So after months of shutting myself away with an open book, lost in the world of studying as I listened to 'Eye of the Tiger' and highlighting everything in sight, including the take away menu, I’ve done it, I’ve now booked my exam date. The confirmation arrived this morning so there’s no turning back now…
But am I ready? I mean I feel ready, I must be ready, I booked my exam date! So why can’t I remember the calculations? What about the principles of treasury? Yesterday I could recite them all, however now here I am with sweaty palms and my mind is blank. What were once key points have become a collage of florescent yellows and blues and I find myself as angry as that child whose colouring book spilled over the black lines so much that that flower now looks like a messy field.
This was me before most of my examinations, I was fine up until the moment I booked a date to sit that exam. It was then I found out that I let the nerves of the day get to me and all of the key facts I worked so hard to study escaped me. It wasn’t until a total mind blank left me red faced that I decided to look at exam techniques that would enhance my ability to understand what I had learnt and not just try to repeat it like a parrot. This is where I discovered how to mind map.
Mind maps have allowed me test my level of understanding of a subject matter once I feel have completed my studies and have enabled me to use them as a ‘key facts’ guide in preparation for my exam. Mind maps allows you to centre on a particular topics, say an examination, then you map out the main areas of that topic, so the learning outcomes, with further points, so indicative content, branching off those main areas. This allows you to see the bigger picture of your chosen topic and see how it connects to everything on your mind map. It can really help the mind focus on certain areas at any one time and developing the mind maps really tests how well you have understood the topic you have spent countless hours studying.
Below is a five step guide of how I like to create mind maps.
Grab a sheet of A4 or A3 paper and a range of coloured pens. I tend to use a variety of colours and images as it helps me associate and identify each part of the map. In the centre of the page write your subject matter, draw an image if that helps.
Now draw a branch coming away from your central image, labelling it as one of the main topics if the subject matter in the centre of the page….for instance, if an exam subject was in the centre of the page label the first branch as the first learning area such a Learning area 1.
You can now draw little branches away from your first branch that relate to the topic of that branch. So if you have chosen to name the branch learning area 1, the little branches can relate to the indicative parts of that learning are that will help you remember the syllabus. Alternatively if know different calculations are within that learning area, each branch could be a different calculation.
Keep repeating the process of steps three and four moving the main branches in a clockwork direction around the page to help you revise each are in a logical area. Remember at any time you can draw pictures and use colours as well as labelling the branches. Another tip is to make each branch a curved line and not straight as the brain is more stimulated by curved lines.
Congratulations, you have now completed your own Mind Map. Don’t worry if you think it isn’t in your best handwriting or you haven’t spent enough time on the pictures drawn as it only needs to be understood and revised by yourself.
So now you have a five step guide to mind maps to help you conquer your exam. Why not create one for yourself now and see if it helps you revise and retain the knowledge gained during your hours of highlighting in the name of studying!
Good luck with your revision and any and all future assessments.
