Target Setting You have already thought about and

Target Setting

You have already thought about and know what grades you are aiming for in your exams… However, thinking about all of the studying, for all of your subjects at the one time can seem like an IMPOSSIBLE task! Reaching the exams feeling confident and ready for success can feel like it will NEVER happen!

• Everyone wants to be successful, but to say ‘I want to pass all of my exams’ is too vague and doesn’t focus on HOW you will actually pass your exams. • Setting targets allows you to break up the huge task of passing your exams into manageable, achievable chunks. • Being successful with smaller targets along the way helps keep you motivated and focused on your overall task: passing your exams!

What are the benefits of target setting? • Goal setting is a hugely powerful technique that can bring you strong rewards and get your motivation levels up. • At its simplest level the process of setting goals and targets allows you to choose where you want to go in life. • By knowing what you want to achieve, you know what you need to concentrate on and improve and what's a distraction.

What targets to set? • Think of the Subjects you are studying this year. You may be naturally good at some of them but need to work harder in others. • This exercise will help you to focus on those areas which you find difficult, without neglecting the Subjects which you are good at. • The targets you set will help you to focus on at least one area in each of your 5 Subjects.

• For targets to be most successful, they have to be SMART: • Specific • Measurable • Achievable • Relevant • Time-related

Instead of Saying… Try Saying… • I’ll study more for English • I will learn my poetry quotations • I’ll get better at Maths exam questions • I’ll try 2 questions each night from a Maths past paper and correct my working • I’ll study for 6 hours each night and 10 hours at weekends • I’ll make a study timetable for all of my subjects and include 10 minute breaks every hour • I’ll start studying topics from the Higher • I’ll get my History notes sorted before the exam • I’ll become more confident at tackling problems from the Int 2 course • I will spend 20 minutes per night re-writing my history notes

My Weekly Targets are… 1. I will make a revision timetable and stick to it! (We will do this together on Monday) 2. I will attend Supported Study to get help with Quadratics 3. I will study my 16 verbs of motion for French for 15 minutes every night this week 4. I will improve my close reading skills by completing a Close Reading Past Paper at the weekend under exam conditions 5. I will get 8 hours sleep every night so my brain is rested!

What next…? • Decide what weekly targets you need to meet if you are going to stay on track for these grades • Write these targets on a piece of paper and put it somewhere you will see it every day • If family know your targets, they can be more supportive and help motivate you to stay focused • Review targets regularly – Have you met them? – What went well? What didn’t go well? – Next steps? • Remember you can change and adapt your targets as necessary.