When you're revising your materials for exams, it's also important to not just learn the facts, but also think about your opinion on the key topics, so critical thinking is very important. - Ayako
Whatever course of studies you are following in the UK, there will almost certainly be some form of assessment involved. Written assignments completed during your course or examinations are the most common methods used to assess students' learning. You may have a mixture of exams and course work, or you may have just exams or just course work. This will depend on where you are studying and what course you are doing.
In these activities you will listen to an interview with an international student who compares her experiences of exams in her own country with exams in the UK. You will also explore some common problems which students report when dealing with course work, and consider how to solve them.
What to expect from exams in the UK
International students sometimes find that examinations in the UK are different from those they have experienced in their own countries. What are exams like in your country and do you know what to expect from exams in the UK? You are going to listen to an international student comparing her experiences of taking exams in her own country, and on her course in the UK.
Ayako
Instruction
Listen to Ayako comparing university exams in her home country with exams in the UK. Decide if each statement below is mentioned in relation to exams in Ayako's home country or exams in the UK, and answer the last question. Then check your score and read the feedback. You can listen to the interview as many times as you need to.
To listen to the audio, click the play button once, or select the control and press the space bar. You can pause the audio clip with the space bar.
Answer question 10 by typing your answers in the text area.
There is a transcript for you to look at if you need help: Audio transcript (pdf, 12kb).
1. Prepare opinions as well as revising facts.
2. Need to memorise key words and facts.
3. Expect to write more using an answer booklet.
4. Prepare with past papers and start revising early.
5. Understanding and opinions matter.
6. Question style is multiple choice.
7. Course work (such as essays or reports) count too.
8. Use of pencils rather than pens.
9. Not much assessed course work.
10. What view does Ayako have about the following: -exam stress -how to deal with it -when to start revising for exams
When you have finished, click the 'calculate your score' button to find how many correct answers you have and then check the feedback to find out the answers to question 10.
Here are the answers to question 10:
Exam stress: Ayako says it's normal to feel nervous before any exam but especially if it's a new exam experience for you in a different country.
How to deal with it: Ayako suggests that talking to friends and also to your personal tutor can help.
When to start revising for exams: Ayako recommends starting to revise as long as possible before an exam - at least two weeks.
Listen to the interview with Ayako again with the transcript above if you need to check your understanding. The parts of the transcript containing the answers to the listening task are highlighted.
Doing your course work
International students occasionally experience problems with their course work especially at the start of their studies in the UK. In this activity you are going to look at some typical problems that can arise with course work and identify ways to avoid them when you start your own studies in the UK.
Instruction
How would you deal with these students' course work problems? Match each problem with a solution from the list. Then check your answers and read the feedback.
You can make your selection using the dropdown menus. If you change your mind, you can still change your selection.
I wrote everything I knew about the assignment topic but still didn't get a good mark - the tutor said I hadn't answered the question.
I handed my assignment in half a day late, so I was penalised and received a lower grade.
I had problems producing the references - I didn't note down the details of which books and articles I used.
My assignment required 2500 words, but because I only wrote 1000, I lost a lot of marks.
I couldn't get hold of the books I needed to do my assignment.
I looked at the assignment and didn't know where to start; it seemed so difficult!
Here are the course work problems matched with a solution:
I wrote everything I knew about the assignment topic but still didn't get a good mark - the tutor said I hadn't answered the question. Keep checking that you're addressing the assignment question as you write your assignment to avoid writing 'around' the question.
I handed my assignment in half a day late, so I was penalised and received a lower grade. Start an assignment well in advance to ensure that you meet the assignment deadline.
I had problems producing the references - I didn't note down the details of which books and articles I used. As you read and research for your assignment keep detailed notes of all the books and articles you have read for later referencing.
My assignment required 2500 words, but because I only wrote 1000, I lost a lot of marks. Plan your assignment carefully and check that you have answered all parts of the question to produce a complete answer.
I couldn't get hold of the books I needed to do my assignment. Start looking for books well in advance; search for online journals too.
I looked at the assignment and didn't know where to start; it seemed so difficult! Take time to focus on understanding an assignment, which can usually be broken down into several smaller questions.
When you start your studies in the UK you will probably have a few questions about the first assignment tasks you are given and what is required. Check the instructions you have been given carefully and if you still have questions, ask a more experienced classmate or make an appointment to speak to your course tutor.
Would you like to review the main points?
On your course in the UK you will be assessed both through your course work assignments and examinations, or either of these methods alone. It is important to make sure you fully understand what a course work assignment requires of you before you start writing it and to give yourself plenty of time to produce it before the submission deadline. Exams in the UK may be different from those in your home country. One useful way to prepare yourself for exams in advance is by looking at past papers in your subject area in your university library.
What to expect from exams in the UK
once, or select the control and press the space bar. You can pause the audio clip with the space bar.
Doing your course work
