Strategies for Success
Lesson Four
Taking an exam is like navigating a maze. Your student must manoeuvre through the twists and turns of the exam with skill and precision to reach the exit successfully (in this case, achieving a good grade).
1. Mapping Out: Just as in a maze, your student should start by quickly scanning the entire exam paper to get a sense of what's ahead. This helps them create a mental map of the questions and allocate their time effectively.
2. Pathfinding: Once they've mapped out the exam, your student can start with the questions they feel most confident about, creating a clear path through the maze. This allows them to gain momentum and confidence.
3. Dead Ends: Sometimes, a question may seem too difficult or time-consuming. In a maze, you wouldn't waste time at a dead end. Similarly, if a question appears too challenging, it might be best to mark it, move on, and return later if there's time.
4. Direction Signs: Pay attention to any hints or keywords in the questions that provide clues on how to answer. These are like directional signs in the maze that guide you toward the correct path.
5. Backtracking: Just as in a maze, it's essential to revisit marked or skipped questions when there's time left. Sometimes, a fresh perspective or a hint from another question can help you solve what initially seemed unsolvable.
6. Calm Navigation: Remaining calm and focused during an exam is crucial, much like staying composed while navigating a maze. Panic and rush can lead to mistakes, while a steady approach increases the chances of success.
7. Time Management: Keep an eye on the time, just as a maze runner watches the clock. Allocate sufficient time to each section of the exam to ensure that you complete all the questions within the given time frame.
By viewing an exam as a maze, your student can adopt a strategic and systematic approach to tackle each question with confidence, ultimately finding their way to success.
Strategies for Success
Lesson four is all about having the right strategies for the exam. Think of this like a maze - what advantage can you have by being aware of what’s ahead.
Check your understanding
Circle ⭕️
Circle the question work
Underline ___
Underline the topic
Star **
Star the clues or hidden meaning
The Question Word Checklist
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Key question words and prompts
These question words and prompts will help you prepare for a wider range of exam questions and demonstrate a deeper understanding of the material. Remember to read the questions carefully and tailor your responses accordingly.
What: Used to inquire about facts or information.
- What is the main theme of the poem?
- What is the author's purpose in this passage?
Who: Used to identify characters, authors, or key figures.
- Who is the protagonist in the story?
- Who wrote this novel?
When: Used to ask about time and chronology.
- When was this book published?
- When does the action in the play take place?
Where: Used to inquire about locations.
- Where does the story primarily take place?
- Where was the author born?
Why: Used to explore reasons, motivations, and cause-and-effect relationships.
- Why did the character make that decision?
- Why is this metaphor used in the text?
How: Used to investigate methods, processes, or the means by which something is achieved.
- How does the author create tension in this passage?
- How is symbolism used in the poem?
Discuss: Encourages you to provide a detailed explanation or analysis.
- Discuss the major themes in the novel.
- Discuss the impact of this historical event on society.
Evaluate: Asks you to make judgments based on criteria.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the author's argument.
- Evaluate the use of literary devices in the text.
Compare: Requires you to find similarities and differences between two or more elements.
- Compare and contrast the characters in these two novels.
- Compare the themes in the poem with those in the short story.
Contrast: Focuses on highlighting differences between two or more elements.
- Contrast the cultural contexts of two different literary works.
- Contrast the views of two different characters in the text.
Explain: Requests a detailed account or rationale for a concept or idea.
- Explain the significance of the title of the book.
- Explain the impact of historical context on the text.
Summarise: Asks you to provide a concise overview of a topic or text.
- Summarise the main events in the story.
- Summarise the key arguments in the essay.
Analyse: Requires a detailed examination and interpretation of a subject.
- Analyse the use of symbolism in the poem.
- Analyse the character's development throughout the novel.
Illustrate: Instructs you to provide examples or evidence to support your response.
- Illustrate your answer with quotations from the text.
- Illustrate the theme of love with examples from the play.
Define - Identify the key literary devices used in this passage.
Outline: Requires a brief and structured overview of a subject.
- Outline the plot of the play.
- Outline the main arguments presented in the essay.
Support: Instructs you to provide evidence or reasons to bolster your response.
- Support your argument with examples from the text.
- Support your analysis with relevant quotations.
Describe: Calls for a detailed portrayal or explanation of a subject.
- Describe the setting of the story.
- Describe the character's personality traits.
Examine: Asks for a thorough investigation and critical analysis of a subject.
- Examine the cultural context of the novel.
- Examine the impact of the author's writing style on the reader.
Justify: Demands a reasoned explanation or defense of your response.
- Justify your interpretation of the text with evidence.
- Justify your choice of a particular literary device as significant.
Evaluate: Focuses on assessing the consequences or influence of a particular element.
- Evaluate the impact of the story's resolution on the reader.
- Evaluate the impact of the historical period on the character's decisions.
Argue: Requires you to present a case with supporting evidence for a particular viewpoint.
- Argue for or against a character's moral choices in the narrative.
- Argue the significance of a particular theme in the text.
Reminder of Memory Techniques
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Mnemonic Devices: Mnemonics are like the measuring tape of memory tools, helping you mark important points and measurements in your mind.
To remember the order of the planets in our solar system from the sun outward, you can use the following mnemonic:
"My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Noodles."
"My" stands for Mercury.
"Very" stands for Venus.
"Educated" stands for Earth.
"Mother" stands for Mars.
"Just" stands for Jupiter.
"Served" stands for Saturn.
"Us" stands for Uranus.
"Noodles" stands for Neptune
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Mind Maps: Think of mind maps as the blueprint for your knowledge, helping you create a clear and organised structure for your thoughts.
Imagine you're studying a topic like "Environmental Pollution." You can create a mind map with the main topic in the center and branches for different types of pollution, their causes, effects, and solutions.
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Flashcards: These are like the nails that hold everything together, reinforcing your memory with repeated exposure.
For example, on one side, write "What is the capital of France?" and on the other side, write "Paris."
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Chunking: Chunking information is the same as sorting and categorising items in your toolbox, making it easier to find what you need when you need it.
This can help you remember these events more effectively. For instance, when learning about Australian history, you can chunk important events by focusing on different time periods and themes:
1915: Gallipoli Campaign in World War I
1942: Bombing of Darwin during World War II
1965: Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War
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Visualisation: Visualisation is the paint that adds color and vividness to your memories, making them more memorable and engaging.
If you're learning about historical events, visualise the scenes or imagine yourself in that historical context to make it more memorable. For example, picture yourself at the ANZAC memorial
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Association: Like connecting pieces of a puzzle, associations link different concepts together, creating a more complete picture.
Connect new information to something you already know. If you're learning about chemistry, associate the periodic table elements with familiar objects or words. For example, think of "Na" (Sodium) as "Salty" since sodium is in salt.
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Spaced Repetition: This is like periodically oiling your tools to keep them in good working condition, ensuring that your memory remains sharp and efficient.
Instead of cramming for a test, review your study material regularly. For example, if you're studying vocabulary words, revisit them at increasing intervals - first after a day, then after a week, and so on.
