As a student, preparation for my final essay-based exams took the form of
(1) firstly, reading relevant material, making notes and essay plans; and
then (2) writing timed essays, "closed book", frequently throughout the
summer. Thus, the revision period was the length of an actual exam or the
time to write a single essay. Where I couldn't remember something, I would
finish the essay as best I could and go back to the relevant material. It
turns out that the efficacy of this method is supported by recent memory
research. Firstly, studying/self-testing should be spaced out over time;
that is, over days and weeks. Second, recent work by Henry Roediger
indicates that after an initial period of studying, spaced self-testing is
more efficacious than rereading the same material, although students
appear to believe the reverse.
I don't know what an ideal length of revision is in any sitting and no
doubt it varies between individuals. If someone is reading, then I would
have thought perhaps 40-50 minutes followed by a 10 minute tea break, then
go back and see what you can remember of what you've been reading. If you
are doing the full-test that I described above, then simply replicate the
length of the actual exam.
Henry Roediger's homepage has many papers about the "testing effect".
I've put some links below. Although many of these studies are based on
remembering simple word lists or using multiple-choice tests, the effect
seems to be more general (as the last paper below shows). Indeed, the
testing effect is stronger for short answer questions than for MCQs,
presumably reflecting that the more cognitive work a student has to do
the better it is for learning.
http://psych.wustl.edu/memory/Roddy%20article%20PDF's/Karpicke_Roediger_2008_Science.pdf
[published in Science (2008) 319,966]
http://psych.wustl.edu/memory/Roddy%20article%20PDF's/LarsenButlerRoediger_MedicalEducation.pdf
http://psych.wustl.edu/memory/Roddy%20article%20PDF%27s/McDanielRoediger&McDermott2007PB&R.pdf
Of course, I realise there are many practical constraints which may
influence how long a student can revise for.
David
> Dear Alison,
>
> Thanks for sharing this. I usually only advise students to take a break
> if
> they are having particular problems with concentration and tiredness.
> Like
> yourself, the strategy I tend to recommend is regular changes in the
> nature
> of the activity or material being studied, and some goals being set for
> what they would like to achieve by the end of a two-hour revision period.
>
> With best wishes,
> Tracy
> ----------------------
> Dr Tracy Johnson
> Careers Adviser (Skills)
> University of Bristol Careers Service
> Telephone: 0117 331 7607 (x17607)
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
> --On 12 March 2009 09:15 +0000 Alison Green <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
>> I notice that within the resources from Hull referred to in Cathy's
>> email, is advice to revise for 30 mins, take a 10 min break, revise a
>> bit
>> more, take another break & so on. Is this approach common to that which
>> others are advising? Personally, I find this disjointed and feel that
>> the
>> 10 minute break is problematic for most students i.e. 10 becomes 20 etc.
>> In our revision workshops, we discuss the length of average periods of
>> concentration & how these might be incorporated into longer periods of
>> revision. Accordingly, we suggest a two hour revision period wherein one
>> topic is revised using a number of different approaches which change
>> every half an hour or so e.g. half an hour reading, half an hour
>> reducing
>> notes, half an hour writing essay plans from past papers and so on and
>> so
>> forth. The rationale is that, after two hours, quite a lot has been
>> accomplished and the student can then have a 'proper' break or carry on
>> with some other part of their life. By the way, I'm using the royal 'we'
>> here as there's just me. I'd be interested to read what others are
>> advising
>>
>> Best, Alison
>>
>> Alison Green
>> Study Support Tutor
>> Fellow of Learning & Teaching
>> Room D172
>> Bournemouth University
>> Ext: 65286
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: learning development in higher education network
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Malone, Cathy Sent: 11 March
>> 2009 16:18
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: Resources for overcoming exam anxiety
>>
>>
>> I have had some good feedback from students who I have directed to the
>> Hull site
>>
>> http://www.hull.ac.uk/disability/dyslexia/semester1/organisation.html
>>
>> There's quite a lot in there.
>>
>> I have also seen students who were stressed because the Staying Calm
>> workshop didn't work for them. & I think in some ways their anxiety is a
>> perfectly appropriate response to being unprepared for an exam.
>>
>> There's also
>> http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/stdyhlp.html
>>
>> I have asked students to have a look at these resources before meeting
>> up
>> for an appointment and it generally moves the conversation on.
>>
>> Hope this is of some use.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Cathy Malone
>> Sheffield Hallam
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: learning development in higher education network
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kim Shahabudin Sent: 11 March
>> 2009 16:06
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: Resources for overcoming exam anxiety
>>
>> Thanks for this David (and others who have replied to me directly).
>>
>> I probably wasn't as clear as I should have been in the original email
>> (end of term soggy brain). We do already offer various resources to
>> support students in preparing for exams (including workshops, study
>> guides, relaxation exercises etc). What we lack (and I don't currently
>> have time to produce) is resources on things that students can actively
>> do to help themselves - preferably online so that I can provide a link
>> on
>> our website and they can access it at the time when they're anxious
>> rather than waiting until we have a free appointment for a one-to-one
>> session.
>>
>> So, what I should have asked is, can anyone recommend any online
>> resources to help students overcome exam anxiety?
>>
>> Thanks again,
>>
>> Kim
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>>
>> Dr Kim Shahabudin, Study Adviser & LearnHigher Research Officer Room
>> 107,
>> Carrington Building, Whiteknights, University of Reading, RG6 6UA| (
>> 0118
>> 378 4218| : www.reading.ac.uk/studyadvice : www.learnhigher.ac.uk
>> <http://www.learnhigher.ac.uk/>
>>
>> ________________________________
>>
>> From: PARKES David J [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> Sent: Wed 11/03/2009 15:49
>> To: Kim Shahabudin; [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: RE: Resources for overcoming exam anxiety
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Kim, we introduced relaxation classes (brought someone in), she
>> produced a podcast etc and we allowed her to sell CDs - they were very
>> well received. We also ran how to perform workshops, time management,
>> understanding the question etc
>>
>> Best wishes
>> David
>>
>>
>> David Parkes
>> Associate Director for Learning, Technology and Information Services
>> Information Services Staffordshire University College Road, Stoke on
>> Trent, Staffs ST4 2XS Tel: +44 (0)1782 294369
>> Mob: 07917721684
>> Fax: +44 (0)1782 295799
>> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: learning development in higher education network
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kim Shahabudin Sent: 11 March
>> 2009 14:30
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Resources for overcoming exam anxiety
>>
>> Hi folks,
>>
>> Quick question - can anyone suggest resources for students on overcoming
>> exam anxiety - preferably including activities e.g. exercises?
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>>
>> Kim
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>>
>> Dr Kim Shahabudin, Study Adviser & LearnHigher Research Officer Room
>> 107,
>> Carrington Building, Whiteknights, University of Reading, RG6 6UA| (
>> 0118
>> 378 4218|
>> : www.reading.ac.uk/studyadvice : www.learnhigher.ac.uk
>> <http://www.learnhigher.ac.uk/>
>>
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--
Dr David Hardman
Principal Lecturer in Learning Development
Associate Editor, Journal of Economic Psychology
JDM textbook blog. http://judgmentanddecisionmaking.blogspot.com
Science and reason blog. http://dkhardman.blogspot.com
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