When it comes to that all-important exam day, you might find that there is a BIG difference between absorbing the information you need and then putting what you have learnt into practice…in the time given in the exam.
Being able to deliver word-perfect factual information in the context of a case-study you will see for the first time, within an unusually short time period needs practice.
Lots of practice.
Being successful in financial services demands that you keep up-to-date. As a professional in the financial services industry you are constantly learning and being challenged by clients, regulators and governments.
To keep abreast of new and important information you have to keep up-to-date, but you will also know that a new skill isn’t learned until it is practiced and implemented successfully….several times over. And that means over and over and over…
And it’s the same in exams. You have to practice your skill.
If you have practiced applying your new-found knowledge and skills in different contexts, then you are more likely to recall the key facts in the exam and be able to apply them within the context of the question or case study – which is so, so important in the exams.
But, are you practising the right things? Do you understand the question?
There are six different levels of knowledge and understanding the examiners will test you on: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation – all these different question types are explained below:
Knowledge questions: who, what, why, where, when (Define) – recall definitions, facts, or observations. This may be material you need to know by heart – accuracy is important.
Comprehension questions: describe by giving a full and accurate description in the correct sequence. State the main idea, explain the significance or clarify any points of difference/similarity.
Application questions: apply your knowledge to unfamiliar or new situations which are most likely found in new case studies.
Analysis questions: the examiner wants you to reach a logical conclusion based on the information you have been given
Synthesis questions: usually how could this be improved or can you suggest a suitable option: when a candidate synthesises information, they need to have the ability to make connections from many different sources – integrating information to draw a conclusion
Evaluation questions: usually in your opinion, which of these is the better option, which option best fulfils the brief you have been given. It’s about giving an informed opinion about the case study or information you have been given, you are expected to draw on your knowledge and justify your recommendations.
This is the highest level of cognition and will be expected to be demonstrated at the highest levels.
We practice all these questions on our live virtual workshops. This is where you have an opportunity to test your progress, share ideas with your fellow students and seek guidance from our expert tutors.
We test your ability to be calm and understand more about how you can deliver the best you can be in the exam.
Our virtual workshops are your mock exam tests, under exam conditions.
We will test your ability to LOOK for what the examiner is asking you for and APPLY your knowledge using the right TECHNIQUE. This is so critical for exam success.
Revision time is upon us – the exam is nearly here.
Now is the time to be doing the doing – and do the doing in the right way.
