To get a new campus card during the exam period, visit this webpage to get one. Also note, Student Connect have increased their opening hours during this time.

Nina, Charli, Daisy and Graci will be stationed in front of MUSE on Wally’s Walk from 12:30pm to 2:00pm. So, if you happen to be walking past, give them a pat, a cuddle or a tickle. They’re here for you! For more info, email events@mq.edu.au.

The changes are to the name, from DtS to Special Consideration Policy, with the following to be communicated to students as the differences/improvements:

1. The Disruptions to Studies Policy has a new name. It will be called the ‘Special Consideration Policy’ from 4 December 2017.
2. It is a clearer Policy and Procedure that ensures students who experience chronic or prolonged adverse circumstances can get the right support. The Policy encourages these students to register with Campus Wellbeing to get access to disability support and adjustments.
3. Greater clarity for students who become ill during an examination and instructions on what they need to do.
4. An easier process for students who will be able to submit one form for all their units.
5. Flexibility in the type of supporting documentation that students can provide listed in the new Supporting Evidence Schedule.
6. Removal of Withdrawal Without Academic Penalty as an automatic remedy preventing any withdrawal occurring without the student’s consent. Students may be recommended to consider applying for Withdrawal Without Academic Penalty separately if their Special Consideration application is not successful.
7. A new Outcomes Schedule listing assessments with possible outcomes, dependent on duration of the adverse circumstances the student experienced.

Here are some tips to help you make the most of the mid-session break and get back on track.

1. Get organised

Organisation is the key to managing your assessment workload, your study priorities and your time to minimise stress. Whether you stick to a daily or weekly schedule, map out all the things you have to do including assessments and any other ‘life stuff’ like appointments and job shifts. That way, you can work out what days are looking a little busier than others and adjust the schedule if you can.

2. Declutter 

We get it, session gets busy, which means your bedroom/study space is starting to look a little more chaotic than ordered. Spend a morning or afternoon clearing out your cupboards, shelves and desk space, keeping only the essentials. (If you have a hard time deciding what counts as ‘essential’, get a friend or family member to help you!). There are so many benefits to a clean and decluttered space: it’s a sense of achievement, a great mood-booster and will increase your focus on tasks when you’ve got less distractions around (goodbye, procrastination!).

If you find you work better in a different environment other than home, we’ve got lots of study spaces here on campus!

3. Manage your stress

UniWellbeing is a free, five-week online course for students, which provides you with key skills to assist you in responding to stress, worry, sadness or low moods prior to the peak assessment and exam period. The course commences every two weeks, and the mid-session break is the perfect time to start! You can apply to participate in the next  course by completing this short self-referral form.

4. Find your balance

While the mid-session break offers a fantastic chance to catch up on work without lectures and tutes, it’s important to also factor in time to refresh yourself – whether that means weekly sport, a day excursion with friends to somewhere you’ve never been before or an occasional Netflix binge. Do an activity that will allow you to really unwind, so that you’re far more refreshed to tackle assessments and other tasks.

5. Realign the goal posts

What did you do well in the first half of session? What do you want to improve on in the second half of session? Use your break to acknowledge things you’re grateful and appreciative for, including everything you’ve achieved in the first half of the session. Then make a list of outcomes you’d like to see for yourself by the end of the year, whether it is a certain mark for a subject, or a goal to lock in a summer internship. Write them on Post Its and stick them in places where you’ll see them every day, so they can act as small reminders to keep the focus during those last few weeks of session.

Think you’re in need of some extra tips to master certain skills to help you achieve your goals? There are workshops offered at MQ that can help you out, including how to write academically, edit your own work and prep for exams. Check out the full schedule here.

1. Have an attack plan

Before the exam, decide on the order you are going to complete the questions. Starting with the questions you feel most confident about increases confidence, starts your thinking and triggers your memory.

2. Organise your timing

Allocate time for each exam question based on the following:

• How many marks questions are worth (e.g. if a question is worth 40 marks out of 100, then it should be allocated 40% of your time)
• The type of exam question (e.g. short answer)

Avoid spending too much time on a difficult question, and note your time allocations on the exam paper so you don’t forget your deadlines.

3. Be prepared

Avoid any nasty surprises! Read through all the exam instructions and all the questions in your reading time and before you start to write.

4. Understand your questions

For multiple-choice and true-false:

• Read each question carefully several times.
• Try to come up with the answer before you read all the options (this will help you pick the correct answer).
• If not negatively marked, answer all questions even if you have to guess.
• Don’t spend too long on any one question. You won’t get any more marks!
• Be alert for specific wording, such as
  • Negative phrasing – (choose answer which doesn’t…)
  • Subjective questions – (choose option that best …)
  • Judgement questions – (choose the most correct…)
  • Multiple answers – (choose more than one…)
  • Generalising words – (all, none, always, never)

For short answer questions:

• Keep to the point.
• Provide your answer in the first sentence then use the details and facts to demonstrate your understanding.

For essay style questions:

• Take some time to plan your answer first.
• Understand what the instruction words (e.g. discuss, compare, evaluate) are asking you to do.
• If the question has several parts, answer them in the order they are given.
• Put each main point in a separate paragraph.
• If you are running out of time, use dot points to outline your ideas.

For open book and take home exams:

• Know your texts and notes well so you can find the information you need quickly.

Interested in more ideas and information on exam strategies? Check out:

• Learning Skills workshop slides, Preparing for exams, and Be exam ready from WellbeingWISE
• Exam strategies: How to tackle different questions
• How to prep for exams like a pro

Know your enemy: find out the exam details
To get your preparation started, find out as much as you can about your exam. Having this information on hand and ready will help relieve stress on the day.

– What topics/material will be covered?
– What types of questions will you have to answer (essays, multiple choice, short answer etc)?
– How long will the exam be?
– What room will the exam be in (check the timetable for updates)?

Get ready to revise
There’s no better time to start than right now! Someday is not a day of the week, after all.

– Collect all your relevant material (unit guide, notes, readings, handouts, PowerPoint slides etc.)
– Organise your material into topic areas
– Create a realistic study plan/timetable (only set short focused study sessions, no longer than 50 minutes)
– Prioritise – allocate more time to the topics or subjects you find more difficult
– Check out How do I manage my time?

Revise actively
Don’t just read or re-read your notes, there’s other, more engaging ways to study.

– Draw diagrams, concept maps or mind-maps of your notes
– Make hand-written summaries (this technique helps with memory as well as provides you with writing practice for the exam)
– Make flash cards of key words and concepts
– Practice by taking previous exams (under exam conditions!); find a buddy to check it for you, or test yourself
– Avoid multi-tasking. Stay focused (switching between tasks negatively impacts your higher cognitive activity)
– Avoid distractions (hide your phone!)

For more exam preparation strategies, check out Preparing for Exams in StudyWISE.

Multiple choice questions
– Don’t spend too long on any one question – you won’t get more marks for it
– Try and work out the answer before you look at the options
– If the test is not negatively marked, answer every question rather than leaving any blank, even if that means guessing
– Read each question carefully paying attention to:
-negative phrasing (choose answer which doesn’t …)
-subjective questions (choose option that best …)
-judgement questions (choose the most correct …)
-multiple answers (choose more than one …)

Short answer questions
– Keep to the point; you won’t get extra marks for making answers longer than they need to be
– Work out what the question is asking you to do – the purpose of the question – before you start answering
– Provide the answer in the first sentence then use the details and facts to demonstrate your understanding

Essay style answers
– Take some time to plan your answer first
– Know what the instructional word(s) are asking you to do (e.g. analyse, discuss, evaluate, compare etc.)
– Put each main point in a separate paragraph
– If the question has several parts, answer them in the order they are given

Need more help on essay-style questions? Check out our overview of written assessments.

Before your exam
– Eat healthy food and avoid liquids high in sugars and caffeine
– Drink enough water each day; dehydration puts your body under unnecessary stress
– Monitor and stick to good sleep patterns; aim for seven hours of good sleep and try to get to bed before midnight
– Exercise regularly; it helps with energy levels and reduces stress
– Don’t isolate yourself from friends and family, people are good stress release and support factors
– Time out to limit overwhelming feelings: take some time to rejuvenate, recharge and clear your mind. Treat yourself to something you enjoy!

Exam morning
– Don’t get up too early to cram as you may run out of energy
– Have a healthy breakfast
– Arrive early (approximately 20 minutes, so you are not rushed and stressed)
– Avoid nervous classmates – it’s contagious!
– Briefly glance through summaries/note cards
– Take deep breaths and have positive thoughts

During your exam
– Maximise your time by reading instructions and questions carefully
– Allocate the time for each question in advance, according to the marks given
– Jot down words or ideas for each question to stimulate ideas
– Start with the easy questions, as this increases confidence, jumpstarts your thinking and triggers your memory
– If you get stuck, move on to the next question and come back. Sometimes you will remember one thing while you are concentrating on something else
– It’s OK to take time to pause and refocus. Take some deep breaths

After the exam
– Don’t stew over your answers
– Pat yourself on the back for getting through it, and celebrate!

Need help dealing with stress and anxiety? Campus Wellbeing are here to help. You can email them, call them on 02 9850 7497, visit them at Level 2, C8A (Lincoln Building), or visit their website.

5. You can get a second chance if you fail a ‘hurdle’ requirement
Some (but not all) units have a minimum performance level that is required in order to pass a unit. For example, if your final examination requires you to achieve a mark of fifty percent in order to pass the unit (no matter how well you’ve performed in earlier assessments), it is known as a ‘hurdle requirement’. Under the new policy, you must be provided with a second chance to meet the hurdle requirements provided you have made a serious first attempt at the assessment. There will be some exceptions to this general rule, which is detailed in your unit guide.

6. Your opinion matters
As partners in your learning, you are welcome and encouraged to provide constructive feedback on your assessment tasks. Please take the time to let your tutor know how assessments could be improved.

7. Final exams
The final examination timetable will be published at least four weeks prior to the first exam. Remember, you won’t be allowed to enter the exam after an hour has passed – so make sure you’re on time!

1. There are set criteria for all assessments
Assessment at Macquarie is standards-based. This means that your work will be assessed against clear criteria (we will not fit you into a ‘typical’ curve), and these criteria will be made available to you. Macquarie encourages you to invest time in understanding the criteria. Please ask your unit convenor if the criteria is not clear to you. Understanding the criteria is one of the most important steps you can take towards achieving the grade you are aiming for.

2. Program-based approach to assessment
In a significant shift, the new Policy requires a program-based approach to assessment. This means that assessment workloads and the timing of assessments must now be considered across an entire program of study (eg a major) to ensure they are reasonable and sustainable for students (and staff).

Check back next week for two more tips to understanding the new policy.