Arrg..how do you study for an exam

cpptom · 10-07-04, 11:59 PM

Hi, well I received my first exam back and I received a C+.

I read the chapters 2 times thoroughly, 1 time fast reading and reviewed the vocabulary and lecture notes. I did not memorize the vocabulary completely but if I read the defintion, I can match the defintion with the vocabulary word easily. I understood the concept and the context of the chapters.
How do you study and prepare for an exam? I want a nothing lower than a B!

**zoedragon** · 10-08-04, 09:55 AM

Unfortunately this varies greatly from professor to professor. It might vary some by subject material as well. Some teachers make their tests entirely from lecture notes and you can get by without reading the book. Some teachers take tests straight out of the book. I had one who created questions based off the little side captions and the summary section of each chapter. Subjects like biology and history, where there is a ton of information, tend to vary by teacher. Subjects like math and statistics are better studied by working through examples of the problems.

Some teachers will tell you what the tests are based off of, but many will not. I suggest going to GradeCalPoly.com and looking up your professor. Some students may have written something about how that teacher creates his tests. After you find out, then you know where to focus your studies.

I'm sorry to hear about your disappointing grade, I definitely know how you feel! It's so frustrating because you studied your ass off and still came up short. It isn't your fault. Many teachers make it hard. Look over the exam questions for the test you just got back. Are those questions from the book? From the teacher's lectures? From supplemental material he told you about? I had one FRL teacher who had us buy a huge expensive book along with a reference guide he had compiled. His tests were solely from the guide and the book was a complete waste of money.

Use the first test to get a feel for what the second test will be like. Then focus your brainpower on that material instead of EVERYTHING. I wish you luck on your next test!

jrdonson · 10-08-04, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cal Poly Freshwoman

Hi, well I received my first exam back and I received a C+.

I read the chapters 2 times thoroughly, 1 time fast reading and reviewed the vocabulary and lecture notes. I did not memorize the vocabulary completely but if I read the defintion, I can match the defintion with the vocabulary word easily. I understood the concept and the context of the chapters.
How do you study and prepare for an exam? I want a nothing lower than a B!

I'd really think about the class first. For English (for me) I would cram on vocab til it was memorized, chemistry involved working and reworking problems until I had it down pat, math involved a lot of problem working and getting my Trig identies memeorized and some of the more important theorems. What class was it?

James

cpptom · 10-08-04, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrdonson

I'd really think about the class first. For English (for me) I would cram on vocab til it was memorized, chemistry involved working and reworking problems until I had it down pat, math involved a lot of problem working and getting my Trig identies memeorized and some of the more important theorems. What class was it?

James

Hi James, this was for my chemistry class.

**PandaMoOo** · 10-09-04, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cal Poly Freshwoman

Hi James, this was for my chemistry class.

What chemistry class? 121?

If it's 121, the first few weeks are pure memorization, then it moves onto more math and common sense thinking.

The key I found to that class was finding a pattern in the naming structures of compounds/chemicals. There is infact a pattern... even for the acids, it's not so bad... just find it out and learn it using a trick or something.

Vocab... well... you won't get much of that again, if your instructor was like my instructor. As far math skills, if you got lot math skills you're going to need to remember procedures like crazy later on; if you're good in math you may be able to wing it like I did. I'd say about 60-70% of CHM grades boil down to math. Simple multiplication and stuff.

Studying tips? I recommend soda and pizza.

Talon · 10-09-04, 01:42 PM

Does the teacher give the class a study guide or pratice problems to help you prepare for the exam?

jrdonson · 10-09-04, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cal Poly Freshwoman

Hi James, this was for my chemistry class.

I didn't use my chem book much - I worked the problems and went over the class notes. It was very similar to my high school chem class, so it wasn't that difficult to get in the first place.

James

FlinxSL · 10-12-04, 07:32 PM

studying for exams for me is more of a mental preperation of getting in the right mindset, so that you are ready to use your memory to its fullest during the brief time DURING the exam. if you exhaust yourself studying, you will be super tired and unable to do anything during the actual test, which is important. i meditate the night before, and have a good breakfast and/or lots of caffine the morning of. afterwards i feel all burnt out and unable to do anything, which means that I just did my best, which was the desired result.

10-07-04, 11:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
cpptom Newcomer Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 25	Arrg..how do you study for an exam Hi, well I received my first exam back and I received a C+. I read the chapters 2 times thoroughly, 1 time fast reading and reviewed the vocabulary and lecture notes. I did not memorize the vocabulary completely but if I read the defintion, I can match the defintion with the vocabulary word easily. I understood the concept and the context of the chapters. How do you study and prepare for an exam? I want a nothing lower than a B!

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10-08-04, 09:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
zoedragon Fire-breather Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Inglewood, CA Posts: 668	Unfortunately this varies greatly from professor to professor. It might vary some by subject material as well. Some teachers make their tests entirely from lecture notes and you can get by without reading the book. Some teachers take tests straight out of the book. I had one who created questions based off the little side captions and the summary section of each chapter. Subjects like biology and history, where there is a ton of information, tend to vary by teacher. Subjects like math and statistics are better studied by working through examples of the problems. Some teachers will tell you what the tests are based off of, but many will not. I suggest going to GradeCalPoly.com and looking up your professor. Some students may have written something about how that teacher creates his tests. After you find out, then you know where to focus your studies. I'm sorry to hear about your disappointing grade, I definitely know how you feel! It's so frustrating because you studied your ass off and still came up short. It isn't your fault. Many teachers make it hard. Look over the exam questions for the test you just got back. Are those questions from the book? From the teacher's lectures? From supplemental material he told you about? I had one FRL teacher who had us buy a huge expensive book along with a reference guide he had compiled. His tests were solely from the guide and the book was a complete waste of money. Use the first test to get a feel for what the second test will be like. Then focus your brainpower on that material instead of EVERYTHING. I wish you luck on your next test!

10-09-04, 01:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
Talon Enthusiast Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 184	Does the teacher give the class a study guide or pratice problems to help you prepare for the exam?

10-12-04, 07:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
FlinxSL Newcomer Joined: Sep 2004 Location: SLO Posts: 23	studying for exams for me is more of a mental preperation of getting in the right mindset, so that you are ready to use your memory to its fullest during the brief time DURING the exam. if you exhaust yourself studying, you will be super tired and unable to do anything during the actual test, which is important. i meditate the night before, and have a good breakfast and/or lots of caffine the morning of. afterwards i feel all burnt out and unable to do anything, which means that I just did my best, which was the desired result.