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Undergraduate exam skills

What are these?

Traditionally, exams were written papers completed on the basis of unseen questions or tasks that had to be fulfilled within a limited time-frame. In recent times, examination of students' knowledge and understanding has evolved to include:

• online multiple choice question exams (delivered using Questionmark Perception software;
• Extended Matched Item questions (EMIs) (delivered using Questionmark Perception software;
• seen exams (students are given questions prior to the examination so that they can prepare their responses); and
• open book exams (students do not know the questions beforehand, but they can bring a PRESCRIBED NUMBER OF TEXTBOOKS into the examination hall. The exact number will be stipulated in the course/module handbook).

The examination timing depends on individual programmes. Thus, exams can take place at the end of Semester 1, the end of Semester 2 or after the Easter vacation. Each set of exams is called an Exam Diet. You will be given the time slot (but not necessarily the specific exam date/time) in your course handbook. Resits for all modules take place early in August.

How we can help

During Semester Time - Ready, Steady, Exams Drop-in Workshops

We can provide one-to-one tutorials to help you develop strategies to prepare you for your exams. Alternatively, we offer you the chance to attend our Ready, Steady, Exams drop-in workshops where we look at revision strategies including time management, memory tips and suggestions for learning effectively as part of your preparation. Come to the Baxter Suite, 1.36, Level 1, Tower building, on Wednesday 23 March 2011 at 12pm or 1pm for sessions on exam revision and exam techniques, respectively. Our tutors have years of experience in setting, assessing (and also taking) exams, so they can guide you in the mysteries that may seem to surround the way to achieving a good grade.

If you are worried about your exams in any way at all, then we can probably help you by working through the issues that are causing you difficulty. We can offer you an individual or group tutorial with one of our specialist academic skills tutors. For an appointment, emailm.allardice@dundee.ac.uk

Resit Examinations: PREP

If you have had the misfortune to fail your examinations, then you should seriously consider registering for the Preparatory Resit Exam Programme (PREP) which provides two weeks of structured support immediately prior to the August resit Exam Diet - PREP has a good record of student success. PREP registration leaflets are distributed with the postal version of your exam results in June/July. Alternatively, please email the PREP co-ordinator: m.allardice@dundee.ac.uk for further information regarding the next PREP course.

Information for staff

Working collaboratively with fellow academics, Academic Achievement Teaching Unit staff have presented a number of Ready, Steady, Exams workshops on exam-preparation and exam-taking within modules. This has been found to be a very useful strategy as the team-teaching dimension provides opportunities for corroboration and reinforcement directly relating to the exams that students will be taking in the near future. If you would wish to host a teaching input such as this, then please contact m.allardice@dundee.ac.uk or telephone 01382 384308.

In addition, in the two weeks prior to the resits in August, we offer the PREP course for candidates taking exams at this time. All candidates who have resits are sent a copy of the PREP leaflet (which can also be downloaded from this page), a list of exam revision tips and a blank revision planning timetable. If you would like to know more about what this programme offers, please email the PREP co-ordinator: m.allardice@dundee.ac.uk