Exam
The examination for TA225 is a problem. Not that I want to alarm you or anything but... to put it simply, there's a lot to learn.
In short, I think that TA225 needs a different approach in order to do well in the exam. Traditionally, you would finish the last TMA and then prepare for the exam. The problem is that the amount of material is substantial and remembering everything is almost impossible. So, rather than focusing just on the TMAs and then giving yourself revision time before the exam, my thinking is that the TMAs should be a preparation for the exam. Here are my thoughts on preparation for the exam.
| 1 |
When you get a TMA returned, it should give you a chance to 'revise' the work, to check through anything you didn't do well in and then check you knowledge with some exam questions. I will always indicate areas that need reworking. Don't be tempted to wait until September to work through areas you are not sure about. Remember also, that certain topics just keep coming back (dB for instance). |
| 2 |
I appreciate that there is a lot to work through. In addition to the course text, you have Audition, Wavesurfer and eventually Cubasis to deal with. However, most areas of study are inter-related in some way. The basic principles of sound you learned in block one, keep appearing in block 2. Where you are uncertain of something, go back to the relevant sections in block 1. The same will happen in block 3, certain concepts will keep returning. This way, you have a much longer term goal in mind (the exam) rather than immediate TMA targets. It seems to me relatively easy to work through the TMAs using the course text and do well. However, have you really learned and understood the underlying principles? |
| 3 | Become
familiar with the course reference book. Use it for all your TMA work. That
way, when you do the exam, it will not be the first time you've used the
book. |
| 4 | After
the TMA is returned, set aside some time to work through the material as
on-going revision and consolidation. (I know this is easy to say and we're
all up against deadlines, but this will help). Where you don't understand
something, make sure you spend time on the appropriate chapters. This process
of reviewing material will be essential |
| 5 | There are some specimen papers available on the course website as PDF files. Use them to check your learning after the tma. See how much you remember without using the course texts. |
The last point is that there is an element of predictability in all this. There are now 2 specimen papers available and if you look at them you will notice the similarity between them. It is unlikely that there will be any surprises in the next examination and there will be a similar format. Use the tutorial exercises in the text, the TMA questions and the exam questions as a way of testing your knowledge and understanding.