I have a 58% in the class right now after failing another test (our fifth one).
The thing is that it’s not that I don’t understand the concepts, it’s that I seem to mess choke very hard on the tests and mess up things like arithmetic or other basic mistakes and this really kills in our class because it costs the whole problem (for example I could lose all 150 pts of a problem for a math error). I got away with it in Pre-Calculus because the tests didn’t have a lot of arithmetic on it.
Background info: I do completely fine in Honors Physics because we are allowed a calculator for every test and there are fluff hw pts while in Calc the only thing in the grade book are our tests. B/C+ in Pre-Calculus (same teacher for Pre-calc and Calc AB)
Can anyone relate? I really don’t want to fail the class so I’m wondering if anyone’s got any good advice that I can use on our next test because time is running out for me. (Please don’t state things like spend more time on Calc because I already do put in a lot of hours on it)
I have the same probelm. I wish I had a solution. The only thing I know to do is recheck your work very carefully and show your work in hopes that the teacher will give you partial credit, but I’m sure you already do that.
@Madeline25 Thanks for the input. Lol it sucks because there was a 150 pt problem on my last test and I had it right the first time but I checked it again and got a different answer and used that instead and ended up getting it wrong. SMH difference between a F and a D based on just one problem!
As for partial credit, my teacher made a really good point on how arithmetic is just as important as the concept. For example if he gave us a problem of 5+5=10 and we answered it with 9 and justified that we just forgot to add the 1, we should not receive any credit at all.
First thing I do is just take a few deep breaths, calm myself and start working. As for algebra, take solace in the fact that you do get credit on the exam if you just do the calc part right. Also, I tend to find going over each problem once I’m finished and look to justify my answer and see my thought process rather than redoing the problem. How many tests do you guys get in total? I’d say study hard and aim for 95 and above on the next few tests.
@AMan236 Good advice. I started off the class with a solid C but after I received a 35/150 on a test due to solely arithmetic errors, everything has went downhill since.
We will prob reach around around 8-10 tests before we take our final in December which is composed of 3 tests (one of them being all theory - very hard, highest score on it last year was 89%). And at our school, maybe around 3-4 kids from each class out of about 30 students will actually get 95 or above (only 2 kids in my class got 580/600 on our last test which were the top scores) and only around 10 will get A’s on each test we take; our calc program is definitely not your average high school math program.
As you can see, I am running out of opportunities. I want to take in as much useful advice as I can so I can at least get C’s on at least two or three of the remaining tests so my grade will raise to a high D or low C coming into the final (teacher adds 2-3 % to our final grade at the end)
Well, guess I’m gonna be joining this thread. Just bombed my last test with a 69 and now I got a 75 in the class.
How is it that Physics C is easier for me? (Granted, we do get test corrections in that class) Looking at all my options, I’m only gonna get out with a 2.5 Hope GPA at this rate.
I’m not really sure how this happens. If you show your work clearly but make a small mistake (e.g. mixing up a negative sign; this is a pretty common error), you may be able to get partial credit, depending on the teacher (as Madeline25 said).
If you are making constant arithmetic or simple algebra errors (e.g. integrating (1/2)x^2 dx from x = 3 to x = 8 is (1/6)(8^3 - 3^3) = 485/6, but you mess up on subtraction), then, I hate to tell you this, but you might want to review on those earlier topics. If you are too reliant on a calculator, then maybe practice adding or subtracting weird numbers or fractions by hand, as strange as it seems. But more importantly, slow down and keep your scratch work organized and in order.
Trig derivatives and a lot more stuff I can’t fully remember since I’m focusing more on log derivatives now. I could’ve sworn that I made a 90 at least. Most of the class thought they made a 90. Most of the class failed, though. Teacher keeps blaming it on us not doing our homework, but I did all my homework and still got a bad grade.
Your last bit of advice is probably the best. I think I kinda got a bit too unorganized (I feel like the space my teacher gives us to do a problem isn’t wide enough, so I end up cramming the work). I feel like I may have taken the derivative of an incomplete derivative (I can’t properly word it). Honestly, I’m gonna take my time next test and stop focusing on when the period is over.
I’m gonna ask if I can have a separate sheet of paper out with me during the test.