EXAMS

Many students have gotten into the habit of thinking that they "don't test well", or they've "never done well on tests", or they have "test anxiety".  However, in most cases, these are only crutches students use because they haven't learned yet how to deal with tests, which is a shame at this point in their education.  Such beliefs have become self-fulfilling prophecies.  Such beliefs can and need to be changed as quickly as possible.  By following the guidelines throughout this website, the numerous resources available for this course, and by asking questions, you will learn to minimize and control the pressures that have always scared you about tests.  It won't happen overnight, but you are expected to improve throughout the semester (and continue improvement throughout your college career).  Some basic suggestions include daily studying, active reading, participation in field trips, and attendance (which includes lots of note-taking, concentration on the lecture, and participation in class).  If you deliberately control each of these smaller aspects of the course, then you can control how you do on exams.  If you can sit there right before an exam and ask yourself "Is there anything else I could have possibly done to prepare for this exam?" and you can honestly say "No", then you don't really have anything to worry about. 

But, what if you don't do as well on an exam as you expected or thought you should?  LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES!  Listen to the professor explain your errors, trust the professor's judgment in creating test questions and grading (after all, he/she is an expert in the field, you aren't), recall how you were thinking when you answered certain questions, think about how you studied prior to the exam, etc.  Then adjust your approach so you don't make similar errors next time, whether it's not learning the material well enough or it's a problem with test-taking skills.  One of the most valuable tools you can use in college (and in life) is to learn from your mistakes.  Sometimes it seems painful, but it is one of the fastest ways to get on track and feel satisfaction sooner.  

Besides daily studying, you need to begin reviewing for an exam about a week before the exam.  Do not expect to study 2-3 days prior to an exam and do well on the exam.  Because you need to get in the habit of daily studying and preparing for the exams ahead of time (i.e., no cramming), I have the following rule:  I will NOT answer any questions about exam material within 25 hours prior to an exam.  (This means you need to be prepared to take the exam a day earlier than scheduled.)  In addition, the only questions that are appropriate to ask about exams deal with understanding of material or suggestions for answering questions, etc.  Never ask me "Do we need to know such-and-such?"  Everything in assigned readings, reserve readings (library), lectures, labs, homework assignments, and field trips are fair game for an exam.  If a topic/subject is to be skipped, I will take the initiative to tell the class about it.  If field trips are available but not required, then those questions will be extra credit on exams.  (After all, students who take the initiative to go on non-required field trips not only impress the professor, but deserve special consideration.)

Exam questions include multiple choice (the kind where more than one answer can be correct, or perhaps none of the answers at all), true-false, fill-in, short answer, and multiple choice.  Occasionally, there might be short or long essays.  Specifics will be given in class prior to the exam.  Some exams may have extra credit questions.