<p>I have been noticing every time I make a mistake 9 times out of ten it is was because I misread the question, I didn't think about it the way the teacher did or there was some little trick to it in the professor's wording. I am talking about biology and chemistry but I am sure some of you can relate.</p>
<p>To those of you that get perfect or near perfect grades on such science or technical courses, how do you stay super alert all the time during the tests?</p>
<p>I am struggling in my bio class right now, and I would have less of a headache if I didn't make unnecessary mistakes on previous exams. I have my final on Saturday so I want to know what extra measures to take.</p>
<p>Its not when I flat out do not know the information on a test that I get annoyed, its when I knew it but something else happens.</p>
<p>My advice to students was always never to change an answer unless you are absolutely certain it is wrong (for instance, you find a clue elsewhere on the test). Generally, your first instinct is the best. When you start second guessing, you’re less effective. I also advice writing information on the test before you begin (any mnemonic devices you have developed, formulas you have memorized, irregular verbs in a foreign language, etc.). That will help you keep from becoming confused as you progress through the test. This is all assuming that you studied the material in the first place.</p>
<p>“I also advice writing information on the test before you begin”</p>
<p>True dat. Before I even <em>look</em> at the test, I flip it over to the back where it is blank, write down EVERYTHING I know (sometimes writing all my notes takes longer than actually writing the answers themselves…) and so far, my final grades for the semester (including final exams) are:</p>
<p>Biochem: 99.41%
Calc: 99.98%
English: (she just grades on a qualitative scale, and an A is the highest that the registrar accepts): A
Psych: 96.5%</p>
<p>I’m still waiting to get the rest back, but they should all be pretty similar. I would say that that method works… works VERY well!</p>
<p>You have 50 minutes for 45 questions, multiple choice. And they do not stand out, there are answers that are so similar its frustrating. I don’t think I would have time to write everything down, but that’s awesome for you.</p>
<p>Maybe its test anxiety, and in my insecurity I make stupid mistakes? Maybe…</p>
Works very well, for you. Even then, I think it’s a giant waste of time. I prefer to look over my notes or the textbook or lecture notes. Rewriting everything would be terribly inefficient. Just remember that everybody has a different way of learning best; I tutor intro bio students (and have helped many friends) and the one thing they all have in common is that they don’t know how to study properly. A lot of people believe there’s some magic formula, but there isn’t. You just have to figure out what works for you and make sure it’s efficient.
Also, congrats on your scores, but there’s no need to boast and have an e-size contest; it comes off as obnoxious.</p>
<p>
Not necessarily. Somebody’s gotta be at the top of the class.</p>
<p>Read each question carefully and think about what it’s asking before rushing to answer it. Often, it is the most prepaired students who have problems with trick questions: you’ve studied X so much that you feel like you automatically know the answer, so you don’t realize that actually the question is slightly different than you think. Don’t try to start answering the question in your head until you’ve thought about it.</p>
<p>“Not necessarily. Somebody’s gotta be at the top of the class.”</p>
<p>Exactly. And that’s me. </p>
<p>If anything, my school has grade deflation. The averages on exams are EXTREMELY low, like ~50-60%, and none of my professors scale or curve the grades. What you get it what you get. There are only like 5 or 10 kids (out of 400) in my biochem class that got over an 80…</p>
<p>1) I was being funny, not bragging – hence the “True dat” and overtly sarcastic “and that’s me.”</p>
<p>2) The proof is in the pudding. I’m not just some kid saying “OOOHHHH, look at me, I do so good, my method works, I’m getting 80s…” I’m telling you that I am actually averaging close to 100% and that method (writing things down before I even look at the test) is solely responsible.</p>
<p>3) The question was “How do you [. . .] minimize your mistakes on tests?” I answered it. Therefore, it was unnecessary for people to point out “for you.” Yeah, no kidding it works FOR ME, since the question was how do YOU minimize your mistakes…</p>
<p>No disrespect or disbelief intended, but I think we can put your success into better perspective if we knew which college this is,</p>
<p>But besides that, I do seem to rush into things, and I feel so stressed because of time. It makes me forget simple things and cuts back at my accuracy. Good thing we have double the time for the final though.</p>
<p>I check off every question that I know I have answered to the best of my ability. This means I have reread it and reworked it after doing so the first time.</p>
<p>What do you NOT get about getting almost 100% in Calc? I don’t find it difficult… big deal. Everyone is good at something. Nothing is inflated, nothing is graded on a curve, no bonus points, no dropping the lowest, etc. I work hard, and the sciences just make sense to me naturally. I got 100% on the midterm and 100% on the final (as in, no corrections by the professor whatsoever), and 100s on all the quizzes except for one (I had 1/2 a point taken off for not explicitly writing the concavity using the 2nd derivative test).</p>
<p>I’m done explaining myself. I do well in school because I work hard. PERIOD!</p>
<p>I’ve been through Calc 1-3 and never had nor heard of anyone getting straight 100’s on every test. I mean maybe my school’s curriculum is just harder than yours, but it’s unheard of here even for our top 4.0 students. And yes, we get no curve either.</p>
<p>How do you get a “100%” if the averages are 50%??? I can’t say this enough: on my tests where I get 100%, I made no errors – 0 errors. Nothing marked wrong = 100%</p>