P = Preview
Begin your reading task with a quick skim (2-3 minutes) of the text, trying to
get an overview of the chapter or text. Look for section headings, illustrative
charts and diagrams, signposts or key words. Don't start highlighting text at
this point.
Q = Question
This is the key to active learning. Look for answers to the basic questions of
Who? What? Where? Why? When? Identify the main theme or learning point of the
particular text.
R = Read
Now read the chapter carefully, with these questions in mind. Your mind will be
actively looking for answers as you read. Work with a pen and paper, make brief
summary notes, look for 'topic sentences' that summarise the most important
point in a paragraph or section and highlight them, if necessary. Vary your
reading speed – move quickly over lighter, less important material and slow
down when you come to a difficult section.
R = Review
Always check your unde
standing of
the material by reviewing and testing your recall before putting the text away.
Look at the notes you have taken and check that they answer your initial
questions. Summarise your findings from this study session.
Note-Taking
• 'Less is more' When writing notes, remember they
should be a summary, not an extensive repetition of what is in the textbook.
Don't crowd the page. Stick to main headings and sub-headings. Use
abbreviations where appropriate. Try to reduce what you need to know on the
topic down to one A4 sheet.
• 'Make it visual' Highlight key words and use
diagrams, brainstorms, graphs etc. (A picture is worth a thousand words)
• Save your notes , organise a filing system. (Subject,
topic, section) So you can retrieve your study notes when needed easily.
Improving Memory
• Studies
indicate that 66% of material is forgotten within seven days if it is not
reviewed or recited again by the student, and 88% is gone after six weeks.
Don't make life harder for yourself – build in a brief daily and weekly review
of material covered. It will save you having to re-learn material from scratch!
• Application and Association-
The best way to channel material to long term memory is to organise it into
meaningful associations. Link it to existing information and topics and create
vivid personal examples which act as 'mental hooks' or 'cues' for recalling
material in the future.
• Use of mnemonics: these are various word games which can
act as memory aids and which allow personalisation and creativity. Think of
stalagtites (come down from the ceiling) and stalagmites (go up from the
ground); the colours of the rainbow ('Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain'
to remember red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet); the seven
characteristics of living organisms – Mr.Grief (Movement, Reproduction, Growth Respiration, Irritability, Excretion, Feeding). You can devise many more of
these to aid your personalised recall of items in your subjects.
Practical Tips
● Study away from your phone or tv or
radio and make sure there's nothing to distract you.
● Don't leave everything to the last
minute!! Start early!
● Read through the test first and Don't
panic or you'll ruin your flow to approaching the paper.
● Get enough sleep the night before and
Don't cram everything the night before.
Literacy and
Numeracy
Don't forget to
use these helpful techniques to guide you during exam time!
By
using these steps, they'll be sure to lead you to academic success!
Reading Strategies:
Close Reading
Careful study reading, which usually indicates pausing to think or look back in
order to examine the text in detail.
Skimming
Glancing quickly through the text to get the gist of it.
Scanning
Searching for a particular piece of information.
Numeracy
Don't forget to
calculate your results when you get your exams back! Using this process:
1) Estimate your result.
2) Calculate your
percentage
my
score x 100
-------------- ----
total
mark 1
3) Round off: 5 or more, go up 1%
4 or less, leave it as it is.
