Exam / revision techniques

Hi Joanne,

I think my original posting on this thread still holds good.

A variation on the theme of answering question after question is the "fish" technique for Section A questions. If you've not used it before this involves writing your introduction in full, then the content of the main body of your answer in bullets, and then the recommendations and justifications in full. This way you should be able to do a full case study in about half an hour, or you use the full hour to look up as much as you need to to support your answer, in terms of academic and case study research. You'll get through more questions this way, but don't forget to do full answers nearer the exams because you'll need the practice of writing long hand for the full hour (two preferably to do a full paper) to get your writing muscles used to it. I don't know where we'd be without MS Word, but it is a devil for making us wimps about writing!

I am frustrated that tutors are not providing their students with a basic toolkit of study techniques to facilitate their own learning, but then I guess tutors can only do so much.

Look at the CIPD revision guide and download all the old papers you can get from the website.

The finally piece of advice I would give, to supplement my previous posting, would be to start revising! Empty page syndrome leeches time from you, so it almost doesn't matter where you start, just as long as you do. Pick the oldest exam paper on the website, and try to do that. Set aside half an hour every evening of "dead" time and just do questions, or review your answers from the previous day, but whatever you do, just do it. You should be able to do two Section B questions in 15 minutes by the exam, so try doing 2 in 30 minutes to start with to make sure you get enough content in. Most people have an odd half an hour in their day of spare time, or could make it if they needed to - whether that is the "Coronation Street" slot, or getting into work half an hour early, or staying half an hour late, so you're still in a work frame of mind should be easy enough to accomodate for the sake of 3 months.

Good luck,

Claire

Thanks Claire for your advise - that defintely helps me

Hello..

I am taking my PDS PM&D exams in May and am feeling rather sick! I havent studied in 12 years and have not managed to complete all of my work files (I doing it via MOL distance learning) - I work full time, have two children and 10 hours a week study just sometimes isnt realistic.

I am fortunate enough to have a great job with gives me fab hands on experience. I have written my revision plan for my exams using the MALPAS cards and my own pointers as a plan. But feel rather frightened about it all to be honest.

Feel like I have let myself down that I havent finished all 18 work books (done 14...).

All of your advise is hugely appreciated!

Thanks
Liz

CLAIRE Isaacs,
I understand you are a CIPD course tutor? If so I have some info you might find of value for your students on organisational culture and change (free) email me or put your contact details on your profile
Mike

Hi Mike

I would be very interested in receiving the info you have on organisational culture and change. [email address removed - moderator]

Thanks!

Hi Caroline,

You first need to activate the "Email me" function in your profile - bit clunky, but this will get easier after July! Please follow instructions here:
www.cipd.co.uk/.../networking

...then you and Mike will be able to email one another; no email addresses allowed within threads, I'm afraid.

Thanks,
Steve

Hello Mike

I hope you don't mind me jumping on board with Caroline's request for your info on organisational culture and change?

I would very much like to receive the info and you should be able to contact me via my profile, hopefully I have followed the instructions properly. ;-)

Many thanks indeed

Lorraine

Good luck to anyone who may be taking exams over the next two weeks.

Hi Caroline - please update your profile as per Steve's instructions - or email me direct - my email is in my profile.

For others requesting the info - please do so directly as these types of 'me to' requests make the threads difficult for others to read.

Mike

Clare,

It's been a while since I took my exams, but one of my tutors provided the class with genuine answers to questions on the May 2001 Employee Relations paper (including the case study), and I found this particularly useful.

If you let me have a note of your address, I'd be happy to send you a copy.

Kind regards.

Sue