Thursday, March 15, 2007
Test-taking skills
If you want to improve your test performance, here is what you can do:
Do the test problems EXACTLY as we do them in class, NOT the way your friend showed you, NOT the way your tutor showed you (some tutors are loaded with cheap tricks that only work on simple formulaic problems). I teach each problem type in the most efficient, logical, and fool-proof way BASED ON MY OWN STUDENTS' past experiences and past errors. After twelve years of teaching, tutoring, and seeing the same common errors occur again and again, I specifically show you how to avoid these errors BEFORE you make them on your test. I really marvel at the resistance (from some of you) to solving problems the way that you are presently taught. There are demonstrably better ways to solve some problems. I use these demonstrably better ways every time; furthermore, I can PROVE that the way that we solve problems in class leads to better accuracy, better speed, and better clarity.
As I have said before, you can think "outside the box" when/if you get to grad school. Before that, you need a solid base of knowledge. That does NOT mean that you can't question or challenge a particular method; it does mean that you need a rationale for your decisions.
Test taking tip #1 for math of chem problems (as always demonstrated in class):
1. carefully read the question and LABEL each quantity or substance given (e.g. initial volume, mass of solute...); 2.copy the data exactly, with units, to your test paper. 3. write the relevant general equation. 4. rearrange the equation, algebraically, so that the unknown variable is by itself on one side of the equation. 5. plug the data into the equation and solve (use parentheses in your calculator!) 6. cancel the units from numerator to denominator and make sure that the result matches the expected unit(s) from the question.
Do the test problems EXACTLY as we do them in class, NOT the way your friend showed you, NOT the way your tutor showed you (some tutors are loaded with cheap tricks that only work on simple formulaic problems). I teach each problem type in the most efficient, logical, and fool-proof way BASED ON MY OWN STUDENTS' past experiences and past errors. After twelve years of teaching, tutoring, and seeing the same common errors occur again and again, I specifically show you how to avoid these errors BEFORE you make them on your test. I really marvel at the resistance (from some of you) to solving problems the way that you are presently taught. There are demonstrably better ways to solve some problems. I use these demonstrably better ways every time; furthermore, I can PROVE that the way that we solve problems in class leads to better accuracy, better speed, and better clarity.
As I have said before, you can think "outside the box" when/if you get to grad school. Before that, you need a solid base of knowledge. That does NOT mean that you can't question or challenge a particular method; it does mean that you need a rationale for your decisions.
Test taking tip #1 for math of chem problems (as always demonstrated in class):
1. carefully read the question and LABEL each quantity or substance given (e.g. initial volume, mass of solute...); 2.copy the data exactly, with units, to your test paper. 3. write the relevant general equation. 4. rearrange the equation, algebraically, so that the unknown variable is by itself on one side of the equation. 5. plug the data into the equation and solve (use parentheses in your calculator!) 6. cancel the units from numerator to denominator and make sure that the result matches the expected unit(s) from the question.
# posted by C @ 10:31 AM 
