Monday, January 23, 2012

Exam Week

Photo by Sashamd
Exams are this week! Students will (hopefully) be studying like crazy in preparation for the big tests. I thought it would be an appropriate time to build a list of some exam taking tips. List any tips or suggestions you've heard about studying or taking exams. These can range from the sound, like being sure to get enough sleep the night before the test--to the ridiculous, like being sure to bring your lucky coin so you can flip it to answer the true/false section of your physics exam.

What advice or tips have you heard? Do you actually plan to use any of them?
Posted by Brian Bearss at 8:53 AM

26 comments:

  1. Lil WayneJanuary 23, 2012 at 9:13 AM

    1. Try to get enough sleep before every exam.
    2. Eat a healthy breakfast.
    3. study in a quiet room...(that means no tv!)
    4. Go over your homework and previous tests. dont read the whole book!

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  2. moore13January 23, 2012 at 9:21 AM

    1. Eat a good breakfast morning of exams.
    2. Get at least 8 hours of sleep the night before.
    3. Study during the day in a quiet enviroment.
    4. Look over minutes 5 minutes before you go to bed.
    5. Remember a #2 pencil.

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  3. NessJanuary 23, 2012 at 11:22 AM

    Some studying tips are as follows:
    1. Split up your studying to 30 minute intervals with 15 minute breaks ( have a snack)
    2. Drink water
    3. Don't stay up too late!
    4. Study a little bit every night.
    5. Take notes in colored pencils and highlight key points.
    6. Turn off your cellular device or pager!

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  4. Corey SmykowskiJanuary 23, 2012 at 12:32 PM

    1. Dont pile all your studying in in one night, space it out so you study a little bit everyday.
    2. Eat a nutritious breakfast.
    3. Dont just read your text book, look at the highlighted points in the chapters and study those.
    4. Make flash cards or draw pictures to help you remember vocabulary.
    I use some like eating a good breakfast and make flash cards

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  5. ReetamlapJanuary 23, 2012 at 4:11 PM

    Instead of studying a week or two before exams, study your notes and such AS you take or receive them. Makes a big difference and easier study time.

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  6. oliviavinckierJanuary 23, 2012 at 7:56 PM

    Ness, i do not believe anyone uses pagers anymore.

    The study tips I would give are the 4 D's:
    Don't study for more than a half hour at a time.
    Drink some water.
    Don't stress/ go crazy over a subject.
    Do good!!!

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  7. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2012 at 9:36 PM

    Some tips I have for studying are probably similar to some posted above but anyways
    -sleeping well of course
    -studying quietly, by yourself, group study sessions definatly don't work out well!
    -drink and eat well!!
    -be focused and ignore things like facebook and twitter for the exam week.
    - for me, I took off work the days before an of my exam, so I know il have time to study !
    (: halie foulks

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  8. Brian BearssJanuary 24, 2012 at 8:01 AM

    Good suggestions so far. A few questions... ... Why do so many of you suggest drinking lots of water? Is there a danger of being dehydrated for the exam? What about supplements/drugs like caffeine? Do any studies or research indicate they might improve concentration and/or performance?

    What taking the exam itself... ... Suppose you have no idea what the answer is. What are some guessing strategies?

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    Replies
    1. useful_idiotJanuary 24, 2012 at 8:13 AM

      Water can keep you hydrated and focused during the test, gum also helps to keep you focused and attentive. when you take the exam itself pick a letter of the day so if you have to guess you have better chances of getting more right if you guess only one letter.

      Delete
    2. ilovesportsJanuary 24, 2012 at 6:54 PM

      Studies have shown (and my mom confirmed) that drinking water throughout the day is very beneficial for students. It keeps them from feeling sluggish and also decreases headaches from all the tough studying being done. Always keep a water bottle with you! I do everyday!

      Delete
  9. UnknownJanuary 24, 2012 at 8:15 AM

    I somewhat agree with Ness, however i have heard that studying should be done in 15 minute intervals. With a half hour break in between.
    Dont cram the morning of or it will be hard to pull info out during the test.
    Hydration is proven to help the brain function better, though i believe this to be a split second decsion such as how fast you react. This, to my Knowledge does not help in a test.

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  10. Lil WayneJanuary 24, 2012 at 9:15 AM

    I agree with what useful_idiot said about water keeping you hydrated and that gum can keep you focused.
    Some strategies that might be helpful while taking the exam and not having a clue what the answer is would be, like useful_idiot said pick a letter of the day, but also read the question and the answers and see if any of the words in the answer options match up with words in the question. B and C are the most commonly used letters.

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  11. moore13January 24, 2012 at 9:16 AM

    Caffeine is most likely going to keep you awake, but as time goes on you will get tired. This is because caffeine makes you jittery and the more jittery you are, the more tired you will feel. Caffeine does not improve concentration or performance it only wakes you up for a period of time then makes you tired.

    Some guessing strategies are to rule out the answers you know are most likely not the answer.

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  12. NessJanuary 24, 2012 at 11:56 AM

    Well, water is very important. Dehydration can cause the brain tissue to shrink, and it has been shown in studies it can decrease cognitive abilities.
    Also, a good tip for not guessing is eliminate which answers seem the most ridiculous then just go with your first instinct.

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  13. iloveXCJanuary 24, 2012 at 2:35 PM

    I myself would make sure you dont start preparing 2 days before, actually take good notes from the begining of the semester until exams, and pay close attention. Also do notecards and actually do the study guides they help! Always get enough sleep too and start studying a while before exams,not just the night before.

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  14. Taylor GJanuary 24, 2012 at 2:55 PM

    I would agree with iloveXC that taking good notes is very important, and make sure when you study your notes, you focus on the main concepts before the details so that you have an idea to relate the details to and all the information will be less jumbled in your mind

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  15. iloveXCJanuary 24, 2012 at 3:01 PM

    I agree with Taylor G to focus on the main concepts before details.Another idea is to make sure that if you study witha group of friends, to make sure they are as serious as you are. You can easily be distracted with friends and that wont help your grade at all. Be focused

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  16. Taylor GJanuary 24, 2012 at 3:08 PM

    Also, a good true and false strategy is looking for words like never and always, so if you absolutely know that there is any exceptions then you can automatically rule out true, and put false.

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  17. ilovesportsJanuary 24, 2012 at 6:59 PM

    I do plan to use some of these tips that are being shared. I have already begun to study for each of my exams, with careful planning out as to when I will have time for each of them. Sometimes I have some procrastination troubles, but I am trying to be good about it this time around. Also, I will for sure be bringing my water bottle to my exams along with some gum.

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  18. Yale13January 24, 2012 at 9:43 PM

    I feel like caffeine is not the answer. It causes you to get really energetic for a short period of time then crash. I don't think that would be wise to feel like that during the exam, I think water is the best choice! Also make sure you eat a good breakfast in the morning!

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  19. AnonymousJanuary 24, 2012 at 11:47 PM

    When I'm going to take an exam, I feel like caffeine is never the answer! Caffeine can cause people to be unfocused or crash completely, il usually go for something like an apple, or a fruit tht had enough sugar to boost me up, but less likely to provide a dramatic crass ( because even after day one of exams are over, studying for the on coming days is just as important!) as for when you have no guess what's so ever,after eliminating all the for sure no's.. if theres the option of 'H' that's what I choose... Because my name is halie,!!
    Halie Foulks (:

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  20. Yale13January 25, 2012 at 2:03 PM

    I don't know if I would quite agree with Halie about picking the letter H for my guess, but I guess that's simply because my name isn't halie, nor is the first letter of my name ever a multiple choice answer. I think I would have to say that if I absolutely don't know the answer to the question I try to eliminate any that are ridiculous and could not possibly be the answer. From their I go with my gut instinct and pick the sensible one that first popped into my mind.

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    Replies
    1. useful_idiotJanuary 25, 2012 at 7:58 PM

      I agree with you try to eliminate as any choices as possible to give you a better chance of getting the question right rather than a random guess.

      Delete
  21. Nicki MinajJanuary 25, 2012 at 9:55 PM

    I agree with yale13... eliminating the two most ridiculous answers can give a better chance at guessing right or just go with your gut. i think studying the notes and looking over the chapter is the best way to study. you cant go wrong with the book:)

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  22. Brian BearssJanuary 26, 2012 at 9:33 AM

    Thanks for the comments this week! I'm closing the thread because exams are now over.

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