Studying for BIG test

[cheezdue]

Next week at my school, we have final test for the year. I got curious and wanted to ask ya'll what are some of the ways you study for such a test.

[Roostervier]

I either read through the completely forgotten content once or don't study at all. :\

I have a pretty good memory when it comes to things in school. So, unless you do too, I suggest studying about a week before the test for only about an hour or two each day, and you should remember most of it.

[cheezdue]

Same thing here. Learn it in school, dont study at home. Geometry is the one of the topics I cant remember much.

[itszutak]

Agh. Just reminded me. STAR tests next week.

I usually do great on multiple choice tests, except for math, which while I do well, I do it slowly. Very slowly. Like, seconds left until test ends I'm close to being done.

It does pay off though. My answers are very accurate.

[legionaire45]

www.quizlet.com

The combined power of 20 nerds helps me study.

[Llama Juice]

I don't.

[PlasbianX]

I don't study either. I find that when I study, I tend to forget things way easier. I just make sure I get in enough practice using the material that i learned so i remember it

[Llama Juice]

^^ sameish, if I study I tend to forget the exact wording that the teacher said. Makes me confuse things.

[Agamemnon]

Eat a good breakfast and take the test.

Seriously.

The brain only retains information it finds important. If the subjects were dully boring the first time around and you had no interest in them, then studying is just going to mess you up further. I know there are song systems or metaphor systems out there, but you're pretty much fucked if the test is abstract (chances are it isn't if you're in a public school).

[legionaire45]

Very true. You have to make the subject you are studying interesting to you if you want to learn anything about it.

[Mr Buckshot]

Crap, I have an IB Math Year 2 Higher Level exam in May...split into 3 separate papers. I'm in Year 1 (11th grade) but I'm ahead in math so I am taking year 2 math.

And I signed up for AP Calculus AB and AP Statistics (my school does not offer AP courses, but it hosts the exams every year).

That's three hellish exams, technically 5 due to the way IB papers are organized.

As for how I study - if it's math/physics, I just pull out practice problems on my weakest areas and keep trying. For the arts subjects (English and History), I have to do it the boring read-it-thoroughly way. For sciences I'm good at them so I don't even bother studying.

[cheezdue]

Very true. You have to make the subject you are studying interesting to you if you want to learn anything about it.


Guess I'm going to blow my geometry test:suicide:

[itszutak]

Luckily, interest is no problem, at least with Chem. Just need to refresh my memory before the test and I'm good.

[n00b1n8R]

Wait, all your tests are multiple choice?

How fucking easy can it get?

[Pooky]

I usually study by not mucking around on the internet :downs:

[itszutak]

No, just the major state ones. 100 question standardized tests that are basically a huge waste of time.

On the other hand, my normal chem tests are nearly impossible. Average grade (in Honors) is a 65%. I get 80%s. :epeen:

[Bodzilla]

Study?
highschool?

Pffft.

[cheezdue]

The only test im worried about the geometry test. I cant seem to remember the easy ways to do them on those advanced caculators

[Syuusuke]

I don't study either. I find that when I study, I tend to forget things way easier. I just make sure I get in enough practice using the material that i learned so i remember it

Or by asking me for help whenever you need it.

[Mass]

Eat a good breakfast and take the test.

Seriously.

The brain only retains information it finds important. If the subjects were dully boring the first time around and you had no interest in them, then studying is just going to mess you up further. I know there are song systems or metaphor systems out there, but you're pretty much fucked if the test is abstract (chances are it isn't if you're in a public school).
This.

If you don't know it the night before, or the week before, you won't know it when you take the test.

Kick back, relax, sleep plenty, and eat in the morning. Maybe have a cup of joe if you're allowed piss breaks.

Multiple choice tests are mostly logic anyway :/

[Bodzilla]

im actually astounded that your tests are multiple choice.

i mean like seriously dudes.......

[n00b1n8R]

im actually astounded that your tests are multiple choice.

i mean like seriously dudes.......
qft^

[Roostervier]

Most of the point in high school (or here) is to have so many on the multiple choice that you can't linger on one too long... not like that even makes a difference though. They are still really easy. Like for instance, my world history tests or actually a lot harder than the world history finals, since a small section is multiple choice. So basically it's just 100 or so questions of mixed stuff. On the finals its just about 300 or so questions that are all multiple choice, and its substantially easier. When in doubt, I pick C. I got a B+ on that last final, so I don't think it'll hurt you to do that.

[n00b1n8R]

But multiple choice is basically giving you the answer.
In Australia, we have open ended where your free to totally fuck it up and not have a clue that you did so.

Which system do you is superior in determining weather people have a clue what their doing or not?

[Phopojijo]

What grade level? Highschool you can get away without studying... not so much for 2nd year Uni and up. Even with studying I'm still getting B's (and the occasional C)... was a 90's student in highschool without studying.

[Roostervier]

But multiple choice is basically giving you the answer.
In Australia, we have open ended where your free to totally fuck it up and not have a clue that you did so.

Which system do you is superior in determining weather people have a clue what their doing or not?
Open ended, obviously. That's the point I was trying to make there, if it was a bit confusing. I understand what you guys are saying completely.

[n00b1n8R]

Open ended, obviously. That's the point I was trying to make there, if it was a bit confusing. I understand what you guys are saying completely.
Orite :X

[Agamemnon]

But multiple choice is basically giving you the answer.
In Australia, we have open ended where your free to totally fuck it up and not have a clue that you did so.

Which system do you is superior in determining weather people have a clue what their doing or not?
Tests (especially exams) are usually up to the teachers how they are formulated and composed. Most generic classes of the same subjects usually have a teacher that heads off the subject (a head for the English department, a head for the mathematics department, etc.). Usually the head of the department teaches all or most tiers of the classes in that subject, so when it comes to giving a mid term or a final exam, other teachers can actually just use the head of the department's exams (that is, if both teachers are of the same class and covered the same sort of material). It is still ultimately up to the teacher if that is the way they want to handle a test. As much, department heads usually make straight-forward by-the-book exams, which would entail a scantron of a hundred or more questions. Some teachers might just use that test either because they believe it a is a good testing source or because they might be lazy (and the decision of whether it is good or bad is also up to the teacher as well). Again, keep in mind this is for general classes. An art class (despite 43 out of 50 states cutting back on art funding, yes, there are still art classes) can have a completely different exam. I know when I was in high school one of my art teachers composed a written exam of art history, while my more open-minded teacher had us choose a medium of our choice and just create a work of art. Even to further the point that in general subjects teachers can use their own tests is when I am reminded of my 10th grade English class, in which my teacher composed a 250+ questions test, plus another 50 written responses questions. Ah, such were the times when we all had to come after school had ended to finish our exams.

tl;dr

Teachers can prepare the tests in what ever way they wish, though most of them just find it's easier to use other teacher's already-prepared tests where the material covered on the test is what that teacher taught. Not smart, but given the system we work on is centered around drilling and right brain functions, it usually works in the favor of those that enjoy formal tests.


What grade level? Highschool you can get away without studying... not so much for 2nd year Uni and up. Even with studying I'm still getting B's (and the occasional C)... was a 90's student in highschool without studying.
Dunno about that. Nearing my third semester of college now and I've found out so far that it really all depends on the professor you get. Intro classes might be a refresher of crap from high school (and some others new info), but it definitely doesn't stop the professor from throwing a Naquada-enhanced bomb at you (and you've gotta love the professors in which the only grade you get are through quizzes/tests).

[itszutak]

im actually astounded that your tests are multiple choice.

i mean like seriously dudes.......You have to remember these tests are the standardized ones given to our school by the state, which has to handle millions of similar tests. Our school system simply does not have the money to pay people to review these tests, each of which may have slightly different answers. Instead, we have scantron machines. The cheap ones can grade an 100-point test in a second.

But to make up for the slight simplicity of the answering, we have huge amounts of questions, and some of them are very tricky and require actual knowledge of the topic beforehand.

Also, I may not have mentioned, but I am a sophomore in high school. Most likely, I have to deal with simpler questions and simpler teaching methods than college. (at least, until I get into the AP system next year.)

[Pooky]

But multiple choice is basically giving you the answer.
In Australia, we have open ended where your free to totally fuck it up and not have a clue that you did so.

Which system do you is superior in determining weather people have a clue what their doing or not?

It's because the teachers don't want to grade 100 open ended questions. Population is a factor... remember my high school has over 4000 students :\

[n00b1n8R]

How the fuck can anybody control 4000 hormonal teenagers. :v:

[Pooky]

How the fuck can anybody control 4000 hormonal teenagers. :v:

They don't...

[itszutak]

How the fuck can anybody control 4000 hormonal teenagers. :v:
They can't.

Quality teachers are rare, the student's don't give a fuck and are high most of the time, and overall it's a very sad situation.

Plus, nobody there has heard of Portal.

Is college any better?

[n00b1n8R]

Plus, nobody there has heard of Portal.?
Continue to spread the good word brother! http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c251/CN3089/Emoticons/emot-catholic.gif

[Bodzilla]

Still a bit stupid not having open ended questions for things like Maths.
it's really the only way that you can show you can substitute in different formulas to solve problems.

just have the teacher in charge of his class Mark the questions.
And you guys need to drastically change the teachers Union over in america, because that shit is just unbelieveable. I mean theres buildings dedicated to housing teachers that they cant put in front of a class room, yet they cant fire them because of bullshit union agreements.

see this video.
Bx4pN-aiofw

[Roostervier]

Still a bit stupid not having open ended questions for things like Maths.
it's really the only way that you can show you can substitute in different formulas to solve problems.

just have the teacher in charge of his class Mark the questions.
And you guys need to drastically change the teachers Union over in america, because that shit is just unbelieveable. I mean theres buildings dedicated to housing teachers that they cant put in front of a class room, yet they cant fire them because of bullshit union agreements.

see this video.
Bx4pN-aiofw
That video shows how most of the teachers in our schools are stupid. Seriously, "money can fix everything." What kind of uppity family was she raised in? She obviously didn't receive a good education either, otherwise she'd realize that if the money went to anything besides their wages (which most get what they deserve, unfortunately for the few good teachers), the kids would only take advantage of it.

[Bodzilla]

It's not just the Teachers, it's the whole dam system.

Multiple choice?? i mean seriously what the fuck. we might be lucky to get 10 MC questions in a test that has 100 possible choices.

[n00b1n8R]

Protip zilla: The entire population of Australia could live in New York.

Now imagine all the tests from that city alone, + the rest of the state having to be marked in a decent time frame.

Your just not going to get the people to do it. :/

[Bodzilla]

Then Chuck moar money at them :downs:

[itszutak]

Actually, math multiple choice is some of the hardest for me, compared to other MPs.

Unless it's a "what is x in this equation" sort of thing, but most SATs are good about avoiding questions where one just plugs in the answer.

Which leads to a lot of shitfucking definition and theory problems.

fucking HATE those. I remember the methods, but not the names associated with them. :/

EDIT: Here in America, schools would be paid with taxes. However, the average american would rather pay less per year than have quality schools.

Seriously. It is truly depressing. Teachers have the WORST income per year spent in college.

You only get those who really care about teaching or have failed everywhere else teaching. Or a mix of both, like my school.

[legionaire45]

I completely agree that the way American schools are taught right now is completely retarded. I experienced this retardation first hand in middle school (which had over 3,000 students with a "upper class" group of egotistical bastards called the IHP program"), which is why I go to a school with fewer then 400 students. The staff at my school is awesome but they are seemingly more hormonal then the students at times.

High Tech High LA is built around getting people ready for college and they do their job well. Many of the staff's ideas about the business world are completely wrong, but I could care less. Our staff are all very good, better then the staff at my middle school were. Then again, that could have something to do with the fact that we are an independent charter school.

My math class uses a combination of both multiple choice and direct-answer (aka whatever the other system is called =P) while my biology class uses "multiple guess" (you have to pick more then one multiple-choice answer for a given question) on it's tests. You do have to have a pretty good idea of what the subject is about to do well on the test and we are expected to study/do homework for 45 minutes in each class every night. I can get away with 45 minutes of HW a night for a subject when it has homework and the only classes I study for are Math and Bio.

As an aside however, I do have to point out that everything isn't perfect. For example, you might as well remove the word "Tech" from our name. Since a large number of students were caught using a proxy application (Ultra Surf) the staff decided that the most rational, logical choice to deal with this problem would be to block everyone's access to computers, internet and to even take away the ability to have cell phones/MP3 players on us at any time. I have to commute through 8 miles of LA traffic every day to school and there is no way in hell I am following that rule - I need my cell phone in case something happens. Even though the IT guy has stated in the past that he can check logs and find out who is doing what on the computers and their past activity, he obviously doesn't - or he doesn't care. The lack of access to a computer doesn't bother me and I completely understand that it is a privilege to use these computers, one that I greatly cherish - I'm bothered by the fact that I'm being punished for "breaching a contract" when I never breached it in. If anything, they have breached their end of it, as well as the school charter and the school mission. I'm sure many other students who don't have computers at home (including many of my friends) have been completely fucked over by this as well - we are still expected to do our assignments on the computer as if nothing had happened. I find this to be one of the most unprofessional things that they have ever done - it would be like firing an entire company's staff because one or two people were caught using a proxy to check their Myspace accounts. Sorry for the off-topic rant, but I needed to get that off my shoulders.

[cheezdue]

I completely agree that the way American schools are taught right now is completely retarded. I experienced this retardation first hand in middle school (which had over 3,000 students with a "upper class" group of egotistical bastards called the IHP program"), which is why I go to a school with fewer then 400 students. The staff at my school is awesome but they are seemingly more hormonal then the students at times.

High Tech High LA is built around getting people ready for college and they do their job well. Many of the staff's ideas about the business world are completely wrong, but I could care less. Our staff are all very good, better then the staff at my middle school were. Then again, that could have something to do with the fact that we are an independent charter school.

My math class uses a combination of both multiple choice and direct-answer (aka whatever the other system is called =P) while my biology class uses "multiple guess" (you have to pick more then one multiple-choice answer for a given question) on it's tests. You do have to have a pretty good idea of what the subject is about to do well on the test and we are expected to study/do homework for 45 minutes in each class every night. I can get away with 45 minutes of HW a night for a subject when it has homework and the only classes I study for are Math and Bio.

As an aside however, I do have to point out that everything isn't perfect. For example, you might as well remove the word "Tech" from our name. Since a large number of students were caught using a proxy application (Ultra Surf) the staff decided that the most rational, logical choice to deal with this problem would be to block everyone's access to computers, internet and to even take away the ability to have cell phones/MP3 players on us at any time. I have to commute through 8 miles of LA traffic every day to school and there is no way in hell I am following that rule - I need my cell phone in case something happens. Even though the IT guy has stated in the past that he can check logs and find out who is doing what on the computers and their past activity, he obviously doesn't - or he doesn't care. The lack of access to a computer doesn't bother me and I completely understand that it is a privilege to use these computers, one that I greatly cherish - I'm bothered by the fact that I'm being punished for "breaching a contract" when I never breached it in. If anything, they have breached their end of it, as well as the school charter and the school mission. I'm sure many other students who don't have computers at home (including many of my friends) have been completely fucked over by this as well - we are still expected to do our assignments on the computer as if nothing had happened. I find this to be one of the most unprofessional things that they have ever done - it would be like firing an entire company's staff because one or two people were caught using a proxy to check their Myspace accounts. Sorry for the off-topic rant, but I needed to get that off my shoulders.


^ Im with you man. Our Education system is bad. Where im from at least 60% of teens drop out from high school.