Revising for an open book exam

If you are working from a literary text, make a list of significant events in the order they occur in the text. It was in these exams that i would spend a good 1520 minutes actually revising, before even picking up a pen. Coping with open book exams on the lpc the student lawyer. There are many online resources for third level students that exist now, that can really help with online study and exam revision. An open book exam is a test that lets you bring your books or notes in with you. Revising for an openbook exam open book exams focus attention on your understanding of the topic, and your ability to communicate it. Most students are thrilled when the teacher or professor announces that an upcoming exam will be open book, meaning students will be able to use the textbook andor their notes when answering questions on the test. What do the terms openbook, closedbook, secure, and non. Although in theory you will have the opportunity of looking in books and searching.

Unlike traditional closed book exams where students are required to rely solely on their recall of exam topics, open book exams allow students to consult reference materials notes, textbook, etc. This page provides information and advice for students taking openbook exams in trinity term 2020. Types of exam question preparing for exams libguides. Open book exams are actually very easy to design at least i think so, and i favor them in my own teaching. Get my 3 tips for organising your materials for open book exams. Concentrate on this when revising, rather than trying to remember facts. How to deal with distractions when revising beat exam stress. Openbook statutes and administrative code examination. If youve been working effectively throughout the semester, revision should be a process of reminding yourself about the important points and. You just need to be careful that the time required is appropriate to the exam setting. For the complete range, including consultations, support, workshops, handouts, and groups, see slc services continue online. This usually consists of the module textbook and two leverarch files of notes.

What do the terms openbook, closedbook, secure, and nonsecure exam mean. Open book and open note tests are usually what than other exams. While this may seem like an easy way to take a test, open book exams may be harder than youd think since they are about taking information and applying it in a more thoughtful, meaningful manner. Bound refers to material permanently bound by stitching or glue and materials fastened securely in its cover by fasteners, which penetrate all papers e. In an open book exam, students can check the books. This usually includes a textbook and lecture notes, but some will allow consultation of internet sources as well.

Nonsecure is examsofts term for openbook law school exams. As a very rough guide, open book exams tend to be around 50% longer than a normal exam. Take home tests are usually what than in class tests. Transcript preparing for open book exams university of reading. There is also advice on preparing for, revising and sitting. We have previously mentioned on examtime using mind maps to help. Revising takes concentration thats a skill that needs practice. So one of the first things to check if you find your child looking for distractions while theyre revising is whether theyre tired and need a. An open book examination is an exam given in a course where you are allowed to use certain resources during the test. Recopyingrevising notes to fit on a single pagenotecard has usually ended up with me looking at the cheatsheet once or twice during the exam.

Openbook exams allow you to take certain materials into the exam with you from a prescribed list. For example, if a closed booked exam is 2 hours long, the equivalent open book exam would be 3 hours. Openbook examination definition is a written examination during which an examinee is permitted to consult references to answer questions calling for organization. Unlike traditional closed book exams where students are required to rely solely on their recall of exam topics, open book.

To do so, i usually design exams as problems rather than series of trivia. Instead, open book exams tend to ask students to apply, analyze, synthesize, comparecontrast or evaluate 1 information. Hello, ive got a history open book exam too what i find the most useful is to make general revision notes mindmaps are good for each topic. But with a bit of preparation, note taking skills, and test taking strategies, you can succeed your next open book exam. Openbook assessments are commonly referred to as openbook exams. Pass the state openbook examination required if not taken within the last 5 years. Instead, youll be expected to engage in a critical and analytical manner, to demonstrate how you have understood your topic and that you can apply relevant knowledge to the. They assume that because they will be able to look up all the answers in the textbook, they will not need a study. Part of your revision process should include writing your exam preparation notes and.

While you have the right to access all of your notes and textbooks during the test, the instructor also has the right to ask about literally anything that has been covered in your. Typically, they have been conducted in a university venue and held as timed and invigilated exams. Read the open book exams guide for candidatesif you are taking an open book exam this week, you must carefully read the detailed open book exams guide for candidates pdf. Many law students rightly focus on memorisation for which there are some excellent tips here. This practice is not uncommon in law examinations, but in other subjects, it is mostly unheard of. Advantages and disadvantages of open book examination advantages of open book examination 1. Prepping for openbook, or especially a cheatsheet exam can be a very effective study tactic. Your answer book is simply a stapled book containing pages of lined paper each page having a square in the top left corner where you write the question number. I often turn to homework problems from past years or other textbooks for inspiration.

In open book exams, students are allowed to bring notes, texts, andor other resources into the exam room. Preparing for openbook exams unsw current students. An open book exam is a test that allows you to bring the text or material you have been studying. For wider information for students about the impact of coronavirus, please see the student coronavirus advice page.

Such questions are meant to be answered with access to the text and notes. If you are required to sit exams, you should be aware that the exam weeks usually come at the end of holiday. Open book exams evaluate your understanding rather than recall and. Breathe deeply, take a moment and then look at the questions.

Considerations when designing open book exams questions in open book exams need to be devised to assess the interpretation and application. This makes sense when you think about it because exams are an awfully lot about speed and time management. Start with the easiest question and plan your answers to build confidence. When it comes to studying for a closed book exam, the most important thing is to give yourself plenty of time.

First, you need to know the material so well that you basically dont need to look at your outline. Read the open book exams guide for candidatesif you are taking an openbook exam this week, you must carefully read the detailed open book exams guide for candidates pdf. Open book exams allow you to take certain materials into the exam with you from a prescribed list. Different types of exams can require different forms of preparation. Note that revising means looking at again not learning something for the first time. You will need to revise for openbook exams as you would for traditional exams. This might be in the form of a time frame or a word limit. But this is just the first step in the revision process although incidentally this is why our legal practice course lpc exams are open book, so exam assessment is a question of understanding and application as opposed to memory. The various different methods of examination need somewhat contrasting revision methods. The exam desks will be positioned so that you are away from everyone else and the invigilator will check your photographic id, check you candidate number and give you your answer book. Then you have a good overview and general idea of each section, and in the exam, you can quickly scan this and it should jog your memory. Open book tests teach you how to find information when you need it and under a significant amount of pressure. Students may falsely assume that the exam will be easy, and they will be able to find all the answers in the textbook or on their memory aid.

However, my working situation for being at home is very different to being at uni for revising for exams. Open book exam therefore tests a persons knowledge and organization rather than memorization. Once you have worked out which topics you will answer questions on in an exam its time to start revising. If you freeze or go blank, look away from the paper. How im revising for my uni exams in quarantine emily. Rereading your notes can trick you into thinking you know the material as the words seem familiar to you. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. In the uk, open book exams are usually taken in january and april. Revise for an openbook exam in an openbook exam, the books are just memory aids so you dont have to remember pages of information. You need to study for openbook exams just as you would for any exam. If youve ever been in an exam hall and got stuck trying to. What to do with your book the big difference in revising for an open book exam is, of course, the book.

This may sound at first that all you will need to do is look up the answer the day of the testand thus a very easy type of test to take. Open book exams can be daunting all of that material you could bring in. Open book and athome exams part 2 well look at some key aspects of effective revision. And contrary to popular belief, you do not get off the hook when it comes to studying for an open book exam. It depends on the size of the exam, but generally you will need two to six weeks. The art of editing university of leicester this study guide addresses the process of editing an extended document such as a dissertation or a thesis. Your school or programme should provide you with guidance on how long the exam should take. Study hub learning resources has advice on exams and time management. Even more importantly, the questions are designed to teach you how to use your brain. But in the exam, you wont have your notes to prompt this recognition unless its an open book exam. If you know your subject, youll have a knowledge base to draw on. Today im talking about how to prepare for your open book exam.

The goal is to evaluate the students understanding and skills, i. There are a few keys to studying for an open book exam. Breathe in to the count of seven and out to the count of 11 and wait until you are calm before continuing. For example, you might be given a problem or a scenario and asked to apply concepts from several parts of the course. However, a textbook is not merely a set of references written by distinguished authors in size 12 fonts and high quality paper, it could also be used as a set of notes for. During covid19, student learning commons services continue. Online open book exams allow you to access materials such as summaries, notes and textbooks. This type of exam does not just test your ability to recall information.

As there will now be a reduction in the number of exams conducted in a university venue, when we refer to these openbook assessments, we include both openbook exams and other. You will need to think about what sort of information you might want to find quickly in the exam room and make sure you know where to find it. An open book examination is one in which examinees are allowed to consult their class notes, textbooks, and other approved material while answering questions. For some degree programmes you might not be required to sit formal exams in both or either of these exam periods instead you might be asked to complete coursework during this period. Find out what you are allowed to do with your book. An open book examination is an assessment method designed in a way that allows students. Secure is examsofts term for closedbook law school exams. We used the preexam quizzes solely as the testing vehicle and alternated openbook and closedbook versions depending across sections of the course.

When your exam is open book, expect to be asked about the entire book. Study tips getting organised for open book exams youtube. They test whether you understand the big picture of the course and how course concepts work together. Online examination vs open book examination pros and cons.