Tips: Improve your writing

I may soon been following Michael at Law Actually and taking a temporary leave due to stress of exam revision. I plan to implement this at the end of the week. Until then I shall be gracing your computer screens with a few little Exam / Study tips before I go.

#1 Loosen writing grip to banish pain (lifehacker)

As very appropriately posted earlier this week – lifehacker writes about writing with a light hand. My hands always get bent out of shape during exam period (I’m not kidding) due to excessive writing (I have to write to learn) and my long nails meaning that it is impossible to hold a pen the same way as everyone else (and no its worse if I cut my nails as I then can’t write due to the fact that i’ve been writing with long nails since I was 8 and anything else seems abnormal).

But I will say that writing better improves study, enables you to last longer in the 3 hour exam before you want to start crying and generally means that your hands don’t come out bent out of shape and you are swearing off pens forever – they are actually not that bad.

#2 Try to keep your writing readable in an exam

If the markers can read it, you are more likely to get the marks, and if you’re borderline, maybe your appreciation for their eyes will swing it, maybe not – but if the idea is down on paper, don’t risk not getting the mark because no-one can read what it says.

#3 Open book exam? Make sure YOU understand it.

This is where preparatory work is essential – open book exam and you get to take in the notes – ensure that your notes are readable and clear, so you don’t waste time reading some scrawl that turns out to be off topic anyway. You should know the material well enough anyway to know what’s important – but clear structured notes can be a god send when time is running out, and you can’t think straight.