The CLAP technique consists of 4 steps that help you fully prepare for an exam. Following this has helped me multiple times.
CHECK Check the specification to find out exactly what you need to learn for the exam. For me the specification is one of the most important pieces of information available to you. It provides a list of all the information you need to learn and understand. It may be helpful to find out what order your teacher will be going through the course so you can follow the specification with them.
LEARN This step sounds pretty obvious, but you’ve got to learn the information. The important thing to remember here though is don’t just memorise information about a topic, make sure you fully understand it. Understanding a topic will help you with the tougher questions in an exam. This leads nicely to the next step…
ASK Always ask questions! If you don’t understand something ask your teacher/lecturer to explain it. Never be afraid to ask for help, it’s what your teacher/lecturer is there to do. If you don’t feel comfortable asking questions during a lesson/lecture talk to them afterwards, see them in a free/at break or even write them an e-mail.
PRACTISE Practising questions gives you a massive advantage. It helps test your understanding, gives you an idea of what to expect in the actual exam and also lets you see the kind of answers an examiner is expecting. If past papers are available, they are, in my opinion, the best way to practice. If not, or if you have been through all of the past papers, look for questions in text books or even ask your teacher for some more.
I found following this technique helped me massively when it came to exams. When you’re struggling with huge work loads, feeling the pressure and don’t know where to begin, braking it down into these 4 steps gives you a clear, manageable path that will hopefully lead to exam success.
Remember to CLAP!
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