

Let me make one thing clear – reading the notes/textbook and answering set questions is not studying.

Unfortunately there is no magic wand that can be waved so you instantly understand the concepts that you have learned in class.  There is only one thing that can make that happen – time.  However, if you try to incorporate some of these effective ways to study, the time you need to spend on revising topics will be reduced.

1. Summarise class notes.  You will rarely understand new concepts fully when they are first taught to you during class.  You are required (and expected!) to re-visit this material at home.  The best way to do this, is firstly by re-reading what was learned, then summarise the information, focusing on the important parts.  You should do this in a separate notebook (this is generally preferable), or on a computer/other device.  Therefore, for each subject, you will have a class notes notebook, and a summaries notebook.  In the majority of your subjects, this is, without a doubt, the most effective way to enhance your understanding of new concepts.
2. More of the same.  Summaries, while being effective in many classes, are not useful all the time in every subject.  For example, there will often be little to summarise in English.  However, that does not mean there is nothing extra you can do to study.  If you have being doing a particular type of writing in class, practising more of the same will increase your confidence with that particular form of writing.  Maths subjects are based wholly around this practice also.  You learn be repetition of similar types of questions.  English/Literature requires the most practising of any subject to improve the subject’s skill, yet many neglect it because the work is not set.  Once you grasp this idea, improved performance is bound to result.
3. List of questions to ask.  If you properly understand everything once you revisit the material at home, then you are an exemplary individual.  For the majority of humans, there will still be things we are not crystal clear on.  As mentioned in the previous post, ‘The importance of writing things down’, if you come to class with a short list of questions you would like addressed then not only will your teacher be most obliging in clearing up the difficulties you (and probably others) are having, you are also filling in those final gaps in your own learning.  This is an underutilised, yet very beneficial strategy to enhance your learning.
4. Work in a group.  While not the best option for everybody, it can be a good strategy to work with a friend or two at times.  It is generally best to keep the group to no more than three, or off-topic conversations can easily take priority over effective study and little or no work gets done.  Teamwork is great to double-check your answers or methods if unsure, or to discuss concepts or current texts being studied. 
5. Concentrate.  Focus on the task at hand rather than flitting between a few different things.  Multitasking is proven to be less effective for completing tasks well.  So, tackle one thing at a time, and put aside anything that might be a distraction, like a phone or the internet.
6. ‘Cheat sheets’/flash cards.  Some people like to make ‘flash cards’ as a form of revision.  By putting one key idea per flash card (available at the newsagency), you can revise your main concepts one at a time in a more management form.  Along the same lines, you might wish to stick up sheets in commonly visited places around your house with your summarised information.
7. Draw diagrams.  Many people are visual learners, which means they understand information better when they ‘see’ it, rather than by reading, listening, experiencing etc.  Diagrams, such as flow charts, mind maps and other graphic organisers can work wonders.  Once again, there is a wide variety of these types of learning aids available on the internet. 
8. Revisit previous assessments.  This strategy is more specific for certain subjects and certain assessment preparation (such as exams or tests).  It can be a real mark-earner to ‘go through’ old tests or practice assessments again before the assessment itself arrives.  Get out those practice tests!

These are a few of a plethora of strategies you can use to study effectively.  If you feel you need more, a google search will bring you innumerable results.  Many of the aforementioned strategies work well in tandem with some of the others listed.  Combine strategies that work for you.  Part Two of how to study well will appear in a later post.   

The next post, ‘Strategies during the exam/SAC/test/etc’ will help clench the payoff derived from effective study.

Thanks for reading,

-         LB

The importance of writing things down

We’ve all said, “Oh, I don’t need to write that down – I’ll remember it,” and then forgotten about something.  People range from not writing a thing down at all, to those who write lists reminding themselves to write lists.

Along the same lines, research has been done to prove that the brain generally processes information more thoroughly when something has been written down rather than simply read.

Well, ‘what should I write down?’ you ask?  See this list of suggestions below:

• Set homework (duh!).  You need to know what is due and when.  All students are taught to do this from the start of high school.
• To do.  If you have study periods at school, or before starting your homework at home, you should bang out a quick list of what you need/want to do in order of priority.  Use the current day’s page in your diary, sticky notes, blank A4, any scrap paper, or a digital aid to write your to-do list.  A proven effective method is to categorise tasks ‘A, B or C’ depending on urgency.  For example, if something is due tomorrow, it would be classified ‘A’, but if you also wanted to do some revision/preparation for next week’s SAC that same night, it might be a priority ‘B’, or ‘C’.  This method works.
• Study.  Further from the previous dot point, you should use your diary/planner to write more than simply what is due or set homework.  It is a great idea to write in some study/revision/preparation also rather than just falling into the habit of relying on the two nights (or the one night) before the deadline to prepare.
• Questions/concerns.  Was there something you wanted to ask the teacher?  Make sure you write it down so you do not forget to ask.  Perhaps an email might be a good first port-of-call, then follow up in person next time you meet.
• What’s coming next.  It may seem silly, but if you know what the next topic is and when you’re going to start it, write it down.  This will sub-consciously help you prepare for the upcoming new material. 

The next post ‘How to study well’ gives you some practical ideas for using your time smarter, to make more sense of the concepts that did not quite stick the first time around.

Thanks for reading,

-         LB

Setting goals and sticking to them

Every one of us has goals.  Some of those goals might take the form of where we want to be in five years’ time, by the end of the year, or simply what we want to do today.  The important thing is that they are there.  How can you know what to do, if you do not know where you’re going?  Would a captain begin sailing his ship without a destination? 

There is a lot of theory about what makes a good goal for oneself.  When it boils down to it, the main thing is that you are challenged, in that achieving the goal is not simply ‘a walk in the park’. 

Many students set goals during VCE.  Whether you have been a goal-setter in the past, your VCE years are a great time to begin.  Perhaps the most obvious goals to set for yourself are study scores per subject, ATAR score, and ‘the next step’.

Goals – Study scores

It has been proven that if you set a challenging target for yourself in each subject, you are more motivated to achieve that result.  It can be difficult to identify what is required to achieve a certain study score in your subjects.  This could be a great discussion to have with your individual subject teachers, your careers teacher, or another knowledgeable mentor.  Not only will you see that your teachers have faith in you, but if both parties know what you want to achieve, then it can only benefit your learning and desire.

Goals – ATAR score

How you derive this may be closely related to your ‘next step’ goal.  Tertiary courses generally have a specified ATAR requirement, which will often not vary significantly from one year to the next.  This may greatly determine what your goal is, whether it be an ATAR of 50, 75, or 95.  There may be something else driving your ATAR goal.  Perhaps you might be having a contest with a friend, or the desire to achieve higher than a sibling or other relative.  Whatever your motivation, it will help you to achieve.

Goals – ‘the next step’

You might feel a lot of pressure during your VCE years to decide what your ‘next step’ is.  There are a number of pathways after your school journey comes to an end.  It is in your best interests to explore what your options are.  You may slip into stressful periods if you are unsure of what you want to do after school.  The best thing to do to alleviate this is to talk to people.  Talk to your parents, your friends, your teachers, your career advisor, TAFEs, universities, employers, friends of friends – whoever you can to get more information.  An informed decision is a good decision.  While it is a big decision at this stage in your life, it must be urged that this decision is not the be-all-and-end-all.  This is the transition to the next stage of your life – it is not you deciding what you are going to do for the rest of your life.  

This post has referred only to the ‘large’ goals that many VCE students may set themselves.  What is perhaps more important are the smaller, shorter-term goals that can help you achieve your bigger goals.  You are encouraged to think about these too, and take some time to reflect on how you are going.  Remember, goals are what you want to achieve.  You must implement strategies which direct how you will achieve your goals.  These will be discussed in later posts.

The next post ‘The importance of writing things down’ explores the benefits of taking pen to paper, and the number of ways that doing just that can help you through the year.

            Until then,

-         LB

'Taking back time': Part Two - At home

We all lead busy lives.  You will often have other commitments during your VCE years, whether they are a part-time job, organised sport, an artistic/cultural pursuit, socialising with friends or time with family.  Somehow you need to weave homework into the mix.  Ideally, you will find something between kidding yourself that you can get away with no homework, and spending hours and hours working ‘hard’.  The balance is an ongoing battle that you will fight through the year, which can sometimes cause you to be stressed about not getting your work completed.  Below are a few tips to help you become more efficient with your time while at home:

1. Routine.  This is number one for a reason.  If you are used to doing things at a particular time, it does not seem like such an effort.  Getting into good habits (routines) can be the greatest step any person can take to take back their time.  For instance, most students will have somewhere between 2 – 3 hours between getting home and eating dinner on an average night.  Many students will have some routines during that time.  An example might be taking the dog for a walk at 5pm, or going for a jog.  Also, one of the best things you can do is schedule some time to rest and chill out.  This might suit you best as soon as you get home, or perhaps after you do some important chores.  Do what works best for you.

It is an excellent idea to schedule your homework for the same time each night.  You should endeavour to stick to this as often as possible.  Obviously, interruptions can occur, or your schedule might not be the same for every day.  Establishing routines that work for you can be difficult, but is the best thing you can do for yourself outside of school.

2. Set work and recap/revise.  You will often have homework that has been set, but not always.  It is a good habit to complete set work first.  You can easily then slip into the trap of thinking ‘my homework is all done’ after the set work is finished.  Efficient time users will spend time recapping what was learned that day, or revising for upcoming set tasks.  This is a great way to consolidate what you learned by viewing it a second time within 24 hours, and then looking ahead to prepare for what is to come. 
3. Communicate with your family.  Your parents (and even your siblings, believe it or not) want you to succeed.  They usually know how to help you with that.  However, sometimes they do not know exactly what you need in order to get things done.  Let them know if you need time to yourself to get your work done, or whether you want to talk over something you learned that day.  You may even like to request a routine meal time (if it does not already exist).  When everyone in your household knows what each other is doing and needs to do, there will be a lot more happy smiling faces.



It's good to have hair left at the end of VCE.




4. Know what to do and when.  If you are keeping your diary organised, you should know what you need to do at home and when to do it by.  An awful lot of time can be wasted sitting at a desk and wondering what you should be doing. 
5. Avoid procrastination.  This is a hard one.  Procrastination is putting something off with the belief (usually untrue) that you can or will do it later.  It might be watching TV, playing the Wii, playing with the dog, facebooking, texting and a million and one other things causing you difficulty in completing your work.  Every person on the planet fights a constant battle with procrastination, but some deal with it better than others.  Linking back to the idea of routines, a great habit is to finish your school work first, and reward yourself after the work is completed. 
6. Realise what’s important.  You might be one of those super-busy people, who spends a lot of time playing sport, dancing, music, or some other pursuits that are a very good use of your time.  That is fantastic, and they are all noble pursuits.  You should be very proud of yourself.  It is easy to give the excuse “I have no time for homework”.  But that is only the case if you allow it to be.  Is it important to you that you do well at school?  If yes, then completing homework should be a top priority.  If for example you value your sporting pursuits highly, then a lot of time should be devoted to improving your skills there.  It is up to you identify for yourself what is important, and do not let things get in the way of doing your best.

The next post ‘Setting goals and sticking to them’ explores the importance of identifying what you want, and reaching for the stars.  It looks at how having a target/goal can make you more motivated to achieve highly.

Until then,

-         LB

'Taking Back Time': Part One - At school

You attend school for somewhere in the vicinity of six to six-and-a-half hours each day in Victoria.  Of that time, roughly five hours are spent in the classroom.  No student makes the most efficient use of 100% of their classroom time, but here are a few tips to help you maximise your minutes:

1. Listen the first time.  If you pay attention to the teacher’s explanation, you won’t end up asking questions that make people groan because it was just mentioned. 
2. Start quickly.  When any explanations are over, it is easy to get sucked into a conversation with friends that wastes your time.  As a general rule, try to get your work started before you allow yourself an off-topic conversation.
3. Organised pencil case.  It is a good idea to keep as little in your pencil case as possible, so you can find pens, highlighters, scissors or your other stationery the instant you need it.  It might seem insignificant, but if you spend half a minute a day hunting for something that you can find straight away, that amounts to a couple of hours through the year.
4. Organised locker.  The same principles apply as in #3.  Your locker at school is the equivalent of your home desk.  You want to be able to put your hand on the worksheet, textbook or permission form that you need without hesitation.  It is easy to waste a lot of time hunting through your locker, which could make you miss the start of the next class.
5. Filing your worksheets.  Whether you choose a display folder or ring binder, keeping track of handouts by subject is essential.  It would be a shame to lose a sheet that you had spent time highlighting.
6. Ask questions.  Don’t sit there scratching your head too long if there is something about the work that you do not understand.  If it does not make sense, get the teacher to run through it again.  You can do this openly (chances are someone else wants the same explanation), or privately (if you would prefer a one-on-one tailored explanation).
7. Use your diary well.  Take it to every class and home every night!  It is a good habit to get into to write something in your diary at the end of every class.  Your diary can be your best friend during VCE, and whether you are noting down set homework, or a reminder to look over today’s work, using it well makes a big difference to your organisation.  (more on writing things down in a later post). 

While none of these tips are groundbreaking, nor are they an exhaustive list of making the most of your time, they can collectively make a big difference to helping you ‘take back time’ while at school.  Try to stay on top of these things to reduce your levels of stress.

The next post ‘Taking back time: Part Two; At home’ will provide some practical advice about working smartly at home, rather than spending a lot of time doing very little.

Until then,

-         LB

Making the best start to Term One

The school holidays are nearly over.  Undoubtedly you have had ‘holiday homework’ given to you by your teachers at the end of 2011 to get the best start possible to the 2012 year.  With the school year about to begin, you will find yourself in one of three positions:

1. Your holiday homework is completed to the best of your ability. 
2. You did some homework, but not everything that was set/recommended.
3. Homework?

Let’s take a look at each of these situations, what it could mean for you, and what you can do next.

Holiday work completed

Well done!  You’re off to a great start.  You are proving to yourself, your family, and your teachers that you are serious about performing to the best of your ability this year.  A strong foundation is the basis of all success, so you’re in the position you want to be.  You should strive to continue with this mindset in the first few weeks of Term One.  Make sure you address your teachers if there was anything that troubled you, even slightly.  Taking this ‘extra step’ early on puts you at an advantage over many others.  The VCE by its very nature is a competitive environment, but you already knew that, didn’t you?

Some holiday work completed

Firstly, good job on the work you have completed.  It is hard to sit yourself down over the long break and find the mental capacity to think about school again.  You must have done this at some stage to have completed some of the work.  However, something has fallen down along the way.  One of the greatest challenges you will face during VCE and indeed your entire life is completing jobs you start.  Perhaps you need to consider cutting back a little on some leisure activities so you have enough time to get your homework done.  Make sure you catch up on this work, by finding a few spare hours in the first week of school.

Barely opened a book, if at all

While it’s great that you have had an enjoyable and stress-free holiday, you have already let yourself down.  You probably won’t be the only one from your class in this position, but that doesn’t mean it is acceptable.  You have elected to stay at school and take on the responsibilities that VCE entails, so that means making some sacrifices to actually do some work.  Just because the year has started and you have not done your holiday work does not mean you should now ignore it.  The work you have missed is essential to helping your early understanding of the particular course, so you must get stuck into it as soon as you can.  The homework will start piling up from day one if you are behind, and you may find yourself stuck in the snowball effect of falling farther and farther behind.

            The first week back at school will go ridiculously fast.  There will be moments when your attention lapses, and you will be mentally tired by Friday afternoon.  This is completely normal.  The first week is prime time to start setting some routines such as a couple of hours of homework a night (*whether or not there has actually been homework set), a bit of exercise, and getting to bed at a reasonable hour.

*more on this in a later post.

Good luck for the year ahead.  It is an exciting and challenging time for everyone involved. 

The next post ‘Taking back time: Part One; At school’, will be looking at some strategies you can use while at school to make the most of that precious resource that there never seems to be enough of.  Time.

Until then,

-         LB