Coach @ MindSay 
Gosh, I just realised it’s been two weeks since my last blog – it’s really flown by! More talk of exams has been buzzing through our house lately, as my son has been doing the dreaded SAT’s. Actually I think a bit the old block has chipped off, because he seems to be one of those people who finds exams easy – he’s got the exam knack. I was going to give him a bit of a boost with a couple of sessions of hypnosis, but in the end I never got around to it, and he was still fine!
The SAT exams have been in the news lately, because of suggestions that UK children are among the most ‘examined in the world’. I’m not sure if that includes China, where the pressure in education from primary to postgraduate seems to be ferocious, if various documentaries are to be believed. However, there is a growing concern in the UK that the frequency and extent of exams in schools are becoming more of a distraction from education than a contributor to it.
As I’ve said before, exams can have several functions – measure of potential, measure of achievement, predictor and motivator. However, exams, especially pen and paper ones, do only measure a small proportion of a child (or adults) abilities. And in the ‘industrial scale’ education system we have now there is a great tendency to measure what is measureable, rather than measure what matters. As schools find themselves under pressure to perform in league tables, they push (this verb could be anything from ‘encourage’ to ‘demand’) teachers to take time to prepare children for the test. And for what? To increase standards, we are told. And how are these standards judged – by test results of course. Mmmm – tautology anyone?
I was asked a question yesterday by someone preparing for a post-graduate medical exam: “What do you mean by working efficiently?” I did my best to answer the question ‘on the hoof’, so thought I would share it and try to expand on it here.
You’ll notice that I usually talk about ‘exam preparation’ rather than ‘revision’ or ‘study’ – that’s for a reason. This is because I feel that it reflects an important change of focus that helps people work more efficiently. To talk about studying doesn’t imply any end-point or goal. Revision suggests a second view, a ‘re-look’ at something, which suggests that exam preparation starts late in the day, just before the exam.
So I use the term exam preparation as I think that this creates a better idea of how to work efficiently. Being efficient means getting maximum outcome from minimal effort. In any serious exam, this ‘minimal effort’ for most people will be a hell of a lot of hard work. Here are my top five tips to make sure your hard work bears fruit:
- Time management starts by giving yourself time to do the job. Exam preparation starts as soon as you decide (or realise!) that you want/need to do the exam. Ideally this should be several months (by which I mean six, rather than two) before the event. If you’ve left it to the last minute, you really need to ask yourself if it wouldn’t be better to wait for the next sitting.
- Time management continues by actually using the time you’ve got well. You’ve got 24 hours in every day, just like everybody else. You need to focus and prioritise. What in your life doesn’t contribute to your exam preparation? As far as possible, either: do it, dump it, downsize it or delegate it.
- Don’t confuse lack of motivation with lack of time. Many people complain that they have ‘no time’, and yet seem to find time to watch TV, sit chatting with friends, or surfing the net. You do need some leisure time to recharge your batteries. But beyond that, many people’s lack of time is actually lack of energy or motivation to use their time. Find something about taking the exam that really, really matters to you – the kudos of having the letters after your name, the great new job you’ll get, or time to commit back to your family. Whatever it is, remind yourself of why you are doing this whenever you find yourself wasting time.
- Know yourself and work with your natural strengths and weaknesses – if you’re a morning person, get up early and work in the early hours; if you think visually, use pictures and diagrams to help you learn; if you need external motivators, get your spouse or housemate to check your progress.
- Plan to pass the exam. The axiom of exam preparation is that you need to work out how to get more marks than the pass mark. So get the curriculum, handbook and past papers, and work out the best way to focus your effort, so as to maximise the marks you get for each minute of effort.
Relationships 101 Tune -up Tips Be at least as kind and forgiving to your partner as you would be with a houseguest Work at it every day whether you like it or not Fight with yourself before you fight with your partner- don’t make underhanded comments or hurtful remarks. Make time for warmpth , affection and sex becuase you wont find time for them Have regular discussions at least once a month and reconnect and see how things are going. make time for “us” time family time is not “couple time” Change things up even if movie nights is working, find some new and fun to do things Ocassionally, go all out with and adventuure of the ordinary Tell him expressions of admiration and reinforcement daily, like when you were dating. Give yourslef a time out when angry, address issues when caalmer so you dont say something , you will reget Dont be afraid to go to a marriage professional. Meanwhile, take a mini-marriage check Below with your mate and check the health of your relationship Were you often playful together? We just have fun the two of us. I feel comfortable telling most of my feelings to my partner /husband or wife. I feel understood when my partner listens to me. How we manage money as a couple is a strength in our relationship Sex is a strength in our relationship We understand and respect each others basic values. If you found yourself disagreeing with one or more of these statements ,then its time to investigate potential trouble spots. INCLUDING EMPLOYING PROFESSIONAL HELP TO AVOID A MAJOR BREAKDOWN The relationship you have with your partner needs work each and everyday, its not something that can come easy by any means. Each time your partnership comes into thoughts especially when the roles shift in the relationship this could be due to health or job or new baby or added stressors of caring for parents whose health is becoming fragile. Sometimes family has an influence on our Partners and it can become a battleground for arguing and name calling and having to take sides and make a choice. When you are feeling down inside and angry due to a habit or disagreement and it is becoming between the both of you, seek help before one of you turns to another person outside your marriage.
How pumped am i right now?
VERY
Why you ask?
BECAUSE today is the FIRST wrestling TOURNAMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant wait to get on the mats.
except stupid coach gave away my singlet from last year to a rookie....and theres no more smalls left :(
But my mom is gonna go to Sportmart and buy me Under Armour (football players use it underneath their uniform to keep from sweating through them). So I guess that close enough. And coach is ordering new Dulets (same idea as a singlet but 2 pieces instead of 1 piece) and i've got dibs on either a x-small or small (depending on the fit). So i guess thats ok
Ok well I must go.
1st, 2nd, lunch and 4th are not going to go by quickly enough. (yea the tournie starts at 3, which means I get to miss 5th period)
Miller
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