Hello, My name is Jazz.
I have exams coming up in 2 weeks.

I have noticed that from past exams the following same problems keep occurring:

  1. I can't seem to be able to do the doing stuff in exams (the stuff that is not just spitting out memorised content). For example, completing processes, analysing graphs, creating phylogenetic trees, calculating stuff...
  2. I can't seem to understand what the questions are asking me: what do they want me to do: what do they want me to say: How do they want me to format my answer
  3. I can't seem to work with data or info: e.g. analysing or interpreting info and data, or pulling stuff out of data or info to make things like assumptions, comments or for example in business a SWOT.

I was wondering if you could help me by suggesting how I overcome these problems and study techniques that will also help me overcome these problems.

Thank you.

For (1), the best thing to do is to complete practice questions. For instance, search up a phylogenetic tree worksheet online or ask a teacher for one, and complete that. These are skills based tasks and the best way to get better is just practice. If you don’t understand how to do something, search up a tutorial on YouTube/google or ask someone to help.

For (2), the only thing I can really say is to do as many practice exams as possible, but make sure you spend just as much time reviewing them. Quality > quantity. For example, when I was doing practice exams for biology, I would do a past exam in test conditions, and then the next day I would mark them. Every time I got a question wrong, I would add it to my word document along with the suggested answer. Afterwards, I compiled all of my questions by topic and noted what points I needed in general in order to get the most marks. In the last 3 days before my exam, I only did questions from that wrong answer document and made a note of things to remember in the real thing.

Unfortunately I’ve never done any subjects involving data and information so I can’t help much with (3).

Good luck!! Try your best but try to relax as well <3

This is from my old journal in the archived atarnotes page:

Study tips + helpful YouTubers
With helpful Youtubers regarding study tips/plans I would suggest the following:
UnJaded Jade
FayeFilms
studyquill
Mike and Matty

Remembering information
Regarding retention of information, there is this thing called the forgetting curve. It is an exponential model showing how fast our brain forgets things after first learning a new concept. There are specific intervals in which you should practice active recall in order to remember all these things. Studyquill has created a table which tells you when to revise a specific concept. She has made a YoutTube video mentioning them, which is given in the links section below. Using this table is a way of practicing spaced repetition. I'll leave a video in the links section below regarding what spaced repetition is and how it works by Mike and Matty.

Active vs. Passive recall
For those of you have no idea what active recall is, it is recalling in such a way that you will remember. The opposite of this is passive recall. For example, for math, reading over your work is passive recall. You think you have understood the topic fully, but let me tell you now this is a false sense of security. However, doing a few practice questions is a method of active recall. You're actually using your head. I'm not amazing at explaining this, so I'll leave another YouTube video by Mike and Matty about active vs. passive recall and how to actively recall. P.S. Highlighting just makes it look pretty; you're not fully understanding the concept

Learner types
Another aspect that ties into all this is understanding what type of learner you are. I'm (again) not great at explaining this, so I'll link another video, this one by Fayefilms.

Study Music
My biggest study technique is listening to LoFi music while studying instead of listening to music with words. And if you don't like LoFi, classical music is always an option. Or Binaural beats - their scientifically proven to help you study and activate the right parts of the brain (I think? You'll have to fact-check that one haha)

For my Chemistry peeps:
Tyler Dewitt is the best Chemistry YouTuber I can recommend. Especially with redox reactions (Unit 3 for those who don't know), he simplifies it so much and uses visuals to explain what he's talking about. Its fun to watch.

For Physics peeps:
For Physics, I watch Professor Dave explains and Bozeman science. Those were the ones recommended by my Physics teacher and they explain topics well.

I'll make the next post about my study methods and my system that I've set up for myself cos I don't wanna make this post too long haha.

Most of all, remember you're an amazing human being. We can all achieve great marks if we put in the effort, and we put in the effort right.

Links
https://youtu.be/ROtvXKxFxhw - Studyquill overcome curve of forgetting table
https://youtu.be/Kl0RM_9cVzE - Spaced Repetition, Mike and Matty
https://youtu.be/MSq-KGj_cnY - Active recall, Mike and Matty
https://youtu.be/PMRrYkxDKP8 - Fayefilms: types of learners

-jinx_58

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