Examination Preparation

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 Exploring the Myths

What are the common myths?

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“Questions are written by one
person only”
MYTH!

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 Examination Items
• Contracted item writers
• Item writing guidance
• Question and mark scheme
– Relevant to learning outcomes
– Appropriate command words
– Current (legislation/best practice)
– Clarity/language
– Signposted
– Appropriate mark scheme
• Items submitted to Standards Department
– Accept, amend, reject
• Item banks for each qualification
• Constantly updated and reviewed

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“Questions are written in
‘NEBOSH’ speak”
MYTH!

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 Command words
• Give – to offer the consideration, acceptance, or use
of another
• Identify – to give reference to an item which could
be it’s name or title
• Outline – to indicate the principal features or
different part of
• Describe – to give a detailed written account of the
distinctive features of a subject
• Explain – to provide an understanding. To make an
idea or relationship clear.
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 Command words
NEBOSH no longer use the following command
words:
• List
• Sketch
• Define

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 Identify…
Identify FOUR kitchen appliances;
• Toaster
• Kettle
• Microwave oven
• Dishwasher

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 Outline…
Outline FOUR kitchen appliances;
• Toaster – Accomodates slices of bread, ejects as
toast when ready.
• Electric Kettle – 1 to 2 litre capacity, boils water. Can
be cordless.
• Microwave cooker – Heats food rapidly using short
wavelength radio waves.
• Dishwasher – Dirty tableware placed in baskets.
Mixture of high pressure water and detergent
automatically cleans.
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 Describe…
Describe a microwave cooker;

An oblong box shaped object, approximately

30cm tall, 30cm deep and 60cm long. There is a
single hinged door at the front, typically see
through. The door opens outwards and inside
there is a place to place a plate or dish and a
microwave transmitter is located above.
Outside, on the front there will be normally two
controls to set the power and cooking time.

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 Explain…
Explain how a microwave cooker heats up food;

The frequency of microwaves used in a

microwave cooker is sufficient to cause water
molecules in food to rotate. Rotating molecules
hit other water molecules and put them into
the same rotation and therefore this vibration
of molecules is converted into heat.

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 “To be awarded marks you must
reproduce the mark scheme word
for word”
MYTH!

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 “Negative marking is applied”

“Examiners mark one question each

and scripts are circulated”
MYTH!

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 Awarding Marks
• Mark in accordance with mark scheme
• Best practice to mark question by question and
mark the whole paper
• Care not to award duplicate marks
• No negative marking
• No deductions for poor spelling/grammar
• No half marks
• Standard abbreviations acceptable i.e. HASAWA

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Declaration of Results

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 Declaration of Results
• Results are declared 12 weeks after
examination sitting
• SHEilds Ltd exams officers will send out an
email copy of results upon request.
• Special considerations cannot be considered
after declaration

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“Submitting an EAR guarantees
additional marks”
MYTH!

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 EARs
• Procedures to enquire about results that do not
meet expectations
• Must be made in writing within one month of
issue of result
• Type 1 enquiry – clerical check by Operations
• Type 2 enquiry – clerical check and remark by
Principal Examiner/Team Leader
• Fee refunded if EAR successful
• Provides very basic feedback

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 Appeals
• If candidate remains dissatisfied following the
EAR procedure
• Intent to appeal within 14 days of date of
issue of EAR outcome
• Formal appeal within 21 days
• Appeal heard by specially convened Appeals
Panel

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 Examination Technique

Preparing students for examinations

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Addressing anxiety

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 Addressing anxiety
• Exam success, career success and happiness are related but
not interdependent
• Understand yourself – what are your unconscious fears that
make you feel stressed about assessment?
• Avoid quick fixes eg alcohol, nicotine, junk food etc.
• Five pillars of health:
– Everything in moderation
– Eat well
– Exercise
– Sleep
– Express yourself – it’s good to talk!
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 The day before
• Take the day off
• Check the date, time and venue for your exam
• Check you have your admission voucher and
identification
• Have a good nights sleep
• Avoid contact with people who want to talk
about the forthcoming exam
• Avoid alcohol and junk food
• Don’t go out the night before or watch TV until
late.

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 On the day (before the exam)
• Eat – your brain will need fuel
• Go to the bathroom
• Have a watch
• Arrive at the examination centre in plenty of time
• Have a good supply of pens etc.
• Avoid contact with other students
• Locate the exam room and the invigilator
• Breathe and relax

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Strategy during examination

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 During the exam
• Take approximately 5 minutes to read through
the questions (10 minutes allocated for Diploma)
• Clearly mark each part of your answer with the
question number
• Take mini-breaks – most students concentration
will dip after about 40 minutes so be in control of
it
• If you feel unwell tell the invigilator
• Avoid a note to ‘Dear Examiner’
• Stay until the end

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 Choosing questions
• Prioritise the questions – candidates usually
perform better answering the easiest to most
difficult (for them)
• Choice of questions? – choose carefully
• Allocate appropriate time to each question
• Take approximately 5 minutes at the end to look
over your answers and add comments as
appropriate
• Make time to plan your answers before you write
them down

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 Time management
• Apply strict time management and be disciplined
• Do not write the question in answer scripts
• Use accepted abbreviations e.g. RIDDOR
• Calculate the time available to answer each question and stick
to it
• If a question is split into parts, spend a proportionate amount of
time on each part according to the marks allocated
• Plan your answer
• Avoid spending too much time on a single part of a question to
the detriment of other parts
• If you run out of time make basic points for remaining questions
– summarise points or do a quick diagram
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 Answering questions
• READ THE FULL QUESTION
• Every word is there for a reason
• Re-read the question until certain you understand what is
being asked
• Answer specific to the question
– What is the command word? (in bold type)
– What aspects of the topic are you being asked to
consider?
– How many parts are there in the question?
– Scenario questions signpost and constrain an answer –
generalised answers will not attract full marks
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 Questions in ‘parts’
• Marks allocated indicate the weighting given to
each part of the answer
• Single part questions are often dismissed as
complex and difficult but can often be split into
distinct parts
• Determine what is required by each part
• Examiners cannot cross mark
• Don’t answer in part b ‘x information was already
given in part a’
• Clearly sign part a and part b answers

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 Top four study guides
• Syllabus
• Examiners reports
– Based on reports from Examiners and expected
answers
• Practice answers
– Break question down into components
• Command words
• Subject
• Context of question
• Past papers
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How students can prepare for
examinations

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 Preparation is key
• Build up knowledge
• Practice reading skills
• Develop handwriting skills
• Don’t leave it too late and don’t study to the very last
minute
• Prepare a written revision programme
• Do coursework and read wisely to understand the
ideas and issues involved
• Difficulties arise when you try to ‘revise’ i.e. learn
your course materials in a few days at the end of the
course.
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 Getting started
• Organise your work in a way that works for you
• The secret of getting started is breaking tasks into smaller
manageable ones
• Get settled:
– Comfortable clothing
– Comfortable chair
– Go to the bathroom
– Get a drink
– Have all equipment, notes to hand
– Establish target deadlines
– Set specific rewards for targets met
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 Revision
• Organise and start revision early
• Revise regularly to improve memory
• A good time to revise is on completion of each
element to consolidate concepts
• Allocate more time to weaker subjects
• Have a ‘done’ column in your timetable
• Include free time balanced with work
• Take regular breaks
• Limit the hours worked each day
• Put deadlines on a calendar

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 Memory
• Recall improves after the first nights sleep
• Revise the day after you learn something
• Revise again and again as the memory deteriorates
• Active revision – reproducing what you learn
• The more creative the more memorable
• Mnemonics – can make revision more enjoyable and
confident
• Create stories
• Stimulate the brain’s right hemisphere – enjoys fun
not logic

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 Exam success
• Innate ability (20%)

• Good knowledge of the subject (30%)

• Strong exam technique (50%)

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 Handwriting
• Write in short sentences and paragraphs

• Start each new issue with a new paragraph

• Try to keep handwriting as legible as possible

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 Common pitfalls
• Candidates do not read the question properly
• Command words are ignored
• Did not attempt all required questions
• Time management of questions
• Incorrect choice of question
• Handwriting illegible

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 After the examination
• A surge of elation or depression is natural –
let it pass
• Don’t convince yourself you have failed – you
only know your performance when you get
your results
• Avoid dissecting your script or post mortems
discussing answers with other students

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