Penstripe Student Planner Catalogue 24-25 - Flipbook - Page 127
6
CHOOSE YOUR PENSTRIPE PAGES
FLASHCARDS
PAST PAPER
Study and Exam Preparation
Study and Exam Preparation
Following our Biology theme, the student used self-generated Q&A flashcards
created in Step Two to complete reviews and retrieval practice.
If you are taking GCSEs or A-levels, you will have access to past papers. The
remaining number of revision days can then be allocated to practice these
and your exam technique. If you are in Years 7-9 then you might continue
to carry out reviews in the remaining time, or you could ask the teacher for
copies of questions that have been used in previous tests.
Sharpen up on exam timing and technique when completing past papers and
questions. Allocate time for each exam question based on the total length of
each exam and the weightings given to each question as a proportion of the
total exam time, minus time at the beginning for reading the paper carefully
and time at the end to review your answers.
We recommend the Leitner Review System because it combines active
structured retrieval practice with spaced repetition. For this reason, it is much
more effective than mass cramming.
All that is required is three to five numbered boxes to hold flashcards.
You might also add subject dividers in each box to avoid mixing up your
flashcards.
Flashcards
Same Day
1
3 Days
2
1 Week
3
3-4 Weeks
4
8-10 Weeks
5
Finally, it is important to remind yourself of the integral role played by rest
and relaxation in examination success. We recommend you have at least
one ‘study free’ day per week and that you continue to stay involved in your
hobbies and leisure activities. Remember to maintain wellbeing priorities.
Taking time out and stepping away from the revision process is good for your
mental health and for giving your brain much needed downtime. In this way,
you feel refreshed and can bring clarity to your study and revision.
Good Luck in your exams!
Once you have completed as many reviews as your time allows, and the dates
of exams near, it is time to begin past paper or practice questions.
Description
Flashcards
127
Irrespective of the outcomes of your practice test or questions, take some
time afterwards to identify what you did well and areas for improvement in
your next performance. This might mean some updating of your topic notes or
speaking to your teacher about something you don’t yet fully understand.
Design Right and Copyright © 2024 Penstripe
Page Ref.
T-7
Copyright © 2023 Inspire Education
Copyright © 2023 Inspire Education
In our Leitner example above, Box One is for notes reviewed daily, Box Two
for a day-three review, Box Three for a seven-day review, and so on. Each
time that questions are answered correctly, place the set of flashcards in
the next box. If you get some wrong, the flashcard returns to the previous
box to allow you to review the material again, the next time focusing on the
information that requires more attention from you. In this way you can build
up confidence on the trickier topics.
Set up your own exam station and recreate exam/test conditions as
realistically as possible. Have a watch, your favourite pens, water, and make
sure you are in a quiet area. Practice the discipline of writing to time limits.
This will also build up your writing speed, master your technique and help
your mind and body deal with any anticipatory stress and dissipate fear of the
unknown on exam day.
Description
Past Paper
Page Ref.
T-8
