Coaching Improves Study Skills:

Three Practical Ways to Drive Exam Performance

For many courses at this point in the term, the first exam has already taken place -- and, as a result, many students have made their first assumptions about how they will perform in that course. No matter how many times students hear the phrase "study skills," most do not think of studying as a skill that can be learned, adjusted, and improved. Instead, they often fall back on the fixed-mindset idea that some people are "smarter" or "better test takers" than others -- and, as a result, a low grade on the first exam can have a greater affect on their self-efficacy than it should.

One effective perspective shift an academic coach can offer is to invite the student to look at the first exam as a diagnostic tool. Seen this way, an exam can point them toward choices that grow learning and performance. As the next exam nears, coaches can ask questions in three distinct areas.

• Exam format and expectations. What did the exam ask you to do (question type, timing, online or in person, and so on)? How did it match or differ from your expectations? What about this type of exam did you find challenging? What do you know now that will help you set accurate expectations for the next exam?

• Content. How much of your performance would you attribute to not knowing content? Which parts of the content were most difficult for you? How can you improve your understanding of those challenging topics?

• Exam preparation. What study strategies did you use last time? How much time did you put in studying, and when? What served you -- and what did not? What might you do differently to prepare this time?

Join LifeBound's three-day training in Inclusive Coaching to improve your ability to support student growth mindset and strategic studying! Our next training begins this Friday March 3 and continues on March 10 and 17.