Exam Strategies

STUDY STRATEGIES FOR EXAMS

Mr Lloyd Yeo spoke about exam strategies and the 5 legged stool. It was the last time the 4E/4N/5N would meet as a group before the rest of the schoo lreturned and he mentioned that he felt it was important that they understood how to translate learning to wisdom.

He told the boys that 'exam' was the easy part and then ran through various strategies which could be used to do well in the coming mid-year exams.

1. Scheduling of revision

Find out which is the last paper for the exams. Begin revision with the last paper. (Eg. Science). Also find out what your first paper is (Eg. History)

Begin revision by studying your last paper first. Spend at least 2-3 days on intensive revision for a single subject.

Why do you begin revision with your last paper first? By advancing your revision towards your first paper, you only revise your first paper 'once', thus saving time.

2. Methods for revision

a. Spend about 2-3 days for intensive revision per subject. Have at least 1-2 months revision time.

b. Different subjects have different methods for study.

Languages

Change the mindset that English Language and Mother Tongue languages can't be studied. They can. Study useful phrases and vocabulary items that you can use for your essay. Collect and collate good essays for intensive revision. Mr Lloyd Yeo shared about how through this method (he was horrible in his mother tongue), he was able to get a B3 for his Chinese (but failed oral exams). It also helped him achieve distinctions for his language.

Science, POA and Maths

Practice makes perfect. Look through the different kinds of questions they set or you through your 10-year series or assessments. Try out ONLY the difficult ones. Find out how to do them and TAG them. Revise by trying them out during your revision.

Humanities (History, Geography, Social Studies)

Organize and collate your notes. There are only about 2-3 key questions which they can test you on. Your job is to know what they are for each chaper and to make notes based on them. Studying whould not be 'reading the textbook'.

Examiners twist and turn, changing the questioniong style and focus. As a student, your job is to understand the question, organize your answer and write clearly and logically. Be clear about what you are saying and give the relevant details.

3. Atmosphere and Environment

Mr Lloyd Yeo also emphasized that it was important to know the atmospher and environment which was suited for your method of study. Mr Lloyd Yeo shared with the school that he believed that special places had 'special vibes', vibrating at different speeds, suited to the individual's study needs.

He gave the example of how he could never study in the bedroom because it was too near his bed and he'd fall asleep. He could never study near a TV or computer, it was too much of a distraction and temptation. He could never study in the day-time, it never seemed quiet enough.

The only place he could study was on a hard, wooden chair in the kitchen during the early hours of the morning when it was quiet and silent.

"You know you've found your spot when you are able to sit there for 2-3 hours at a stretch", he said.

4. Know the kind of learner that you are

Mr Lloyd Yeo told the audience that he could never study with music on. It was too much of an interference, especially songs with lyrics. He would start humming or singing, then he would be intent on taking down the lyrics.

Mr Yeo said he could only study in absolute silence or for a change, with classical music, marches or music without lyrics.

He also mentioned that he was a kinaesthetic learner. Kinaesthetic learners are those who have 'worms in their pants' and need constant movement and physical activity to focus.

He told the school about how when he was in varsity, he would walk around with his notes and pace the corridor to study, he would chant and read aloud, he would also stand on the table or chair with his notes his hands, balancing and bouncing his body up and down on the bench as he studied. He did this when no one was looking in a corner of the school because he knew it would've looked weird and was inappropriate in a formal study atmosphere.

5. Discipline + Focus = Performance

STUDY SKILLS FOR LIFE

El Guapo (Spanish for The Handsome One)

Mr Lloyd Yeo made a mistake and called frog El Guapo. Actually, it meant handsome one.

frog (Spanish) : rana
toad (Spanish) : sapo

Anyhow, his main point was to use the initials of G-U-A-P-O to emphasize how you could succeed in life. This, he metioned is called, wisdom.

The first three letters are taken from Mr Simen's earlier accounts of the Three Legged Stool.

(i) Generative Conversation - The way to react was not to be cynical but to have good ideas and strong, meaning, deep conversations. The focus should be on "Yes" and continued flow of ideas, generating greater enthusiasm and interest. It should not be "Yes Buts" conversation which focus on the negative. "Why?" but not "Why Not". Teamwork is the basis for this.

(ii Understanding Complexities - Nature is simple but man is not. We have a tendency to complicate it. This is why it is important to have systems thinking and think about issues at a deeper level. It means to think and sort it out at deep level, not in an emotional, instinctive manner.

(iii) Aspiration - Personal Mastery and Shared Vision. Personal mastery is important is because only when you master your own emotions, put your life in order, can you set your mind to any task.

Mr Yeo added a fourth and a fifth.

(iv) Prayer & Reflection - Quiet time is important to recharge your batteries and put all before God, trusting that in his infinite wisdom, he'll know what is right and guide you on the right path. That way, you can do your best in what you do. Age Quod Agis. It would also put all your worries and concerns aside.

(v) Organization - You also need to get yourself organized, know where things are, and know what approach you are going to take, in order to be successful.

So, El Guap = Wisdom & creating the desired future you want for yourself



(Rich Garces, Major League Reliever, Pitcher, Arriba, arriba!)