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Skills Self-Assessment Audit
Please answer all questions in this self-assessment. There are 48 questions, split into 8 groups. Read each question and tick the value which you feel is most appropriate to you. Each answer has a point value:
- disagree strongly 1
- tend to disagree 2
- tend to agree 3
- strongly agree 4 Add up your scores for each section and then add these together. There is an indication of your skill level in the scoring system at the end of the exercise. This will give you an idea of how confident you feel about your skills. Complete the Summary Score Sheet (the loose sheet distributed with your booklet) and return it to a member of the Project Team. The Summary Score Sheet is the only item anyone else will see - so please be as honest as you can with your answers. COMMUNICATION: READING 1 2 3 4 1 I feel confident about my reading, especially for study ^ ^ ^ 2 I can find information from a wide variety of sources (books, journals, CD- ROMS, Internet)
3 I can select information relevant to the topic from these sources ^ ^ ^ 4 I am able to use different reading strategies (skim, scan, read in-depth) ^ ^ ^ 5 I can make useful notes while I am researching for an assignment or a project
6 I can summarise a section of text to convey the authorʼs main arguments ^ ^ ^ TOTAL: COMMUNICATION: WRITING 1 2 3 4 7 I am confident that I can reproduce my ideas effectively in writing^ ^ ^ ^ 8 I am confident that I can write^ substantial reports and essays as well as shorter pieces such as formal letters
9 I always plan my essays and other assignments before writing anything ^ ^ ^ 10 I always check my work for spelling and grammatical errors before submitting it
11 I always check that my work is presented according to my department’s requirements
12 I can make useful and meaningful notes from a lecture, presentation or demonstration
TOTAL:
COMMUNICATION: ORAL 1 2 3 4
13 I am confident explaining new concepts to other people^ ^ ^ ^ 14 I would be able to give a presentation on a subject new to me^ ^ ^ ^ 15 I can produce visual aids (including slides with charts, diagrams, tables and photographs) to illustrate points in a presentation
16 In group discussions, I listen to others and am sensitive to their points of view
17 I can take the discussion forward at appropriate points^ ^ ^ ^ 18 I can adapt my presentations according to my audience ^ ^ ^ TOTAL: TEAMWORK 1 2 3 4 19 I have often worked with others as part of a team ^ ^ ^ 20 I make sure that I understand the goals the team is trying to achieve^ ^ ^ ^ 21 I agree^ my own responsibilities in working towards the team’s goals^ ^ ^ ^ 22 I am sensitive to the roles of other team members ^ ^ ^ 23 I can monitor the team’s progress and report any difficulties ^ ^ ^ 24 I am happy to lead the team if^ the opportunity presents itself^ ^ ^ ^ TOTAL: PROBLEM-SOLVING 1 2 3 4 25 When faced with a task I can break it down into manageable parts^ ^ ^ ^ 26 If at first I do not understand a problem, I can find help ^ ^ ^ 27 I enjoy the challenge of solving problems ^ ^ ^ 28 When I am given a new task, I always ‘brainstorm’ ideas (involving the team if part of a team)
29 I consider the likely outcomes of my solutions to problems before I carry them out
30 I consider alternative solutions depending on the problem in question ^ ^ ^ TOTAL:
How did you do?
You can check your score against our scoring system below. PLEASE REMEMBER that this is not scientific! We have not devised a ʻperfectʼ self-assessment test, and these scores give only an indication of your level in any of the skills we have mentioned. From your Personal Skills Audit, list your strengths and weaknesses: Strengths ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... Weaknesses ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... Is this what you would have expected to see? Are there any surprises on your lists?
You’re not feeling particularly confident about your skills and abilities
- perhaps you weren’t giving yourself due credit for your talents? By using this pack, you should be able to work on areas which you feel could do with improving. You might even find it useful to talk through your self-assessment with a friend or a tutor whom you trust. They may see your strengths more clearly than you have in this exercise.
You consider yourself to be ‘average’ – this means that you have firm foundations on which to improve your skills! Using the list below, identify some of the areas which are stronger than others. This will help you to plan your improvement, and prioritise the areas which need attention. Focus on activities which can develop these particular skills. If you refer to this Skills Audit again during the semester you’ll see how your weaker skills are gradually strengthening.
Congratulations! You’ve rated yourself well. You may have some areas which could be developed further, but you are confident and competent in a wide range of skills. If you are particularly strong in one skill, such as written communication, now might be the time to focus on something else. For example, you might start working on your numeracy – can you work out how much you’ve spent on your food shopping before you reach the till at the supermarket?
You are highly confident in all these skill areas – well done. You find it easy to apply your skills in a variety of situations. However, you can make good use of this pack to reflect on your skills further and bring them to a higher level. Think about the next stages of your academic and professional life – would you know how to demonstrate your skills to an employer?
