Passing Pointers

Developing a good study habit takes time and dedication to your task.
In order to establish studying as a habit, you should:

Step 1:

Complete the checklist below

GOOD STUDENT CHECKLIST
Do you …..	Yes	No	If no, possible solution
1. Have a fixed place to study, preferably at a desk or table?
2. Have trouble settling down to work at the beginning of a study session?
3. Use study plans and timetables?
4. Summarise your notes and make mind maps of your work?
5. Work consistently during the school year?
6. Make sure that you understand as you go along and keep up to date with your school work?
7.  Live a balanced life, stay fit and eat well?
8. Divide your study periods into equal lengths, with short breaks every half hour or so?
9. Feel motivated to study and to do well in the exams?
10. Do you “spot” or “cram” the night before a test or exam?

Scoring: If you answered NO to two or more of these questions, you will need to take action now if you are hoping to achieve success in your final exams.

Step 2:

Once you have completed the above checklist you will know your weak points. Follow the study pointers below to improve your study.

• Allocate specific hours per week as study time;
• Stick to our study schedule, come what may;
• Give priority to your studies.

DID YOU KNOW?

It takes 21 days of repetition to establish a habit, once established, however, a habit is difficult to break. The key to successful studying is disciplining yourself to spend enough time on your studies.

Statistics prove most students who do not pass do so not because they are stupid, but because they do not know how to study or they do not dedicate sufficient time and energy to their studies. Studying should be made a habit, even if you don’t feel like studying, sit down at your desk and try to apply yourself in order to be able to continue without any difficulty. If you still can’t concentrate, take a five-minute break. Do not give up. Make a complete change from studying – exercise or meditate then try again.

Begin a study session with the mindset that you are about to learn something important. If the subject that you are studying doesn’t interest you, remind yourself that by coming to grips with it you are a step closer to achieving your long term-goals which is to qualify as a health and skin care therapist.

Practical tips from students who achieve well consistently are:

• Listen attentively in class and actively participate
• Take notes down and file accordingly on a daily basis to stay up to date and ready for the tests and exams
• Revise on a daily basis to clarify issues you are not sure of and make notes in order to ask questions in revision or discuss with the relevant lecturers.

Tips in the Exam room:

Reduce stress before the exam:

Make sure that you have covered all the work adequately before the exam. Find out when the exam starts, when it ends and what equipment is needed. Allow time to relax before the exam. Make sure you are at the exam venue on time and that you leave all your study notes at home.

Remember that everything is stored in your brain:

Exams are actually quite easy because all the information is stored in your head. It’s just a matter of getting it out and putting it down on paper in the right way. If you panic, you block the brain’s communication system and can’t recall the facts properly.

Think before you begin:

Once you have sat down and your exam paper has been handed to you, take time to plan your exam strategy. Don’t rush and start writing straight away. Read through the entire paper to see what is expected of you. Remember that there is no prize for the first finished!

Read the question:

Make sure that you fully understand what is being asked. Don’t jump to conclusions. Read the question carefully and underline keywords before attempting to answer it.

Manage your time constructively:

By doing the easy questions first you build confidence and avoid spending too much time on one section and running out of time for the others. Never leave out a question completely. If you have time left at the end of the exam check through your answers for careless mistakes.

Make use of a rough notes page

Draft your answers especially in a case study where the answer needs to be in treatment order and logical in the treatment plan. However always keep tabs of the time you are spending on your rough work you don’t get marks for rough work. This technique also allows time for your brain to process the thought process patterns and gives you information on other questions especially if you have planned your exam strategy and read your paper before answering the questions.

Tackle the question

Do what the question asks of you that is part of the question .If you are asked to tabulate, tabulate if you are asked to define write a definition if you asked to list write a list do not explain.

Do not repeat the question in your answer

What not to do (examples):
Question
Differentiate between galvanic current and a high frequency current.
Answer:
To differentiate between galvanic and high frequency currents one needs to understand that they are different one is galvanic and the other is high frequency thus we can deduct that the galvanic current is different from the high frequency current.
What you should do:
The answer should follow the following type of format: Galvanic current is a direct constant current whilst a high frequency current alternates etc..

The mark value is related to the time expected to answer

Look at what is expected of you in the question are you asked to give detail or explanations or are you asked to list and define ensure you understand exactly what the question is asking you to do. 1 mark questions should not take 20 minutes to answer.

Don’t answer a specific question with general information

Question: Which three specific types of product are classified as your cleansing products?
Answer: Cleansers, toners and exfoliators

NOT All products can be classified as cleansing products depending on the active ingredients especially in the product ranges for oily and acne type skins.

Do not write for the sake of writing

If you can’t answer a specific question move onto the next question leaving space for the answer and come back to the difficult question at the end. It is better to give clear answers to the questions you know than to run out of time because you have spent so much time answering questions you don’t know with answers that are vague and probably wrong.

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