Mind Maps As Examination Aids
This is the third and final part in a series of posts highlighting how mind mapping can be used in education. In the third and final post of the series, we’re going to look at how mind mapping can be used as part of examinations. Part 2 of the series, “Mind Maps As Learning Aids”, can be found here.
You’ve been studying away for an exam and now it’s come to the the big day. The exam itself. Panic sets in and then you wonder if you have studied enough to remember all those important facts and figures. How can mind mapping help here?
You’ve probably heard of brain dumps before right? Well doing brain dumps to mind maps (or mind map dumps), can help you in different areas of an examination and hopefully help you through to a pass!
Right at the start of the exam, take a few minutes to ascertain what’s in the questions for the exam. What topics are being covered? Next take a spare sheet of paper or on the back of your question paper, quickly mind map everything you know about the examination topic. If you’ve been using mind maps as study aids, then this should be quite easy.
Doing a brain dump to a mind map can help you do the following:
- Boost your confidence – Confirming what you know from your mind map, helps give you a confidence boost before you’ve even answered a question and lets you start the examination on a positive note.
- Outline essay questions – Using your mind map you can quickly organise facts and ideas for an essay and present them in a logical concise format that is usually demanded by essay questions.
- Problem solving – If you are faced with a problem solving question, you can quickly identify key words in the problem that relate to the topics on your mind map. From here you should be able to explore different solutions for the problem and then apply the correct one, using the knowledge from your mind map.
You want to get as much information down on paper as possible. By mind mapping what you can remember, you’ll trigger associations between keywords to help you remember more.
Related Articles:
- Mind Maps As Learning Aids
- Mind Maps As Teaching Aids
- Mind Maps and Projects – Part 3: Task Management
- Incubate your Mind Maps
8 Comments
Matthew on December 17th, 2008
Hi Adam,
Thanks for the comment. I started with mind mapping in school and have used it ever since.
While I am not at the stage of earning a living from mind mapping, I am aiming to have mind mapping as a part of my future career. Whether it’s from this blog or in another form, who knows?
LMS on April 17th, 2009
Mind mapping is really good technique. I’ve been using it for quite a long long time now. I not only used it in studies but with many of my other day to day activities. Mind mapping is a really awesome technique.
airfares on May 12th, 2009
Mind maps are really a great way to study. I got through most of my exams by using mind maps. I’m used to this technique now and it keeps helping me with my work too.
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Stainless Steel Cook on May 30th, 2009
Huge help! Thanks so much!
Arjen on June 8th, 2009
Hi Matthew,
Unfortunately I only learned more about mind mapping after I graduated. Do you know if mind mapping and related techniques are taught in school where you live? Here in The Netherlands, more and more schools are working with similar methods.
I look forward to your answer.
Matthew on June 9th, 2009
I’m not sure if mind mapping is used in the schools in my area, but it would be something worth finding out. It would also be good to find out how many schools across the UK use it.
Adam Sicinski @ IQ Matrix on December 17th, 2008
I have been using Mind Maps since my years at University. They absolutely revolutionized the way I approach my studies and helped me to create astonishing associations and photographic recall. My University marks went through the roof and since that time I have built my entire life around Mind Mapping and it has transformed how I approach daily decision and actions.
Now, I actually earn a living creating Mind Maps about Self Improvement topics and Accelerated Learning that I write about @ www.blog.iqmatrix.com
I think it is important that more people are introduced to the Power of Mind Mapping. It is great to have people like yourself spreading the word.