Room X9 English - resources and notices

If you have a twitter account follow @mysqa_sam for up to date information on exams, study tips and useful information from the SQA – it will help ease the stress! Also look at the SQA Exam tips page — they have a very good guide available for download here

@mysqa_sam hints published so far (newest first)

1. Study tips 34: Don’t drink too much coffee, tea and fizzy drinks; the caffeine will make you feel ‘keyed-up’ and your thinking less clear.
2. Study tips 33: Believe in yourself. You are capable of passing – you wouldn’t have a place on the course if you didn’t have the ability.
3. Study tips 32: Always read each question carefully. Don’t just think “I know this” and charge in. You’re likely to make silly mistakes. (Added 12 April 2010)
4. Study tips 31: Revise with a friend if possible, exchanging ideas during revision. It helps both people understand, and builds confidence.
5. Study tips 30: To do well in maths, attempt all questions. Even if you can’t do the harder later parts, the early bits should be easy marks.
   
6. Study tips 29: If you have trouble with specific details, at least try to understand the topic generally – details are sometimes supplied. 
7. App news – the Google android mobile timetable builder now available via www.sqa.org.uk/timetable. Final version coming soon – stay tuned.
8. Study tips 28: Use the same pens etc. you would normally use in class. This can be a small psychological booster – use new pens for spares. 
9. Study tips 27: Don’t compare your prelim performance with your friends’. Set your own goals and work hard to achieve them.
   
10. Study tips 26: Get a good night’s sleep. Do not stay up till all hours revising unless you feel this is vital – in which case, why???
11. Study tips 25: Remember that after the exam you can chill and won’t have any more revision – this will help you relax before the event too.
    
12. Study tips 24: Try to revise one section of notes, or one set of topics together
13. Study tips 23: Practise some past papers under timed conditions, so you can handle the pressure better when the big day comes. 
14. People are LOVING the app – make sure you download your at: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/my-ex… 
15. Have you got your SQA Timetable app yet? Download at: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/my-ex… Google and other versions coming soon.
16. Study tips 22: Avoid arguments at school and at home. They will upset you, put you under pressure and affect your studying 
17. Download Timetable app for iPhone and iPod Touch at: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/my-ex… Google and other versions coming soon. 
18. Study tips 21: Separate revision notes into different folders so you know where each subject is, and it doesn’t look too overwhelming.
    
19. Study tips 19: Eat sensibly – healthy eating can improve your performance. Eating little and often, keeps your energy levels up. 
20. Study tips 16: Make it personal. Find your own deep and compelling reason to learn your subject successfully and pass your exams.
21. MySQA – Delivering Exam Results a Day Early: http://bit.ly/bNrvqY
22. Study tips 14: Be realistic – if you think “anything less than A+ means I’ve failed” then you are creating unnecessary stress for yourself.
23. Study tips 13: If you don’t understand something, getting stressed won’t help. Take action – ask your teacher or your class mates to help. 
24. Study tips 12: Work in 10 min bursts, have a 10 min break and start again. Build to 20 or 40 min bursts, keeping breaks to 10 min. It works! 
25. Big News: Register for MySQA and get your results by text or email THE DAY BEFORE your paper certificate arrives on the 5th August.
    
26. Study tips No 11: Try to think of exam day as just another school or college day – you’ll be more relaxed that waqy.
    
27. Study tips No 10: Different revision techniques work for different people – memorise, summary notes, keywords, diagrams, what works for you?
28. Study tips No 9: If you like to study to music, listen to something familiar that you like – it’ll put you in a more positive frame of mind.
    
29. Study tips No 8: Don’t be late. Do be prepared – pen, check; pencil, check; calculator, check; lucky teddy, checked waistcoat.
30. Study tips No 7: RTQ. ATQ. (Some people put an “F” in these, but as SQA we couldn’t possibly). 
31. Study tips No 6: Know how the exam works – review previous and sample papers. Previous tests prepare you for the next one. 
32. Study tips No 5: You can never study too hard or too much – but you can study too long. Take a break. 
33. Scots sitting Standard grades or Highers – sign up for MySQA to receive your results by test or email. Saves waiting on the postie!
    
34. Study tips No 4: Going over a topic as soon as you learn it will reinforce it more effectively than leaving it to revise at the last minute. 
35. Exam News 1: This year your exam certificates will be sent out to arrive on Thursday 5th August.
    
36. Study tips No 3: Plan your work, but remember planning it doesn’t mean you’re doing it.
    
37. SQA launching a new app in April. Build your exam timetable and get exam info – you could win an iPod Touch. See www.sqa.org.uk/timetable.
38. Study tips No 2: It’s better to understand that to remember.
39. Study tips No 1: Stop putting it off!
40. I’m Sam and I’m here to help students sitting their SQA standard or higher grades, particularly using the MySQA online results service.
    

More tips on the X9 Revision site

See link in blogroll down right hand side

Lots of good links and useful tips here (thanks to Stirling High for the tip off!)