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1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
More than just an exam tool May 10, 2007
By E. Gullotta
"Educator, K-12"
Teresa Bolen's book is an excellent resource and motivation for students. Her techniques can be applied not only to exams but to all areas of academic and performance driven studies. As an educator, I have already begun to recommend her work to students who are anxious about the next step in their academic and collegiate studies. The techniques presented are ones that can be used in all aspects of one's life. This is a powerful tool for those who have had limited interaction with higher academic world.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
I'd recommend this to my students! Apr 24, 2007
By Pam Garcy
"Psychologist, Teacher, Speaker, and Author of The Power of Inner Guidance: Seven Steps to Tune In and Turn On"
Teresa Bolen had to figure out first-hand how to overcome the obstacles to successful test taking. After successfully facing her own examination challenges, Teresa graciously decided to share her secrets in this book.
This is a "must-read" for students who are preparing to master large exams, and it is helpful to students who are preparing for general examination as well.
In Master Plan To Master Exams, Teresa spells out specific steps that you can take to increase the odds of academic success, including overcoming your own limiting beliefs. There are helpful exercises, journaling space, and suggested resources.
What is also of interest to the potential reader is that Teresa has picked her words very carefully. She is intent upon encouraging you, rather than scaring you. Teresa's positive, no-nonsense writing will help you to figure out an approach that is best suited for you.
If you think that you are spinning your wheels or going in the wrong direction to prepare for your next big test, look into this book--you just might find that it points you in the right direction and gets you to take actions that count!
Pam Garcy, Ph.D.
Psychologist, Professor, Author
The Power of Inner Guidance: Seven Steps To Tune In and Turn On!
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Master Plan to Master Exams, and so much more!! Apr 14, 2007
By H. Lowney
I reached for this book in an effort to become a better teacher. The title itself grabbed me as one that would help me to give my students those invaluable test-taking skills that seem to evade so many of us. I wanted to give them the gift of the "Master Plan to Master Exams".
The gift was mine to be had. The lessons that were taught regarding test-taking skills I have applied to my life in so many ways. Ms. Bolen has taught me things about "Goalden Time Envisioning" and my personal "genie" that I have been able to apply to my health and personal life.
After reading "Master Plan to Master Exams" I have a sense of empowerment. And not just over exams but over hurdles in general. This is one of those books that will remain on my book shelf at easy grasp.
Thanks to Teresa Bolen for such insight and ease of language.
3 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 I don't fully concur with the author that stress (or anxiety) management alone is adequate to deal with 'examination fever'! Feb 06, 2007
By Lee Say Keng
"KNOWLEDGE ADVENTURER/TECHNOLOGY EXPLORER"
Master Plan to Master Exams
by TERESA BOLEN
In principle, I like this book very much. It's very well written, but I don't fully concur with the author that stress (or anxiety) management alone is adequate to deal with 'examination fever'.
The author probably has an impeccable track record as an educator working in Japan, a country where 'examination fever' is a national phenomenon. To some extent, I believe this background probably explains her standpoint in the book.
Undoubtedly, preparation for examinations, examination taking strategies, coupled with stress management & energy engineering, are critical survival skills for students. However, these skills have to be managed together in the global context of effective studying, which I have always maintained, is an active, dynamic systemic process. It involves ten systemic steps:
goal setting, priority management, active reading, information gathering, note making, memory management, lesson revision, exam preparation, creative writing & stress management/energy engineering;
Effective studying also involves participation, independence, accountability & mastery on the part of the student.
My stance is very simple: Until a student fully realises that studying is learning for a purpose; reaching out to his or her maximum potential & preparing for the future, tackling examinations in the context of what the author has written, will always become a real burden & even a gargantuan task for him or her, mentally, physically, emotionally & spiritually!
Unfortunately, most of these major issues have not been fully covered in the book.
Nevertheless, the book is still worth reading. The author's extensive treatment of the stress (or anxiety) management as well as mind programming, as applied to handling examinations, is commendable.
Overcoming Bad Study and Exam Habits, and Poor Psychology Apr 21, 2007
By Donald Mitchell
"Jesus Loves You!"
When I was in college and law school, I learned that several dozen of my classmates would literally break down during examination periods. Their minds would cease to function, their emotions would be operating on full panic mode, and their bodies would weaken from the stress. Many would have to take untimed tests while in hospital beds after ingesting anxiety-relieving drugs.
Obviously, that's no way to live. Further, if you can function a little bit better than they did, you may not work up to your potential on exams. I saw this with one of our children who could score perfectly in an untimed test (often needing only 5-10 minutes more than other students), but would collapse into poor performance if held to a time limit.
Other students work endless hours learning material in ways that waste time. I remember from my law school experiences of learning how to master material in ways that took only 5% as much time, yet worked much better for me. Many students never make that kind of transition. This book can help.
Ms. Teresa Bolen understands all these circumstances based on her personal experience in failing her master's exam the first time she took it. Drawing from that searing memory and experience, Ms. Bolen borrows heavily on techniques developed by neuro-linguistic programming pioneers Drs. John Bandler and John Grinder, positive thinking exponents like Anthony Robbins, mood control experts like Hale Dwoskin and the Sedona Method, and various yoga disciplines for breath-based control to show you a better way. She also references traditional educational research including invoking the need to use your best learning style and the Pygmalion Effect (teachers' expectations predict student performance). I found her application of this knowledge to be correct in each case.
I suspect that many people would need a coach to help them properly apply and stay disciplined in following Ms. Bolen's advice. But any good coach could easily master and lead someone through these steps.
How many middle school children would be willing to do these things on their own? I'm not sure. Someone who is very determined from the high school level on could clearly do so. But clearly the best person to use these methods is an adult who has control over time and resources to apply the lessons . . . and probably has the desire to succeed to make it stick.
Bravo, Ms. Bolen!
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