GENERAL ADVICE

What seems overwhelming at first is manageable if you look at it calmly and decide early how to tackle it. Divide your subject study and revision into small portions, rather than looking at it as one huge lump. Approach it efficiently and systematically and you'll feel that you can handle it, one piece at a time.

MAKE A TIMETABLE AND KEEP TO IT

Draw up a timetable for the next few weeks. Then for each day concentrate on the specific portions of your work that you have listed. Spread your tasks out so that your revision is varied, mixing areas that you feel you are good at and already know pretty well, with parts of the work that you have always found hard and are worried about. Set yourself attainable weekly goals. Try to stick to this schedule. You will feel that you are getting somewhere and can expect that each week will bring you closer to the goals you want to achieve.

DON'T PUT IT OFF!

If something unforeseen happens and you don't achieve the whole week's work, reschedule it and get back on track as soon as possible. Of course, if you don't achieve what you meant to in one week, you will need to rework your revision timetable - but it is very important not to procrastinate. You want to feel in control of your revision, not be faced with lots to do in not much time.

WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU?

Work out the best way to revise and complete your work. If you are revising for an exam, then writing a summary of a particular section of your work may help you. Setting out the summary in dot-point form is a good idea, making it easy to review later. You may find that saying these main points aloud, to a friend or family member, locks them into your memory.

SET AND ANSWER QUESTIONS

When you have summarised a section of your work, ask yourself some questions about it. If you find this hard to do, look at past examination papers. If you don’t have Internet access, your teacher will probably have them. These papers may ask you to solve problems or give essay-type answers. For subjects that have numerical problems, try to work with a friend and check your answers against theirs. For essay questions, outline in note form how you would prepare a written answer and how you would construct the essay.

FIND OUT ABOUT EXAM CONDITIONS

Copies of the front pages of the exam paper are sent to schools a few weeks before the exams. Have a look at the relevant ones. This will prepare you for that moment when you have the paper before you in the exam room. You'll know what it looks like, how long you have, how many questions you will be required to answer, perhaps how many marks are allocated to each question, and any other important information about exam conditions, such as whether you are allowed to use a dictionary or a calculator.

SEE WHAT PAST EXAMINERS HAVE SAID

Assessment Reports from previous years are another important source of information. These include advice on different aspects of student performance in previous years, which you may find helpful.

THINK POSITIVELY

If you have followed these tips, kept up with your revision schedule, allowed enough time for your studies, and kept your mind focused on your immediate purpose, you should feel your confidence building. This is important. Tell yourself that you can do it, you can succeed. There may have been times during the year when you have not done as well as you would have hoped, but "that was then". Think of times when you were successful. Fill your mind with those positive images, be confident, at ease, and do your best.

Written Examinations Timetable for 2008 - External Assessment