ACS Study Guide vs. The Test...

[freshbeatschris]

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Now, I've maintained an A average throughout all of Orgo I and now through all of Orgo II until right now. I have a 90.7%, just barely hanging on with my pinky fingernail... This final will make or break me. I have been studying the ACS study guide now since spring break and have been hitting it hard for the last week. My average of picking the right answers is getting worse and worse and really, really bad. I feel like I didn't learn anything in class. All of my reasoning for picking my answers is the wrong one.

Has anyone studied the ACS guide and then taken the test? Does anyone know if the guide is purposely trying to be tricky and the test is easier?

Just to rub it in a bit more, our professor said that he took our ACS exam in 30 minutes and only got 3 wrong. He said he only got those three wrong because he was hurrying through it.

I feel dumb right now. I need encouragement.

Chris

 

[gablet]

I found that the test was much like the study guide. It helped me guide my studying. When there was a section that I was unsure about I could then go back to my Organic 1 or 2 notes and practice more.

There is plenty of time to do the test slowly, so don't rush through the answers and miss an easy question.

 

[dabumba]

Now, I've maintained an A average throughout all of Orgo I and now through all of Orgo II until right now. I have a 90.7%, just barely hanging on with my pinky fingernail... This final will make or break me. I have been studying the ACS study guide now since spring break and have been hitting it hard for the last week. My average of picking the right answers is getting worse and worse and really, really bad. I feel like I didn't learn anything in class. All of my reasoning for picking my answers is the wrong one.

Has anyone studied the ACS guide and then taken the test? Does anyone know if the guide is purposely trying to be tricky and the test is easier?

Just to rub it in a bit more, our professor said that he took our ACS exam in 30 minutes and only got 3 wrong. He said he only got those three wrong because he was hurrying through it.

I feel dumb right now. I need encouragement.

Hey Chris,
Cheers!

ACS exam is not bad at all. Some of the questions is very basic. Don't think too hard because this is not a feaking hard exam. Just relax. Prepare all you can.

If your professor got 3 wrong out of 70 questions, then you have a right to wrong 30! Hahahaha. Just kidding!

Ask your professor that what is your school's average? I think, normally at 47% nationwide. Hopefully I am wrong!

--- Dabumba.

 

[freshbeatschris]

Ask your professor that what is your school's average? I think, normally at 47% nationwide. Hopefully I am wrong!

--- Dabumba.

You're just about right. I think he said the national average was 47 questions out of 70. I need to get 43 right to get an A in the class. I'm just fearful because all of my initial instincts are the wrong ones.

I'm hoping they will have some exact repeats from the study guide. Wishfull thinking...

I can't wait til this is over. Thanks for your input.

Chris

 

[freshbeatschris]

There is plenty of time to do the test slowly, so don't rush through the answers and miss an easy question.

Thanks. I was wondering about that, too. I didn't know if it was like the PCAT where you need to keep moving quickly to get through everything.

Chris

 

[twester]

I just took the ACS exam for two semesters of Gen Chem last Thrusday. Our professor told us that very, very few people even come close to acing the ACS exams. I walked out of the exam feeling like I had just taken a final for a class I had not attended. I was sure I'd bombed it. But, no, I scored in the 90th percentile. I don't know what my raw score was.

I'm not sure how I felt about the Study Guide. If nothing else, it showed me how the questions would look. I'm not sure it was so helpful with content. And like you, Chris, I started to freak out that I wasn't getting more of the sample test questions correct. Don't let it freak you out.

If a question on the exam stumps you, just move on to the next question. I advise going through the test at least twice. Answer easy questions first and then go back and answer the more involved questions. And make sure every question is answered - you get credit for answering correctly rather losing points for missing.

Good luck. I'll bet you do great on the exam!

Troy

 

[Betty'sBeast]

You're just about right. I think he said the national average was 47 questions out of 70. I need to get 43 right to get an A in the class. I'm just fearful because all of my initial instincts are the wrong ones.

I'm hoping they will have some exact repeats from the study guide. Wishfull thinking...

I can't wait til this is over. Thanks for your input.

Chris

Our professor made the ACS exam optional, I decided to take it but I didn't study for it at all. I also didn't work very hard in orgo II since I found out I was accepted in Jan. Anyway, I got 40 right, so if you've been studying a lot, you shouldn't have any problems getting 43 of them. Good luck on that A!

 

[nikkai]

Well there's your problem. Picking answers should be based on what you're studying, not your intuition. =)

Seriously though, if you review all your reactions, you'll do fine.

Just make sure you know all the semester 1 stuff too.

I needed a 30 on mine a while back to maintain an A. That was fun. I then proceeded to see how many words I could spell with A, B, C, D and E.

ABACADABA BABE =)

 

[freshbeatschris]

I just took the ACS exam for two semesters of Gen Chem last Thrusday. Our professor told us that very, very few people even come close to acing the ACS exams. I walked out of the exam feeling like I had just taken a final for a class I had not attended. I was sure I'd bombed it. But, no, I scored in the 90th percentile. I don't know what my raw score was.

I'm not sure how I felt about the Study Guide. If nothing else, it showed me how the questions would look. I'm not sure it was so helpful with content. And like you, Chris, I started to freak out that I wasn't getting more of the sample test questions correct. Don't let it freak you out.

If a question on the exam stumps you, just move on to the next question. I advise going through the test at least twice. Answer easy questions first and then go back and answer the more involved questions. And make sure every question is answered - you get credit for answering correctly rather losing points for missing.

Good luck. I'll bet you do great on the exam!

Troy

Thanks so much for the words of encouragement. I really needed to hear this.

Chris