Shortcuts to Success, Study and Exam Skills for Leaving Certificate answers all your concerns about studying and succeeding in exams. The book concentrates on teaching the skills students need for study and exams and covers areas like good study habits, memory skills, beating exam stress, aural and oral exam preparation and staying healthy.
And parents aren’t left out either. The opening section of the book offers advice for parents to help and support their children throughout school life and exam years.
Irene Togher is an experienced teacher with an expertise in Study Skills at both secondary and PLC levels.
While the book is especially for Leaving Cert. students it is useful for all students doing any level of studying.
The book covers the following areas:
Section 1: Guide for Parents
We would all like to support and encourage our children through study and exams. Learn how to with this guide for parents.
Section 2: The Root of all Learning: Reading Skills
The first step to all learning is reading. This section will guide the student through better reading techniques. Reading to learn and reading to answer questions are the two major topics here.
Section 3: Learn to Listen
Listening in class is essential to learning and is one of the first steps to study. Areas like listening for key words and phrases, blocking out distractions etc. are covered here.
Section 4: Writing Skills that Impress
Since the majority of exams that students take are written exams, good writing skills are essential for all exams, not just English. This section will guide the reader through improving spelling and grammar, sentence structure and paragraphing.
Section 5: Build up Your Vocabulary
A good vocabulary is helpful for all exams. This section will instruct the student on some techniques he or she can use to build up an impressive vocabulary over time.
Section 6: The Art of Note-taking
Note taking is an important part of learning and studying. This section will advise on the best way to take notes and organise them for easy reference.
Section 7: Getting Organised to Study
Areas like, time to study, room to study and a timetable for study will be covered here.
Section 8: Keeping Well
Don’t let your health and wellbeing suffer when you study. Diet, exercise and stress management will be covered here.
Section 9: Memory Skills
Techniques the student can use to increase his or her ability to remember facts for the exam.
Section 10: Study and Practice Techniques
Other study tips and techniques for practicing exam questions. This is essential for mathematical learning.
Section 11: Managing the Exam
Timing, reading over the paper, taking note of marks allocated, allowing time to read over answers etc.
Section 12: Understanding Exam Language
The reader will learn here to distinguish between the different types of questions and the different vocabulary like discuss, outline, trace etc.
Section 13: Exam Technique and Tips
Structuring a logical answer, backing up opinions with reasons/examples, jotting down rough notes, answering the question that’s asked are all covered here.
Section 14: Before, During and After the Exam
Getting organised before the exam, beating exam stress, staying calm and focused during the exam and what not to do after the exam are areas to look at in this section.
Section 15: Oral Exam Preparation
Learn how best to prepare for oral language exams through practice and listening techniques.
Appendices:
Appendices: What is required in each paper for these Leaving Cert. subjects is explained here. Also you’ll get the top ten tips to study for each paper.
- English
- Mathematics
- Irish
- History
- Geography
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Home Economics
- Business Studies
