Eve Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 I need some help......3 weeks today I have an exam. I am doing a law degree with the open uni. This year has been on constitutional and criminal law and i've pretty much hated it however I got through all the continious assessment stuff and only have the exam left to do. I'm in second year and last year was a breeze cos I had nothing better to do than study. This year I have much better things to be doing one of which is being on here and general supra stuff. So....in a nutshell (and to avoid a huge boring rant) I need some inspiration and motivation. I have forgotten how to revise. I have books out and i'm going through the motions but nothing is going in. If I don't get something from somewhere soon I will fail this exam and chuck away a whack of money and time...why this isn't enough to motivate me I don't know but it isnt. Thing is I don't need the degree as such i.e for work or anything, and was just doing it to get a bit of paper when I had nothing better to spend my time on! Anyone got any handy hints that might be helpful......someone on here must have gone through the same thing. Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 listen to music while reading your books and it sinks in better or read aloud and record it,then play it back while you sleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merckx Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 Have you got any old exam papers to go through? Summarize all the important bits that you need to know on a subject and write them down . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs H Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 I used to have the same problem on certain modules for my degree, Social Policy and Political Theory really bored me stupid but were core subjects that I had to do. I used to practice by writing detailed essay plans for questions from old exam papers, then reducing this to prompt cards. When I thought it had actually sunk in i'd time myself writing the full essay answer! Still only managed a 2:2 so obviously I spent too much time in the student union during the first two years of the course:d Good luck! Vicki x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 Nightmare. I'm so glad all this exam stuff is behind me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kopite Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 I rewrote most of the notes I had in my own style, found that helped instead of just reading someone else's words. Make sure you're comfortable where you're working - comfy chair / bed, fresh air in the room, no clutter everywhere Have music on if it helps you concentrate. I work better with music on but a lot of people have to work in silence. Take regular breaks. As an optician, if you haven't done so recently then I'd sneak in for a quick eye test to make sure you're not getting any unnecessary eyestrain which reduces your concentration. On your breaks, don't spend too much time on here as you won't leave Keep a good sleeping pattern i.e. avoid all nighters as you remember things better with proper sleep to sort it all out over night in your head. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tannhauser Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 Reading on its own can be a very passive process and is a very inefficient way of revising. The old 'Depth of Processing' model of memory has some things going for it. It suggests that the more 'deeply' you process information, the more likely you are to remember it. In practice, this means that you will stand more chance of remembering something if you force yourself to do something with the information. Essay plans and summarising notes can both be good, because they force you to engage with the material. The problem with notes is that if you turn it into a mechanical process to kid yourself you're working, you're back to passive, low-level processing. If you've got someone who can help, teaching stuff to someone else can be a good way of learning. That really forces you to get to the heart of the material. At the level you're working at, I'd say any distractions from the content are bad news. Music...maybe just about, but TV and radio won't help. Sleep learning won't help, imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobSheffield Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 I rewrote most of the notes I had in my own style, found that helped instead of just reading someone else's words. Make sure you're comfortable where you're working - comfy chair / bed, fresh air in the room, no clutter everywhere Have music on if it helps you concentrate. I work better with music on but a lot of people have to work in silence. Take regular breaks. As an optician, if you haven't done so recently then I'd sneak in for a quick eye test to make sure you're not getting any unnecessary eyestrain which reduces your concentration. On your breaks, don't spend too much time on here as you won't leave Keep a good sleeping pattern i.e. avoid all nighters as you remember things better with proper sleep to sort it all out over night in your head. Good luck! I did the exact same, just reread your notes in your style and shorten it down/abbreviate it. Managed to get my entire HND core Genetics module onto one side of extremely abbreviated A4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 Honestly? Get past papers, as many different ones as you can and do them all over and over. To start with you get repeat questions so chances are you might get 1 in the real thing you know the answer to, secondly, you will be familiar with the type of question and what they are after from it so it's easier to apply to the ones you get. Obviously use the text books and notes you have already to work through them. Get together with other pupils to study together too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M4RK RZ Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 Past papers ! Always a winner! the exams never change much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eve Posted September 25, 2007 Author Share Posted September 25, 2007 Thanks guys. Got 4 years of past papers so i'll get cracking on those. I study in complete isolation cos its OU unfortunately and no one else in Aberdeen is doing my course this year. Thanks me ol' muckers - can always rely on help and support here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIJ8631 Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 Eve, just remember " ignorantia jures neminem excusat " and you'll do ok good luck !! Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.