Well honed strategies could make all the difference on exam days. Chris Cain, director of innovative training at training college FBT Global, offers some tips.
Setting objectives
The first step in using applied exam techniques is to set a specific goal.
For example, you need to score more than 49 marks to pass any Strategic level examination. By focusing on the unambiguous goal of scoring a specific pass mark you are able to decide more clearly how to allocate your time and effort.
Plan your study and make appropriate notes
The next step is planning your time. It is essential to getting through the study required and achieving some level of mastery of your subject.
Produce a study planner built around the learning outcomes for each paper. This is critical for passing Strategic level exams.
Making keyword notes around each learning outcome is especially valuable, as this increases your active participation in the learning process.
It also creates your own source of personalised concentrated knowledge, which can be used later for revision.
As you go through the learning process, aim to build up a set of keyword notes that brings together the main concepts from all sources that you use ' textbooks, journals, lectures, practice papers, colleagues and work experience.
Memory techniques
Everyone can apply memory techniques. One seldom used technique involves making your own recording of your keyword notes. This is particularly powerful when the recording is done on top of background music such as Mozart. You can listen to your own recording while travelling to and from work and college. This will not only speed up the learning of your material but will also save you time.
Mind maps are another powerful way to organise and memorise your key word notes.
The main principles of mind mapping are:
- note down points in a spray pattern, starting from the centre and working outwards
- keep your points brief ' use keywords, authors, theories or processes
- use lines to show connections between things
- be prepared to rework the map until you are happy with the organisation
- include colour, symbols and pictures to make it more memorable.
How to answer strategic level questions
If you are already at the Strategic level, you know how to pass CIMA questions at the Managerial level. The main differences between the Strategic and Managerial levels are:
- you must learn how to develop an answer using the information contained in the scenarios provided
- there is less emphasis on demonstrating knowledge and much more on the application of theory.
Read a large number of CIMA answers to identify the approach required and then practice the approach under exam conditions.
Remember that 'practice makes permanent'!
Develop self efficacy
Educational psychologists identify a number of attitudes or beliefs that correlate with examination success. Key to this is a person's self efficacy - that is their belief in their ability to achieve goals, rather than just a belief in their own worth (self esteem).
Several studies have shown correlations between self efficacy and examination performance. People who lack self efficacy often adopt a surface, detached style of learning behaviour which correlates negatively with academic success.
Surface learners are people who believe that their success depends mainly on factors outside of their control ' luck in the exam or what their lecturers do. They tend to focus on the process of learning (turning up to classes, handing in work on time, reading their textbooks) rather than the outcomes.
Surface learners also tend to view education as something that is done to them, rather than something they actively take part in. By developing self efficacy and taking an active role in your own learning with a well founded self confident attitude, your ability to get down to studying, and stick at it, will improve.
Contact us
You can contact us with your feedback and suggestions for Velocity at velocity@cimaglobal.com.
April 2009