Strategic Maneuvers

What's that the Beatles used to say? Ah yes, "It's getting better all the time"

Half way through the exam term and I'm beginning to see the light. Thanks to some advice from Cognitive Psychology on how to prepare for an essay type exam (MIND MAPPING or Schematizing), I'm feeling a bit more confident in my abilities to tackle the exam system here. I figured I would share some with you.

ONE: As previously mentioned, start your revision process as early as you can. By keeping constant focus for about a week on the topics that you are considering tackling, you have much more of a chance of writing a meaningful, yet well organized essay free of literary throat-clearing (cutting to the chase is a valued skill here).

TWO: Decide what kind of revision style suits you best if you haven't already. Are you more of the receptive type, pupil of the overachiever in your group? Or are you the more diligent, teach-others-to-teach-yourself kind of person? Either way, both methods are effective in their own ways and I personally have found them to be quite useful.

THREE: Revise with others. Obviously there are some who prefer to fly solo, but in cases like study abroad students, there will be cases when you have missed a lecture to recover from some drinking related incident, and if that one happens to be in the topic you are thinking of answering a question on, you will want someone there who might be able to fill in the gaps so to speak.

The last one for now:

FOUR: This is revision and exam period for a reason. Use it and use it wisely. Many of your friends that you will have made here will not have the same schedule as you and will want to go out on nights that you really should be getting some sleep. Don't learn the hard way that your loss at beer pong last night was really not the best pre-exam strategy. They are different than they are in the states. Do not take your previous exam experience there to count for anything.

Sadly, not much to report on other than that this time around. The colleges on campus are getting rev'ed up for Extrav week (kind of like freshers week, except as an ender to the year) with all of the flyers and posters going up all over the shop. Make sure as well that if you have some time, or needing to blow off some steam, that your college is still hosting many a social event to take part in such as open mics, karaoke, quizzes and the like for you to take part in, and it's usually free!

Anyway, it's back to the grind for me. Over and out until the last exam!