Studying? seven tutor secrets from Ann Prayle

To progress quickly and get the most from your marketing career, it pays to continuously develop your knowledge and capabilities. CIM qualifications have enabled many professional marketers to get on and move up with fulfilling marketing careers. But for those in the midst of their CIM studies the path ahead can sometimes feel daunting. Juggling a job and marketing studies is a tough gig. London marketer and CIM graduate Ann Prayle shares seven study secrets from her years as a CIM tutor to help you get the grades you want with less grief.

Ann is course manager and trainer for the Certificate in Professional Marketing at The Marketers’ Forum in London. She worked her way through CIM qualification levels to gain the Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing. Ann also provides marketing consultancy services to small businesses in industries such as travel, hospitality, professional services and healthcare.  She is a volunteer Board Member for CIM’s Greater London region and the CIM GLR Student Ambassador

1.  Study success – it’s all about ownership

"It’s your course, your exam/assignment, your success and your problem. The secret of success is to take responsibility. Get actively studying early and make the absolute most of all the resources you have and that includes the people around you. If you find yourself getting stuck then make sure you actively ask for help from your tutor or study buddies, and then act upon it."

Success is down to you.

2.  Motivation – be realistic and build in rewards

“Your friends, your family, your pets and the contents of your fridge will always be more appealing than studying.  Cleaning the toilet will even rate higher at times. Solution?  Do some work and then reward yourself.  Do it in bite-size chunks and take some time out.  Sometimes time out between modules is necessary, but it can dip the motivation a little to get back in the saddle, so keep on going if you can.”

Success relies on managing motivation levels

3.  Support – clue up friends and family

“Take some time to explain the importance of this studying time to family and friends. Someone else can take the dog to the vets or do the weekly Asda shop. They can support you in your endeavours and are more likely to do so, if they appreciate what you are doing and why you are doing it. Remind them it’s only for a short time. 

You can also make a date with a friend as a reward for your efforts – remember you do need some downtime now and again.”

Success is easier with a little back-up.

4.  CIM assignments – get into it, get on with it and get through it 

“Procrastinating and leaving it to the last minute doesn’t work. Burning the midnight oil the night before doesn’t work either. It can be hard to get motivated, the secret is to make the most of peer support and tutor feedback.

Your tutors love to challenge and stretch you - so you do the same!  Be ready to query, debate and question. They are marketing professionals who can pass on their knowledge and experiences to you. Be ready to share yours and think constantly “how does this apply to my organisation and to my assignment question”. 

Listen carefully to what other students have to say in classes (if that’s how you’re studying). Try to work with the people who will complement you and those who are taking this stuff seriously and contribute well. If you are studying away from the taught workshop route, then you may find some support from others helpful. You may not and don’t be concerned if you don’t. Concentrate on what you are doing – you don’t need any passengers!”

Success requires timely action.

5.  CIM exams – prepare well and plan answers to reflect the mark scheme

“No-one likes exams, so it is inevitable that some fear will creep in.  There’s two critical aspects to exam success.

Firstly, as with all CIM qualifications, preparation is key. Don’t leave your reading, remembering and recalling and final revision until the last minute. Cramming the night before rarely works. When you’re doing your Rs (reading, remembering & recalling and revision) don’t focus on what you know, get the sticky stuff sorted.  Use a revision method that works for you – some read, some listen, some actively do stuff.  Some do a bit of each.  But start early and get help with revising if you can. 

Secondly, get organised for the day itself.  Get a good night’s sleep, plan your route and get there early. Ensure you have everything you need (and spares of everything you need!). Take time to plan your answers. Manage your time and stick to it ruthlessly. Most marks are gained in the first few paragraphs so if you’re on to page six or more for one question you may not be getting useful marks but are instead using useful time. Don’t engage in any post-mortems afterwards. It can stress you and it doesn’t change anything. Just relax, celebrate surviving and move on.”

Success relies on preparation.

6.  Reading and revision – always read then ‘do’ to cement learning

"Here’s a valuable secret: you don’t have to buy every book and read every word in every book to be successful with your CIM qualifications. Instead, be selective, proactive and read by ‘doing’. For exams, do the chapter/revision questions to check what you know. Then read the chapter if you find you don’t know the answer. Beg and borrow books from the recommended list to dip into as needed. 

If you’ve kept up with the reading, the revision will be just that….revision…but crucially it should focus on the bits you don’t know. Don’t revise the good bits, the topics you know inside and out. Start with the bad bits, the areas where you’re uncertain or draw a blank. Examples help us remember things and so do stories, so listen out for those from your tutors and your peers. Condense your notes down to a manageable quantity and use mind maps or record them – whatever works for you and your style of learning – and then test yourself."

Succeed is never passive, it comes with active learning.

7.  Focus on what really matters – the results 

“You can learn and engage in a myriad of ways and gain lots of useful knowledge to use in your career but it’s the grade that best demonstrates your effort. So focus on that, visualise its importance and pass.

After all, the difference between scraping through and acing it is the impact on your stress levels primarily!  Scraping is stressful. Acing it is far better for the self-esteem and confidence.”

Success comes through effort focused on passing well.