Techniques for Exam Preparation

GEOG 4823, Urban & Regional Planning

Chuck Ziehr, Northeastern State University

The most important things that you can do to prepare for the exams in this course are: (1) come to class, (2) attentively participate in class lectures and discussions, (3) read carefully the assigned readings in the textbook, (4) determine the answers to the sample questions in the exam study guide, (5) discuss questions, facts, and concepts with fellow students and the instructor, and (6) complete the homework exercise.

Here are some specific additional study suggestions:

• Class participation
• Attend every class meeting if possible.
• Sit near the front of the room where: you can hear the instructor easily, there is less distraction from other students, and you can see the screen and board clearly.
• Take notes. Your notes should record facts and items placed on the screen and/or board, but ALSO should include some sort of notations that help you remember concepts and the general context of the facts and displayed items. Get the essential details, but, most importantly, try to see the big picture--how it all fits together.
• Ask questions and make comments during class.
• Ask the instructor before or after class for additional clarification if necessary. Use e-mail for further discussion with the instructor and fellow students. Come by the instructor's office to ask questions--you've paid for my time; take advantage of that opportunity.


• Reading the textbook
• Try to read the textbook material either just before or right after that material is discussed in class (you'll have to experiment to see which is better for you).
• Don't wait too long to start reading the textbook. It contains important material that WILL be covered on the exams.
• Take notes while you read.  Summarize the main points in your own words.
  


• Preparation for exams
• Students who use the "Exam Study Guide" almost always do much better on the exams than students who do not. Try to determine the answer to every sample question in the Exam Study Guide. Most exam questions are either verbatim from that sample set or very similar to those questions. Make sure you know WHY the right answer is the correct one.
  
• Study with other students if possible. This usually helps everyone in the group. Use e-mail to discuss questions and check answers.
• Start your review for the exam several days before the exams. This will allow more time to find difficult answers and permit the possibility of contacting fellow students or the instructor for assistance with questions to which you cannot determine the answer yourself.
• A geographer, Dr. Ingolf Vogeler, at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has prepared two excellent overviews for how to prepare for essay exams and multiple-choice exams. These may be obtained via the WWW by clicking on How to Prepare for an Essay Exam or on Taking Multiple Choice Exams. (These sites were definitely active in August 2005; please inform instructor if you have trouble accessing these sites.)