oooops... I did it again. Drank 2 cups of coffee a few hours before going to bed. I knew it would have this effect on me, but just couldn't resist... with all these Peipons around me who can drink coffee in litres and buckets... and still fall asleep when necessary. I'm pretty sure that Mom Marianna and Papa Jim are sound asleep in their bed just like my sweet hubby in the room next door. But we all had the same amount of the same coffee!!! Not fair. I'm the one who should get some sleep tonight. After all, I was the one to stay up till 2 a.m. last night, getting up early and passing my exam... (just like Jamie - he did all those too - but that's not the point, I'm trying to draw all the sympathy towards myself right now :))
So, anyhow, since I'm up anyway (though it's already 'tomorrowly late') I might as well finally write something on my poor neglected blog.
Since I just passed one of the most difficult exams, I decided to share my wisdom with those who still have some to take... I'm not going to fit a whole Theory of Literature course into this post.
I'm going to give some practical pieces of advice for a successful passing of any difficult oral exam. So, kids, listen up...
1. On the night before an exam don't try to fool yourself - one night is NOT enough to fit into your head all the social experience and knowledge that had been developing throughout yeeeeeeaaars of hard work by many gifted individuals. Whether you learned most of it or not, you gotta have a good night sleep. At least 6 hours (for a student that's considered A LOT - correct me if I'm wrong).
2. Once you wake up and try to remember anything from what you read yesterday - you'll most likely find that you don't remember a thing. Your main task here is NOT TO PANIC!!!! Don't grab your books and papers with shaking hands to try to retrieve everything. It won't help. Your mind will remain a total mess...
3. ...until the moment you get your exam questions in the class. Once you sit at your table, calm down, attentively read the task, your mind will suddenly be crystal clear - all you will remember from the wild racing through the pages of your study books will be the answers to these questions in front of you. Nothing else to interfere. Use the thoughts that come on your mind, put them on a sheet of paper, structure your oral answer.
4. When you come to speak, you have to look confident and relaxed. Say hello, smile, be charming and polite.
5. Speak starting from the things you know really well, go into details, give vivid examples, use gestures (not too much!). As far as a teacher sees how deeply and fundamentally you've studied this problem he/she might think that this is what your knowledge is like on the rest of the problems of your task. Once you start talking on the problem you're not so sure about, keep looking cool - talk confidently as if this is exactly how things are. Once you start believing your own words, the teacher will believe you too. So don't be afraid to use your imagination a little. The main thing is to look confident and speak in a normal speed, maybe even a little faster that usual - so that the teacher's impression would be 'Oh, she knows a lot on this one, she's trying to tell me everything she knows in this limited time... But I have these other students I must listen to'. This is the point where the teacher stops you to say 'Alright, I can see that you've prepared to this question very well. Let's move on to the next one...' This way you're skipping the hard part, the one you wouldn't be able to present well and with dignity.
6. Accept your 'A' mark gratefully but without much surprise and excitement - you earned it!
7. And one other thing that might help... Study. I recommend doing this one not during just one night (like I did) - but step by step during a whole semester. That helps.
I assume? ;)
What important advice have I forgotten, people? Share your experience - I still have one more to go on Tuesday.
p.s. by the way both Jamie and I successfully passed our exams today with happy well-earned 'A's'! (They should get married!) I say, glory be to God!
p.p.s. Faith, there is a special author's comment for you in the Victorious Yulia post ;)
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7 comments:
Wow. That is so neat about her hair. I love braids. I wear my hair in braids all the time because it is so much easier then having to tame my wild frizzy curls. heh. And I got mentioned on your blog. That is great too. :) It made me smile today at work when I found that.
Second, congratulations on your grades!! I know how great that feels. You should be very proud. And yes, studying over the entire semester does help. However, the studying that I do the night before always seems to help more. heh. :D
Oh and coffee does the same thing to me, but does not effect Jared at all. I completely understand your frustration!! Coffee with dessert is so good, but so dangerous to my bedtime.
I'm glad you can feel my pain, sista! :))
And good luck on your exams and classes! I feel your pain :)
wow. you're like a proper exam guru... he he
This is so great that I'm going to recommend it to all my children who still have exams and stage flight(Ben-he even has to wear a suit to his oral exams to look professional).
Hey-how did the remodeling in your office turn out?
Coffee: to you and Faith. Have the coffee with dessert IF you will soon be in bed(the caffeine will hit about the time you need to get up in the morning) But if you'll be up for a while just resign yourself to late-night blogging:-)
Wow, I'm so honored y'all appreciate my exam advice! Come for more! :))
Wearing special clothes for exam... hmm... Ben must look really sharp. We have to wear something proper, too. A pair of jeans and a T-shirt don't work.
Mrs. T, my office looks great! Thanks for asking. Nice peachy walls, neat floors... Although, my table was moved. I asked the IT guys to put it in its old place, but they said it was impossible - wires and stuff - it had to be done this way. I was so sad that they decided to give me a new monitor :))
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