Open Book

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Learning Strategies

Open Book, Take Home = & Oral Exams

= Open Book Exams

Open book exams test your ability to find relevant knowledge and then to apply that knowledge. Here are some tips for a successful open book exam.

· &n= bsp; Prepare as much for an open book exam as= you would for any exam

· &n= bsp; Keep up with all your course readings and lectures

· &n= bsp; Familiarize yourself with resources you = are able to use, you want to be able to access the information quickly

· &n= bsp; Prepare a study guide of concepts and id= eas being tested

· &n= bsp; Know the format of the exam; will you ha= ve to reference material?

· &n= bsp; Use sticky notes or mark pages where information you need is located

Take Home Exams

Many of the same techniques apply for compl= eting a take home exam as with the open book. However there are some ot= her things that you need to be aware of.

· &n= bsp; Ask for clarification on exam format and what you will be marked on, e.g.: will grammar be marked?

· &n= bsp; Allow for enough time to complete, often times take home exams are designed to take longer than what you would h= ave written in class and can sometimes be 6-7 hours of work

· &n= bsp; Organize your material for easy access

· &n= bsp; Find out if you need to reference

Oral Exams

Many language courses have an oral exam component; however you may find them in other courses as well. A = good measure of someone’s understanding of a subject is their ability = to verbally understand it. There are different techniques you can em= ploy to help achieve success in your oral exams.

· &n= bsp; Clarify format, is it formal or informal= ?

· &n= bsp; The exam begins when you enter the room,= be professional and courteous

· &n= bsp; Dress appropriately and turn off your ce= ll phone

· &n= bsp; Listen carefully to the question and ans= wer directly

· &n= bsp; Do not simply answer yes or no, but also= do not answer as if it is a rehearsed speech, remember you are engaged in = an academic conversation

· &n= bsp; Use two to three points in your answer to demonstrate your knowledge

· &n= bsp; If you do not know an answer do not ramb= le on, simply state that you do not know the answer and move on

· &n= bsp; Maintain your confidence and composure, = each new question is a fresh start

· &n= bsp; If you do not understand a question do n= ot interrupt the examiner, wait until they are finished and then ask your questions

· &n= bsp; Practice, create open ended questions and answer them, especially in a study group

· &n= bsp; Experiences with oral presentations, tutoring and class participation are all helpful preparation for oral e= xams

· &n= bsp; Make sure you understand everything from your lectures and reading list and how they related to each other

For more information plea= se see the following websites:

http://ww= w.studygs.net/tsttak7.htm

htt= p://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/obe.html

http://www.te= sttakingtips.com/

http://www.studygs.net/oralexams.htm

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