Exam Success*

Are You Happy with Your Exam Performance?

If your answer to the above question is “yes,” CONGRATULATIONS!  If your answer to the above question is “no,” consider each of the following: 

1.      Did you ask questions?  If you did not understand the material, did you ask questions?  If not, why?  The only bad question is one that goes unasked. 

2.      Did you participate in and understand activities that were directed in class?  These activities are done to help you learn how to apply the material discussed in class and/or in your text. 

3.      Did you read the textbook and other reading assignments?  Many of the exam questions came directly from the text. 

4.      Did you read the textbook and other reading materials BEFORE YOU CAME TO CLASS?  Not only would this help you do better on the exam, but it would also make your participation in class more effective and most likely more enjoyable. 

5.      Did you attend every class?  Studies show that there is a direct relationship between performance on an exam and attendance in class.  People have different learning styles.  Learning material in more than one way helps you to process the information more deeply.  In addition, there were questions on the exam that were covered in class, but not in the text (and vice versa).  

6.      Have you overloaded yourself with other activities (e.g., classes, jobs, etc.?)  If so, give yourself a break.  Realize that something has to give.  At the same time, realize that there are consequences to overloading yourself (i.e., you might not do as well as you would like under normal circumstances). 

7.      Did you CRAM for the exam?  Did you study at all?  If so, this is likely a strong indicator for why you are unhappy with your performance.  There is way too much material to “soak it all in” in just 2-3 days, or 2-3 hours. 

8.      Remember I do not judge you as a person for your performance on exams and other class activities.  It is my job to judge your performance.  And, unfortunately, performance is not always indicative of effort put into the project.