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Exam / revision techniques

Clare Christian
Hi,

I have just failed my PDS1 exams and I am feeling disillusioned with the whole programme. The course is such a huge leap from CPP study and i am having real trouble understanding the exam questions and exactly what the examiners expect from you with regards to quotes and case studies etc.

I am in desperate need of guidance on exam technique and was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction. I have read every examiners report available but have not found them very useful.

Any links or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Clare
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  • Clare (the first one)

    Just reading this for the first time and dying to know - Did you pass the exams you took in November?
    I am now in my final year and have been in a similar situation to you - at one point I thought I was destined never to finish the PDS!
    I took my first lot of CIPD exams in May 2005 (Core Management) and passed 3 out of the 4 modules first time. However I have resat Managing People at every round of exams since and in November took Managing People and People Resourcing on THE SAME DAY!! (The Chief Examiner and I are now on 1st name terms!) – I am pleased to say that I passed both this time round, after sitting MP a grand total of 4 times.

    In a similar way to you, I felt that my problem was interpreting the question in the correct way – something that isn’t taught in the textbook. On the advice of my tutor, rather than practicing question after question, I collected past papers and wrote down what I thought was being asked (this is different to writing down the answer), then compared it to the Examiner’s feedback to see if my understanding was correct – I started to notice that the same sort of things were confusing me each time and was therefore able to avoid falling into the ‘traps’ again later in my revision. I guess I can’t really tell if that is what made the difference, but it certainly didn’t do any harm and is something I will be doing again as part of my revision for the May exams (which will hopefully be my last lot!)

    Good luck to everyone taking exams in May and don’t give up if you fail – it is worth all the effort, just to open your results and see that magic 'Pass' mark staring back at you!
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  • Clare (the first one)

    Just reading this for the first time and dying to know - Did you pass the exams you took in November?
    I am now in my final year and have been in a similar situation to you - at one point I thought I was destined never to finish the PDS!
    I took my first lot of CIPD exams in May 2005 (Core Management) and passed 3 out of the 4 modules first time. However I have resat Managing People at every round of exams since and in November took Managing People and People Resourcing on THE SAME DAY!! (The Chief Examiner and I are now on 1st name terms!) – I am pleased to say that I passed both this time round, after sitting MP a grand total of 4 times.

    In a similar way to you, I felt that my problem was interpreting the question in the correct way – something that isn’t taught in the textbook. On the advice of my tutor, rather than practicing question after question, I collected past papers and wrote down what I thought was being asked (this is different to writing down the answer), then compared it to the Examiner’s feedback to see if my understanding was correct – I started to notice that the same sort of things were confusing me each time and was therefore able to avoid falling into the ‘traps’ again later in my revision. I guess I can’t really tell if that is what made the difference, but it certainly didn’t do any harm and is something I will be doing again as part of my revision for the May exams (which will hopefully be my last lot!)

    Good luck to everyone taking exams in May and don’t give up if you fail – it is worth all the effort, just to open your results and see that magic 'Pass' mark staring back at you!
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