Leaving Cert Notes: Some Handy Strategies

By Owen McHugh


The leaving certificate is an Irish state examination that is taken by every 17 or 18 year old student upon their exit from secondary education prior to entering college. This is a comprehensive test that covers several subjects in exhaustive detail and requires several months of deep study in preparation. While there are numerous tips and lists of advice out there for those students preparing for the leaving certificate, perhaps the single most important piece of advice is this: learn to take concise, clear notes from which to study.

When you are studying every individual subject, create study review pages along the way. To create these pages some good points to adhere to are:

* Take the content and break it down into manageable chunks of information that are easy to review and remember. * Write your points down by hand, for the act of writing is often a huge help in committing details to memory. Break down information and re-write it into easily remembered snippets. * Organise all of these leaving cert notes neatly into bullet points, highlighting key words so they will jump off the page and be remembered. * Keep your pages regarding each subject in separate folders, making it easy for you to find what you want to review at any given time.

One of the sources for good information about the subjects on the leaving cert exam is past exam questions. Take these questions and study them and the correct answers. Make your own notes regarding the answers in a bullet point, easy to remember form. Once you have compiled neat, easily reviewable information in folders by subjects, take time to review them each day, committing them to memory.

Good study habits are the key to getting a lot of information committed to memory and being able to recall it upon exam time. By taking a few effective study habits into consideration, you can streamline your studying, take effective notes and succeed at your leaving cert examination.

Here are some great study habits to remember:

* Take comprehensive notes, highlighting the key points and test yourself on these points frequently. * Ensure that you comprehend the details, use good illustrations and examples to assist you remember different points. * Make a regular study plan that will ensure you review each subject often up to your leaving cert examination date.

It is important to find your own personal groove with regards to your leaving certificate study routines and note taking. By finding out what works for you, you can set up your review pages in short order and spend the remainder of the time leading up to the exam date in studying those same pages and committing the to the point blocks of information to memory. Daily repetition of your ordered review pages will prepare your brain to remember the information when the time comes. Never pay attention to naysayers and negative individuals about the examination, simply study everyday when preparing, get plenty of rest and relaxation and go forth to ensure success.




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