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Exam Information and Preparation Advice
Tips and tricks for how to prepare for your
short answer question exam
PSYC20007 Cognitive Psychology
Exam format
100% short answer questions
13 questions in total (one from each lecture and one from the ANOVA module)
150 words per question
The exam will be open for two days. There is no associated strict time limit.
The exam will be open book (i.e., you can use your lecture materials and notes)
Exam will be administered via Canvas assignments (the same format as your lab reports)
Exam date and time
The PSYC20007 exam will be run as a departmental exam
This means it will not appear on your exam timetable
The exam will be released at 10 a.m. on Tuesday,
November 1. Your responses will be due by 10 a.m. on
Thursday, November 3.
Information about the exam times can also be found on
the Exam Information & Revision page on the LMS.
Wrong! It will still
be very imPAWtant
to study for the
exam!
Hooray, if it’s an
open book exam
that means I don’t
have to study,
right???
Wrong! It will still be very imPAWtant to
study for the exam!
Although two days seems like a lot, it will certainly not be enough
time to learn the material for the first time!
Some of the questions asked will require you to think a bit more
deeply about the material. To do this, you will need to have a
strong understanding of the concepts taught.
Let’s take a look at some of the types of questions that might be
asked...
Question types
Questions asking you to directly demonstrate your understanding of a concept and/or research findings
Questions which ask you to compare/contrast or synthesise across concepts
Questions which ask you to provide a solution/ propose an experiment which solves a problem
Questions which provide you with some data/ an example which you need to interpret with regards to
what you’ve learned in the lectures
Questions which ask you to apply your knowledge to a “real life” scenario or case study
Some of the types of questions you may get on the exam are:
How to answer SAQs
Short answer questions rely on your ability to:
• Answer the question directly (rather than write broadly about the
topic)
• Write clearly, precisely, and succinctly
When answering SAQs it can be useful to follow these steps:
1. Identify what content you are being asked to write about. What part
of the course does it come from?
2. Identify how you are being asked to present your knowledge. Look for
the verbs in the question which will tell you what to do.
3. Identify what the scope of the question is.
Plan
Spend a few minutes planning the structure of your answer,
noting:
Your main point (the answer)
Key terms you’ll need to define
Supporting ideas and examples and the order you’ll use them in
Rephrase the question
Start your response by repeating some of the key words
from the question to help you stay on task.
E.g., “Propositional models can be defined as...”
Use functional language to connect ideas
and highlight relationships
Connect ideas explicitly for your reader using linking words like
'This results in...' to show cause and effect, ‘However’ to show an
opposing viewpoint. And, if your question is analytical, don’t
forget to use language to signal interpretation and analysis, for
example: ‘What this means is...’
How to answer SAQs: Other tips
Use language from your course
Use the language from your course to demonstrate your
understanding and knowledge. This will make your answer
clearer and more concise and better demonstrate your
knowledge of the content.
Answer the question as clearly and directly
as you can. Note: you do not need an
introduction/conclusion!
Don’t just write everything you know about the topic –
address the question directly
This isn’t an essay, so you do not need an intro/conclusion
(you won’t have space for this in only 150 words!)
How to answer SAQs: Other tips
You must keep to the word limit within each question. Examiners will not read past
the word limit for each question (+10%).
Although you will not be expected to provide a references list, you should still
include the name and year when referring to specific studies
Write in your own words. Turnitin will be used to check for plagiarism and
collusion.
Unless the question asks you for a list, prose is preferable over dot-points
How to study for the exam
Evidence suggests that taking a test on material can have a greater positive effect on
its future retention than spending an equivalent amount of time restudying the
material, even when:
• performance on the test is far from perfect
• and no feedback is given on missed information
Testing yourself can help you identify gaps in your knowledge and direct further
study
How to study for the exam
Testing also enhances learning and long
term retention of studied information
Effortful retrieval practice (such as from
attempting practice short answer
questions) increases the elaboration of the
memory trace and increases retrieval
pathways
Delayed retrieval is better for long-term
learning than immediate testing
• More effortful retrieval is more effective than
less effortful immediate retrieval from STM
Preparing for the exam
Everyone has different ways of studying for an exam. Ultimately, you are the best judge of
what study methods work well for you! We recommend that you:
DO:
• Use study techniques which actively test your knowledge
• Use the weekly revision quizzes and PeerWise
• Use the practice exam
• Create your own SAQ questions
• Take a look at the Academic Skills Unit website
DON’T:
• Assume that you don’t need to study because the exam is open book!
Planning your exam period
Although our exam is open for two days, this does not mean it will take a whole two days to complete
the exam!
You should be able to complete the PSYC20007 exam within 2 hours if you are well prepared and
really put your mind to it!
Continuing to work on the exam for some additional time may be helpful (e.g., revising your answers
and checking that they still make sense once you have taken step back from them), but overall,
spending a large amount of additional time will not help your mark if you are properly prepared
This means there is plenty of space to work on other exams, take breaks, and attend to other
personal commitments
However, there are some circumstances which are deemed unacceptable in terms of workload! If you
are asked to submit three or more exams in one day, this is an unacceptable clash. If you are being
asked to submit three exams in one day, please contact the Subject Coordinators for those exams
ASAP!
Planning your exam period
Before the exam:
• Plan out your time carefully so that you can manage any overlapping exams, as well as other
work or personal commitments (don’t forget to include rest breaks).
• Make sure you have access to a quiet study space which is free from distraction and that you
have access to a strong internet connection and fully charged and functioning laptop/device.
• Organise your notes in such a way that they will be easily accessible to you over the course of
the exam.
• If you have an Academic Adjustment plan which lists alternative exam arrangements (AEAs)
involving extra time during the exam, these are accommodated by the exam’s broad time limit.
Please check with Sarah ([email protected]) if you have any concerns.
Planning your exam period
During the exam:
• Take your time, read each question carefully, and plan out your answers.
• Make sure you have a go at answering every question. You will not lose marks for providing
wrong answers.
• If you need anything clarified, use the dedicated “Main Exam Questions” Discussion, which will
be made available at the start of the exam period. Sarah will be checking this throughout the
exam time.
• If you experience technical difficulties:
• Make sure you document these as completely as you can (e.g., with screenshots, photos, or videos)
• Take care of yourself! This includes pacing your work and taking lots of breaks.
Planning your exam period
After you’ve finished:
• You must submit your exam before the exam end time.
• If you do not submit before the end time, then you will be counted as having not sat the exam.
• There are no late penalties or extensions for the exam.
• To avoid unnecessary stress you should submit your exam the night before, or, at the very latest, an hour
before the submission deadline.
• The submission process will be like the lab report (i.e., you will submit a word document to Canvas via the
Exam Submissions link).
• To prove you have submitted the exam, you must take a screenshot of your submission confirmation and
keep this along with a copy of your exam.
• You must also ensure that you have submitted the correct document. No allowances will be made for
submitting an incorrect document.
• CELEBRATE!!!
If you’re unwell during the exam period
If you feel unwell during the exam period, no
extension to the submission deadline can be
granted.
Instead, you should get documentation (e.g.,
medical certificate) and apply to sit in the
Special Exam period via Special
Consideration for unexpected circumstances.