Freaking out after first anatomy exam...

[DocTAP87]

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Hey guys, so I'm in a DPT program and I really love it. I even love studying it. I get up every morning at 5:30am and if I don't have class, I study until 2:00pm. I try to split it up between anatomy and kinesiology and then fit in the other material but not as much time.

I go to open labs, watch tons of YouTube vids, explain the material and practice on my family, and whatever else I can to get it.

I got 10/10 on our first two quizzes in anatomy and then the third quiz, something happened. I got nervous, I started questioning myself, I went back and changed a bunch of answers and ended up with 5.5/10. Then we took the anatomy lecture exam, and I was nervous as all hell.

I did it again. One of the questions was name the function of the prefrontal cortex. Easy enough, right? I knew the answer, wrote it down, was happy with it and just before turning the exam, doubted myself and changed it to the wrong answer!

I'm really worried about my score. If we don't at least get a C on our exams, we get put on academic probation and if we do poorly again, we're out of the program.

Test anxiety? Too much pressure? Low confidence? I'm freaking out because I love this program. I volunteered at a free clinic and I got to help treat a patient's edema and I gave input regarding muscle action and possible sources of pain. I can do this but not if I keep screwing up on the exams.

Has anyone else been in this situation? What do I do? Should I just wait for my score and stop freaking out? Email the instructor?

Thanks for any help. First year is feeling pretty rough.

 

[supershorty]

I'm in a different program than you are, but I learned during undergrad that if I wasn't absolutely certain that the answer I put down was wrong, I shouldn't change it. I don't go back and look over the test before I turn it in because I'll start second-guessing my answers. I'm not saying you shouldn't look over your exam, but that's what I have to do for myself, and it works well.

Also, make sure you're keeping a healthy school/life balance - study smart, not long.

 

[DocTAP87]

I'm in a different program than you are, but I learned during undergrad that if I wasn't absolutely certain that the answer I put down was wrong, I shouldn't change it. I don't go back and look over the test before I turn it in because I'll start second-guessing my answers. I'm not saying you shouldn't look over your exam, but that's what I have to do for myself, and it works well.

Also, make sure you're keeping a healthy school/life balance - study smart, not long.

I think that's why I'm beating myself up so badly. Not only was I not absolutely sure it was wrong but I was absolutely sure it was right just before changing it. That's good advice. I'm not going to touch any answers I put down unless I have solid reason to believe what I wrote is wrong.

 

[starrsgirl]

I had an answer changing issue my first year too. I make a rule about it now...i can leave a question blank and come back to it, but unless I literally "find" the answer somewhere else in the test, I can't change it. Wait and see how the test goes. If you have the option to review it with your instructor, do it so you can see what types of questions you are missing (we could even see our own test where we had written notes or crossed out answers...that really helped me figure out if I was narrowing down correctly or if I was on the right track).

 

[NJ DPT HOPEFUL]

I am similar to the common group here. My system is that I make a mark (just a dash near the number) of answers that I either don't know or want to look back at. Outside of that I check to make sure I filled in a scantron correctly or didn't misread a question but that's it.

 

[NewTestament]

If the answer seems correct at first glance, then it probably is. Quit doubting your first choice. Finish the test, check all your answers and make sure they make sense, make sure you filled in the bubbles, and then leave. Don't check your score for at least 24 hours. A week would be better.

When you study, make sure you're challenging yourself when you're alone, and make sure you meet with someone to quiz each other. That's my best advise. I never got less than an 80% on any anatomy exam and I'm not the greatest student either.

 

[DesertPT]

I have a policy of not changing my answers ever unless I notice that I accidentally misread the question (eg which one is NOT true vs which one is true) or I accidentally just clicked the wrong choice. Otherwise, my estimation after taking hundreds of tests is that if I change an answer I end up being right and benefiting probably 3/10 times, and end up screwing myself (because I already had the right answer and changed it) probably about 7/10 times. So after my first semester or so of PT school I just established a no answer changing policy, because even if I happen to catch a mistake, the probability of screwing myself is always higher.

 

[DocTAP87]

Thanks for all the advice. I've had two exams since and I took this advice and did not change any of my answers unless I was absolutely sure. For example, on kinesiology exam, I noticed that I had flip flopped the glide and roll on a question and made that one change. We still haven't received any of our scores so I don't know how well or poorly I did but I at least feel more confident.

Also, if anyone is reading this and feeling the same way, talk to your classmates. I brought it up and found out that I am definitely not alone. Pretty much everyone was feeling overwhelmed, freaked out, changing their answers, etc. We even joked that we might be the dumbest group of PT students the University has admitted. If nothing else, it helps to know you're not alone and that we're all struggling together.