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Even if you're good at Number and you're confident in the processes required to manipulate that knowledge into fully answering exam questions, you may still find it tough to demonstrate your ability via the somewhat abnormal scenario that is your exam. Putting yourself up against the pressure of the ticking exam clock can lead to doubts and stress. So how might do you give yourself more of a chance to succeed, question by question, in the exam?
Over the years, Newbury Maths has come up with the following acronym, awful though it is: "PDR?" But what does it mean and how does it help you discipline your mind when you come across the wordier questions with multiple parts? The ones you hate?
Preparation
Preparation
Look at the question...
Underline the important words
What is it asking you to do?
Draw a diagram if needed or draw ON the diagram you've been given
Jot down any formulae that might be vaguely relevant
Would it help to expand the brackets?
Let your ideas of how to move on to the next step come to you
Often, students describe looking at a question and immediately fear that they don't have a clue as to what the answer will look like. The PDR? approach helps us focus on what the next step is. The next line. Rather than panic about the unknown, move on from where you currently understand.
Doing
Doing
Put in the values
Write down, line by line, every bit of progress you make
Calculate
Show workings
Beware those 'easy-to-make mistakes
Is that a squared² sign missed?
A plus sign instead of a times sign?
have I ignored that negative sign?
The line-by-line approach will always help confidence as you progress through a question. It also becomes really helpful when you review your answers...
Reviewing
Reviewing
Return to the question you were asked.
Read it again
ask yourself: Have I answered the question?
ask yourself: Does it feel right?
If in doubt, check back up the lines of workings you did in the 'Doing' part until you spot anything that isn't right
This helps eliminate Easy-To-Make mistakes. for example: an incorrectly handled negative sign or
a decimal point in the wrong place. Maybe even a rushed multiplication that doesn't make sense etc
Do I Move On?
Do I Move On?
If yes, do so
If No, go back to the reviewing cycle again
If you've gone as far as you can and your Reviewing doesn't help you discover why your answers don't feel right then move on to the next question. If you have time, you can always return to it with a fresher perspective later.
Throughout the exam, you may find yourself tiring and getting frustrated with the time ticking down. To handle this fatigue within the rhythm of the exam you could put your pen down and stretch, or look out of the window for a few seconds.
Always remember, this isn't worth panicking over. Exam stress can be put to good use but if you're finding yourself being overcome with it then take a moment and know that it won't always be like this. It won't be the end of your world and you can always take it again.
Already worried? Take a click to visit here, it might help you keep it all in perspective.
If you are suffering from exam stress please take a moment to look at this: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/coping-with-life/exam-stress
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