5 Steps to Effective Exam Technique
Here are my suggested 5 steps to effective exam technique:
- Reading and understanding the question.
- Take your time to read the question properly.
- Read it several times if you have to.
- Underline the command words.
- Underline the key terms.
- Planning your answer.
- Make a short plan for essays – this will really help your essay have good structure.
- Your plan should indicate the main point for each main body paragraph and the order of your main body paragraphs.
- It should also include any case study examples.
- Answering the question – structure.
- You absolutely have to use paragraphs – if you don’t, you cant get higher than a C grade.
- All essays should have the following general structure:
- Introduction – the aim of an introduction is to define any key terms in the essay question and to introduce the question. If it is a case study specific question, background info about the case study can also be given in the introduction.
- Main body – your main body paragraphs should follow the PEEL structure.
- Point: e.g. Earthquakes are mostly found along tectonic plate boundaries,
- Evidence: e.g. such as along the western coast of the USA where the North American and Pacific plates meet.
- Explain: e.g. This is because at tectonic plate boundaries, stress and friction builds up due to convergent and divergent movement.
- Link: e.g. Therefore you are more likely to find earthquakes when the stress builds too much, whereas in areas away from plate boundaries there are likely to be fewer earthquakes.
- Conclusion – your conclusion should just summarise your main points in each main body paragraph.
- 8 to 10 mark questions should have an introductory sentence at the least, but a conclusion may not be necessary.
- Answering the question – language
- You should always use academic language throughout your essay or answer.
- You should be using as many Geography terms as possible.
- You need to watch your SPAG (spelling, punctation and grammar) at all times.
- You should have legible handwriting, not too small and also not too big.
- Checking your work
- If you have time left at the end of an exam, always check over your answers. Trust me, you will find SPAG errors at the very least.
Sebastian is a geography tutor with Newman Tuition. To book a lesson with him, or one of our other tutors, please call us on 020 3198 8006 or complete the form on the Contact Us page.