23rd Quick Step: How not to do a final exam review ❌❕
Use a trigger to do that review quicker and better 💥.
Hey math strategizers,
It’s final exam season here in Ontario Canada,
and first exams are slated to start next week (for private schools) and start third week of June for public schools. For most students their exam counts for 30% of their final mark, and yes that’s for grade 12s too, many of whom have already received their university offers, some conditional. So yeah, this can be a stressful time.
Grade 9s in Ontario don’t get a school final exam but it gets replaced with the standardized Ontario wide test/exam (EQAO) – this is a way for the province to compare how schools and students are doing.
Like any big test, how well you prepare makes the world of difference to the mark you will get on that final exam. To aid students with their exam preparation most teachers will give an exam review.
What is a final exam review?
Math questions that a teacher chooses from the whole course that they feel their students must know. It is HIGHLY recommended you complete it before writing the final exam.
This is the story of Rexx and his exam review experience,
(not his real name, and I’ve added some fictional talk to make things interesting and fun). I’ll talk about how Rexx did his exam review before he started with me and the strategy he used once he was working with me. Spoiler alert – he did better using my strategy. 😊
How to not do an exam review in three ‘easy’ steps
and this is a popular-common-go-to method.
Strategy-guy: Rexx you’re up, can you tell me how you did your exam review last year?Rexx: I started by doing the exam review questions … just like we’re supposed to.
Strategy-guy: Has anyone ever told you how to do an exam review?
Rexx: Heck no. We just get it and we do it.
Rexx: If I get to a question that I don’t know how to do … I give up …
Strategy-guy: You give up, what? Why? That’s it?
Rexx: No … I mean yes, I give up and then I get help.
Strategy-guy: From where?
Rexx: … from somewhere, anywhere, anyone, someone!
Strategy-guy: Can you get more specific?
Rexx: I’ll ask the teacher for help, or I’ll look at answers at back of the exam review for help …
Strategy-guy: That’s it?
Rexx: Oh no. I could ask a friend or a classmate for help. I might look to notes for help … oh yeah, and I’ll go online for help to watch a video … though I sometimes get sidetracked and watch other videos.
Strategy-guy: That’s good Rexx, you’re watching other math videos!
Rexx: Ah, no. Not exactly - I think that’s your attempt at bad sarcasm. I’ll watch you know, music videos or videos that make me smile or laugh or …
Strategy-guy: Okay I get the idea. And then what do you once you get back to math?Rexx: I’ll keep doing questions and getting help until the exam review is done!
Strategy-guy: Can I give you some feedback … some advice …
Rexx: Oh yeah, you’re the strategy-god, I mean guy, though please don’t tell me not to watch music videos or fun videos.
Strategy guy: Two problems with the way you did that exam review:
#1 Too much giving up (will create a negative habit)
#2 You’re getting too much help (will make you dependent on help and that’s a problem as no help allowed on final exams).
Rexx: I see what you’re getting at S-guy. What should I do?
Strategy-guy: Here’s the thing Rexx, if you’re thinking of doing your exam review that way again and you feel you will have to get help on more than 60% of the questions, then that means you’ve only remembered a max of 40% of the course). Too little. Way too little, too low! Not good. That means you’re not ready to do the exam review.
Rexx: Well, I looked at this year’s exam review and only feel confident in about … umm, so I see what you’re getting at. I don’t want to become a giver-upper or … have to get help on most questions. Is there another way Strategy-guy?
Strategy-guy: Why yes there is Rexx. Though why do you think there would be so many questions you don’t know how to do as you were taught all these questions in your course, right?
Rexx: You know that’s a very good question – can we skip the fact that I didn’t do all homework or didn’t study well for tests or only memorized and didn’t take the time to understand and … Can you get to how you’re going to help me with this year’s exam review. I need to do well on this exam, it’s worth 30% of my final mark.
Strategy-guy: Relax Rexx, this is where I get to connect math to real life and do my monologue. Many do their exam review that way, but here’s why I don’t recommend it. Let’s look at what you do in a similar situation in other parts of your life:
1. You play a sport (say soccer or basketball) and have a practice game coming up against another team - do you give up often or get a lot of help during the practice game? No!
2. You play a musical instrument (saxophone, piano) or you’re a dancer (e.g. ballet, break) and have a concert coming up – during the last practice/review, do you give up often or get a lot of help? No!
3. You have a verbal presentation coming up or an audition for a commercial (or a TV show) and are doing a trial run on your own - do you give up many times or get a lot of help? No!
In all cases you might look a little at notes or ask a few questions, but if you’re asking too many questions that means? You were not prepared!!! So why do that with your math exam review? The math exam review is you testing yourself to see how much you remember and giving up a lot or asking many questions means you’re not remembering much 😒!
Strategy-guy: Rexx, Rexx … did I lose you?
Rexx: Sorry guy I dozed off during your monologue. It was so interesting, really … Umm, can you sum it up in one sentence … you know make it short, tight, concise, to the point, without you rambling on … and on …?
Strategy-guy: Prepare so you don’t give up often or have to ask for help many many times!!! Rexx would you like to know how to …
Rexx: Yes, I’d like to know how to …. how to …. how to do an exam review without giving up or getting so much help?
Strategy-guy: Wonderful. Rexx the strategy I use with my students on their exam review is the one you’re going to use. You will eventually do that exam review as most students do, but first you will do two strategies that most students don't do. And those two strategies, will have you remembering more of what’s on the exam review, which means …
Rexx: I’m not giving up as much and seeking help less. I get it. I’m feeling a little more hopeful on this Strategeeee Guyyyy.
Strategy-guy: 1st You will prepare for your exam review and 2nd you will do the exam review on your own without any help or assistance.
Rexx: Really? You think I can do that?
Strategy-guy: Yup! Let’s get to it.
Rexx: I am so ready coach, I am so ready to see this amazing strategy you came up with that will help me do better, be better, remember better! Well, I hope it’s amazing, as we’ve been talking about this for quite a while now. What’s the strategy?
Strategy-guy: Two words.
Rexx: What?
Strategy-guy: Two words.
Rexx: What?
Strategy-guy: Two words.
Rexx: What?
Strategy-guy: Two words.
Rexx: Okay hold up, what two words are you talking about? Am I supposed to know these two words? Are they like magical words or secret words or a passcode or something?
Strategy-guy: Summary Sheets!
Rexx: Oh, those two words. Okay, I got the words, but what do I do with the words … just a second … I’m thinking ... stop … no … you’re telling me my Summary Sheets are the strategy? No …
Strategy-guy: Yes Mr. Rexx. Your Summary Sheets is how you remember what's been taught in the course as quickly as possible. And you do that by … by ….
Read more on Summary Sheets here.
Rexx: By … by ... getting my Summary Sheets?
Strategy-guy: Exactly. And here comes my monologue number two …
Rexx: Oh no, I’m now getting a trigger reaction whenever you say ‘monologue’ as I know what’s coming ... You know what I mean by trigger S-guy?
Strategy-guy: Rexx, I like how you’re thinking. Strap yourself in as we’re about to ramp things up.
Rexx: I am so strapped in coach … let’s get to this …. finally.
Strategy-guy: You've written Summary sheets for each lesson during your course in your handwriting! Go to the first one and read the question ….
Rexx: That’s a short monologue
Strategy-guy: You interrupted!
Rexx: I did, shucks, so sorry, go ahead start over, my bad. I have a question – why am I reading the question on the Summary Sheet?
Strategy-guy: I’ll continue and pretend you didn’t interrupt my moment in the sun - What makes reading your question a powerful method is by reading something you wrote in your handwriting the odds are high it will trigger a reminder on how to do it.
Rexx: OMG Strategy-guy! Pretty neat stuff. That makes so much sense. It does … by reading the math in my handwriting I will remember what I did quicker … Brilliant! by the way you realize you stole my word, trigger, that I use earlier to describe how I feel about your mono ...
Strategy-guy: You are right Rexx.
Rexx: About stealing my trigger word?
Strategy-guy: No about it being a brilliant strategy. Proud of that one …
Rexx: Hello. Hello … can we stay focused S-Guy. You went down a hole with … brilliant and proud.
Strategy-guy: Thanks Rexx, I do go off on tangents sometimes … Tangents come up in Physics and you’ll also see it when you do Calculus as a tangent is just a straight line that …
Rexx: Whatttt? Did you just to a tangent to your tangent? Is that even allowed in math? That’s like a tangent squared ...
Strategy-guy: Not exactly as tangent squared would imply you’re multiplying tangent times tangent which doesn’t make sense.
Rexx: I see what you mean, so maybe it’s a double-tangent … like a double-agent.
Strategy-guy: Okay whatever … where were we … where was I? Oh yeah, if you cannot remember how to do the question, then start looking at the solution you wrote (in your handwriting), and you will probably think …
Rexx: I know what I would think, “Oh yeah, I remember doing this” and I’d know how to do if before I read the full solution. So, in a matter of seconds or, at most a minute, I will have reminded myself how to answer the question 😊! I’m liking this.
Rexx: S-guy, this is fantastic. It can work. I can see it now … Did anyone ever tell you that you’re …
Strategy-guy: Rexx! … then you’ll repeat the process for your second summary sheets, then the third sheet ... until all are completed.
Rexx: Got it. Can I get to my Summary sheets now?
Strategy-guy: Love the enthusiasm, Rexx! Yes, this strategy helps you remember quicker. Rexx, for the easier questions with one or two steps, do them mentally as that's quicker. For questions requiring more that two steps, write your answer on paper.
Rexx: Okay I’m going to start now …
Strategy-guy: The advantage of using Summary Sheets …
Rexx: Oh, you’re still talking … when will it be my line as you seem to be getting most of the lines in this script?
Strategy-guy: Rexx, I’m the lead actor in the script … you are supporting, so play your part!
Rexx: Who wrote this script anyway?
Strategy-guy: The advantage of using Summary Sheets is …
Rexx: I know this! It will also have the meanings of all math Words and Symbols written on there, as well as the Picture. So, if I’m not sure of my solution I wrote, then voila I’ve got help … in my own handwriting. S-guy, I know that wasn’t in the script, but you liked my improvising skills?
Strategy-guy: Rexx … that was brilliant … almost like you stole my lines.
Rexx: No, I connected the dots and saw where you were going. I’m good, aren’t I?
Strategy-guy: Yes Rexx, you’re good!
Strategy-guy: And recall, the question on a summary sheet is easy, so you will pick it up quicker, and that gives a jolt to your self-belief and self-confidence and self, and creates an I CAN DO THIS ATTITUDE!
Rexx: S-Guy I have that; I CAN DO THIS ATTITUDE – I am so pumped to do this!
Rexx leaves to do Summary Sheets.
Strategy-guy exits too.
Wrodd enters to explain the word trigger.
Wrodd: The word trigger that Rexx and Strategy-guy used is not a trigger on a gun but ‘trigger’ as it’s used in learning and habits. The word trigger comes up in Psychology and essentially means – one thing happens and BOOM you’re instantly reminded of something else.
Here’s an example: It’s like looking at a photograph and immediately being reminded of where you were, what you were doing, how you felt, what you ate – that one photo triggered a reaction. A trigger can be a smell (like you smell pizza and suddenly you’re hungry), can be a word (like math and … I won’t go further), a tone, a visual, music (you hear your favourite song and BOOM you’re happy or in tears or getting pumped up) or see your pet (dog, cat, hamster, rat ...) and it just makes you feel swell 😊.
The trigger in this math strategy is your handwriting as it instantly reminds you of math you’ve done before. It’s like an instant reaction to remembering that math you did.
Strategy girl enters.
Wrodd leaves.
Strategy girl: If you didn't do any Summary Sheets … don’t worry about it. Instead use your quizzes or tests and follow the same Strategy-guy strategy.
It works the same way - look at a question and see if you know how to do it. Yes, it’s a little less effective at triggering a self-reminder in your brain than your Summary Sheet, as the test question would have been typed by your teacher and not handwritten by you, but reading the first line of your handwritten solution could be a trigger 😊. Again, if you don't remember how to do a question, look at what you wrote. Or, if necessary, look at the corrections you wrote. You did do corrections, didn’t you?
Yes, you can look to your teacher's corrected solutions, BUT as you probably now understand, the power of this strategy is in reviewing math you've done in your own handwriting – THAT acts as a trigger! Now you see why doing corrections are soooo important!
Strategy girl: If your teacher didn’t give quizzes or tests … no problemo! Use your class notes you copied from the teacher each day. Notes are very much like Summary Sheets as it's all in your handwriting, except not as effective as Summary Sheets as you won’t have the Meanings of all Words and Symbols, and a Picture in your class note. Because the whole purpose of prepping for your exam review is to get reminded ASAP, I’d recommend only reading and doing the first question your teacher taught each day.
Strategy girl: You missed the whole course? Yikes! Missing the whole course can happen, and Strategy-guy experienced that with a university student who missed the whole course. She called him two days before her final exam, which was worth 100%, and asked, “Can you help me?” But that story has a happy ending … sort of.
Strategy girl exits.
Rexx and Strategy-guy come back
Rexx: I’ve gone through all my Summary Sheets. I am so ready to start that exam review.
Strategy-guy: Great you’re primed, prepped and pumped!! Now do the exam review like a mock exam – so on your own w/o any help (just you and your brain).
Rexx: Got it S-guy! I’ll repeat to make sure I understand your instruction – do the exam review like a mock exam and do without getting any help … just me and my Rexx brain!
Strategy-guy: CORRECT! The result will be that you will get more questions correct on your own 😊. And will be getting used to doing questions without getting help (teacher, notes, friend, classmate, internet …), which is good as you can’t get help on the final exam!
Rexx: Yeah, yeah, I know I can’t get help on the exam, and I see what you mean how getting help before the exam can create a dependence. You are so right! You’re good Strategy-guy. You’re good!
Rexx leaves to do exam review.
…... time passes
Rex comes back after completing exam review
Strategy-guy: So, Rexx, how do you feel your exam review went?
Rexx: That was amazing. Felt good. Good to not get stumped so often that I give up. Good that I knew how to do a lot of the questions – basically I feel that the Summary Sheet questions were the fundamentals I needed to get these exam review questions.
Rexx: Strategy-guy … this strategy has my brain getting triggered is neat … and powerful … and it works!
Strategy-guy: Thank Rexx, very kind words.
Strategy-guy: Let’s wrap things up with a 3-question review quiz… #1. So how to not do an exam review?
Rexx: Don’t prepare for it and as soon as you get stumped, give up and get help pronto! But too much giving up will affect your self-belief. Bye-bye, how to not do an exam review and hello ...
Strategy-guy: It’s my line now … #2 Can you give a recap of the new strategy
Rexx: Yes, I got this. Follow two steps: 1st Prepare for your exam review using your Summary sheets, then 2nd Write the exam review on your own without any help or assistance.
Strategy-guy: #3 Final thoughts?
Rexx: What makes this Summary Sheets exam-review-trigger-strategy so effective is that I got quicker at remembering math I’ve done in the course 😊! My handwritten Sheets that had my Words and Symbols and Pictures acted as a trigger! Can’t believe I never thought of this. Seems so simple and obvious.
Strategy-girl enters.
Rexx leaves.
Strategy-girl: Hi again everyone. Quick reminder that remembering is everything when you’re preparing for an exam. And Summary Sheets play a key part in remembering what you’ve been taught! If you didn’t do Summary Sheets this year, be sure to do them next year.
Strategy-guy: And do your corrections also - as that too will be in your handwriting and will be another trigger!
Strategy-girl: Triggers are your best friend in math, once you understand how and when and why they work. Today, Rexx, Wrodd, Strategy-guy and I touched on your handwriting as a trigger. Use triggers to your advantage.
Strategy-girl & Strategy-guy: That’s it exam reviewers and math strategizers! Now go prep for that exam review and show the exam review who’s boss! THEN ROCK THAT EXAM!
Strategy guy 🔀
Wise and sometimes quirky math advice.
Useful test and exam prep links
Summary Sheets (aka The Fantastical 5)
An exam is a big test. With this in mind here are a few tips:
How to write a test?
Ask for design of the test
What’s the purpose of a test?
It’s three days before the test. Here is what you do?