So, what is the best way to deal with in-tray exercises? There isn’t a right or wrong answer. It’s really up to you to choose how you are going to best approach them. Here are a few of the options you have when deciding how you’re going to best handle your in-tray exercises.
Pay someone to take my in-tray exercises for you: One option you have if you can’t come up with the time to take notes or do your own research is to hire someone to write the exam for you. This will obviously cost money, but it’s an option. If you don’t want to pay someone to do it for you, consider taking an assessment centre that will prepare you for the test in your own home.
Use pre-quiz and preparation materials to ease your workload: The next best alternative to in-tray exercises is to use pre-quiz and preparation materials to help make your workload less intimidating. There are many different types of pre-quiz you can take. Many of these are available free of charge online. Some sites also offer review material as well, which will give you some idea of how the test is going to be.
Use the internet and ‘how-to’ videos: YouTube is full of tutorials on all sorts of subjects. Search ‘how to videos’ or search for ‘dummies in training’ on YouTube and you’ll find plenty of videos on exercise preparation. In addition to tutorials, search ‘netbooks’ or ‘how-to books’ for in-tray exercises. If you get stuck, these books often contain step-by-step guides to walk you through exercises. You can also rent some videos from the internet on various topics.
Try listening to the radio: Many people have found that listening to popular music on the radio helps to relax them before taking an exam. There is no doubt that many people have used this method to great effect. Listen to something that does not put you to sleep (soft music or talking) and play it as loudly as you can in the car before you go to the university examination room. This can be a great way of preparing mentally for a university examination.
Watch TV: Another method of preparing mentally for a test is by watching television. Many people prepare by watching television programs which require very little mental work. In fact, in-tray exercises often involve very little mental work at all – simply taking in the environment and following directions. When the course is completed, many people simply read their notes or sit down and do nothing. You may decide that watching television provides an extra challenge – and you may enjoy it!
Another aspect of in-tray exercises that can be useful is the use of role-playing. If you are required to answer questions, then you will most likely do your best to ensure that you answer each question with the right information. You can also use role-playing in your assessment centre exercises. You might want to pretend that you are in the teacher’s office and ask her questions. Alternatively, you could pretend to be the assessor and ask questions of the assessors. This can help you develop your listening skills and give you practice when it comes to talking to real assessors.