ASSESSMENT AND

EXAMS
Next Steps to University

Reasons for assessments

Assessment is not just about getting marks They serve many purposes!

Assessments can be formative

You

receive feedback on your performance that

can be used to improve future performance

Assessments can be summative

You

are assigned a mark which will count towards

your final degree classification

Establish what is expected

Establish what the goalposts are, by looking at:

Exact details of the assignment, including instructions

about format, presentation and structure
The marking criteria for the assessment
Intended learning outcomes for the course:

What the tutor has stated is expected in order to pass the

course

Will be made available in:

Handbooks
Blackboard
Module Descriptors

Reasons for assessments

Diagnostic :

Formative

Checking that you have made enough progress to proceed, and/or

checking the quality of instruction

Ranking

The assessment itself is a means of learning/instruction

Monitoring

To give you practice at something. You will receive feedback, to aid you
in improving your subsequent performance

Instructive

To determine your current level of skills/knowledge

To enable performances to be ordered from the strongest to the poorest

Summative

To sum up what you have learned and assign a mark

Types of Summative
assessment

'Summative' assessments are set to

enable tutors to evaluate, and
assign a mark to their students
learning at a particular point in time

The mark assigned contributes to

the final outcome of the students'
degree

Examples of summative
assessments

In-Class test
Participation in lectures and/or seminars/online
discussion boards, or group work (may be peerassessed and/or tutor-assessed)
Essay or report
Dissertation
Presentation
Attendance
Unseen Examination in controlled conditions

(e.g.) 3 questions in 2 hours/2 questions in 2 hours

Types of Exam

Essay Exams

Most examinations require

students to write essays in
answer to a series of
questions

Basic essay-writing rules

apply:

(clear argument, good essay

structure, accurate grammar,
spelling etc) but with time

This means that writing

essays under exam
conditions is a particular skill;
but one that is easy to
acquire

Types of Exam II

Oral Exams

Tests your knowledge along

with your presentation skills
Could follow a list of
questions in a prepared
format or could be an informal
discussion
Before exam ensure you are
clear about the format
Usually more than one
examiner in the room
Practise answering questions
with peers
Practise in a similar setting to
the exam room

Exams and Revision

Learning how to
perform in
examinations is an
essential skill

Opportunity to
showcase your
knowledge

To be successful in
examinations you need
just two things:

knowledge
good exam technique

Revision Strategies

Most work hard at it, but

don't always work well at it!

The main purposes of

revision are:

To understand the topic for

which you are sitting an
exam

To commit what you have

learnt and understood to
memory

To practice planning and

writing answers to
questions

Revision Planning

Create a revision timetable

Balance your subjects

Start revising 5-6 weeks before the exam

Allocate topics to days, balance available time, do not neglect courses which are
easy or difficult

Identify key topics to revise

The content of the course

Past exam papers - DO NOT QUESTION SPOT!

Own interests and strengths

Arrange revision materials

Organise lecture notes/handouts/printed materials/text-books/journals

Use mind mapping techniques

Past Papers

Get an idea of the topics and

questions which come up on the
paper
How many questions you are likely
to have to answer
Reduce the chances of being
surprised by the real paper on the
day
Get from library or print-shop in A
block

Strategies for past-papers

Brain-storming

Give yourself 10
minutes to brainstorm
and plan an answer to a
past exam question
Consider your response
to the question
The examples and
evidence you would
need to support your
argument
How it relates to the
coursework
How you would
structure your essay

Strategies for past-papers cont:

Mock Exams
Use a past paper to
undertake a mock
exam
Take the exam under
correct conditions
This will help you
practice writing under
time constraints
Practice one exam
question at a time or
try the complete exam
paper

Before the Exam

Check & re-check exam timetable (campus/room)!

Make sure you know:
What form the exam will take?
How much time you will have?
How marks are allocated?
What aspects of the course will be examined?

Organise your student card & materials required

Be aware of the Universitys examination
regulations
Avoid the pre-exam cluster of What did you
study!

Tips to combat Exam panic!

Sleep! Get to bed early... Or at least rest!

EAT breakfast/lunch & keep hydrated
AVOID masses of caffeine
Take a watch with you
Answer your essay questions first
Sit away from friends if this will distract you or sit
beside them as a positive anchor
Dont panic if others are writing and you are not

Your thinking may be more profitable than their writing

BREATHE SLOWLY!

In the Exam

Check that you are sitting in

the correct exam
Check that you have the
correct exam paper
Orientate yourself... Get a
positive state of mind!
Read the
instructions/questions
carefully... At least twice

Work out what is expected

with each question
Underline key words

Divide time wisely between

questions
Do not cross out material
unless it is wrong

Tips to combat exam room

panic!
Plan your answers

Do take time to jot

down an immediate
plan

Mind-mapping

Be prepared to revise
it
Towards the end of
the exam read over
your answers
DO NOT LEAVE
EARLY!!!

Writing the answers

Write a well structured

essay

Introduction and
Conclusion

Pay attention to hand

writing & layout
Ensure you answer the
question
It is the quality of the
argument not the
quantity!!

After the Exam

Avoiding depressing
post-mortems with
students!
If you have made
mistakes, learn from
them and apply to
future exams
Reflect....
If you have further
exams to study give
yourself the rest of the
day off to recalibrate &
refresh.....
If not.... Get to the pub