I know the material, but I mess the exams up!! Why ??

[raidkha]

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Hello.
So when I look through my notes I find that I know everything I am studying even when I do the practice problems. But when I get into the exam room, I forget everything; even I feel that I never seen the materials before. after the exam is done, I look at the exam realizing that I know how to do everything - which I didn't do while in the exam room. Even I double check with answer keys and find that I am knowing it.


What the heck is going on with my brain?

 

[sinombre]

Test anxiety?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Two potential issues might be the cause.
1) You have testing anxiety, this interferes in your ability to recall information.
2) You study in a way that makes the application of the material difficult, you memorize it and then when the professor gives you a question in which the conditions change you're unable to recognize how to apply the basic principles.

 

[BABSstudent]

Well, you probably don't actually "know the material." It is all familiar to you and that is why it seems like you know it.

Next time, take your notes and read them a few times. However, before you go into a test, you should be able to see the name of the subject (for example "Schizotypal personality disorder") and then say everything that is listed below it without actually looking at it.

Essentially, you are turning your outline into flashcards without actually making the flashcards.

Also, if you have pathways or something that requires knowing a certain order, make sure you can write that pathway out. Check it after you write it and see if you make a mistake or two (or more). I know glycolysis is really easy to look at, but actually remembering the name of each enzyme, substrate, product, etc. on a test is hard if you don't do it a few times before.

 

[IncognitoGuy]

Well, you probably don't actually "know the material." It is all familiar to you and that is why it seems like you know it.

Next time, take your notes and read them a few times. However, before you go into a test, you should be able to see the name of the subject (for example "Schizotypal personality disorder") and then say everything that is listed below it without actually looking at it.

Essentially, you are turning your outline into flashcards without actually making the flashcards.

Also, if you have pathways or something that requires knowing a certain order, make sure you can write that pathway out. Check it after you write it and see if you make a mistake or two (or more). I know glycolysis is really easy to look at, but actually remembering the name of each enzyme, substrate, product, etc. on a test is hard if you don't do it a few times before.

+1, do you know it or do you REALLY know it? If you had to, could you instantly write down whatever subject/term is at hand and all the details you need to know on the fly? If not, then practice and keep testing yourself until you can pretty much reproduce your notes from memory.

 

[deleted303591]

Do you have old exams? (Ask for them from friends, TAs, professors)

You should be practicing with old exams under "game" conditions (e.g. timed and under the same conditions as the exam you are going to be taking soon)

"Studying" does not do much, at least in engineering. Work is much more important and engaging.

 

[NickNaylor]

You probably "know" the material well enough to "get it" when you're reading notes or have minimal guidance. As others have pointed out, though, you probably don't know the concepts as well as you think - at least not well enough to use the information without any kind of external guidance. Try explaining the concepts to an imaginary student that doesn't know anything. Actually give a "lesson" out loud. Do you think that "student" would understand the material well enough to pass the exam? If not, you need to solidify your knowledge base further.

(sent from my phone)

 

[BABSstudent]

I should also point out that learning to be familiar with concepts is fine for multiple choice tests (sometimes) but if it is a fill in the blank style then you should be even more knowledgeable. Those require a higher level of learning and being able to apply theories to novel situations. As such, you should spend even more time studying for tests like this.

 

[ribbondino]

When this happens to me, it's ALWAYS because I focused on understanding the material when it is presented and not really gaining a thorough amount of skill with it.
Flash cards really help with that. Quizlet is a really good and free flashcard sites that you can play games with and make cards and etc.
I really doubt it can be pinned solely to test anxiety, seeing that it happens every single time and you can still analyze the test. You may just need to find a new method of studying. One thing that I know works really well for a lot of people is creating your own questions. It takes a really good understanding to be able to create good questions.

 

[Skull Pell]

You'd always look forward to the simple definition questions but you'd come to a screeching halt and spend at least 3 mins trying to digest a little case study application question in the test. We all hate those...but knowing the concept a full 360 is more than just the read-regurgitate-repeat habit.

 

[JoeM]

One thing that took me a while to understand is that tests are a form of communication: when you take a test, you are communicating to your professor how much you understand the material. Even if you understand it perfectly, there may be a problem with the way you are studying that is keeping you from really being able to prove to your professor that you understand as much as you do. Don't just study the material, study the way your professor writes tests. That way, you will be better at predicting the types of questions that will be asked and the way they will be asked.

 

[lovesfall]

That used to happen to me before I learned how to study well. Try to switch up how you study, do a lot more practice problems and try to simulate the test environment as much as you can so that you learn the skills you'll need to access the material the way you will need to on the test. One trap that is easy to fall into while studying is that you become familiar with the concepts and materials and instead of really knowing them, you just recognize them. It feels like you know it, but you don't have the recall you need to apply it later.

 

[AestheticGod]

Do you have old exams? (Ask for them from friends, TAs, professors)

You should be practicing with old exams under "game" conditions (e.g. timed and under the same conditions as the exam you are going to be taking soon)

"Studying" does not do much, at least in engineering. Work is much more important and engaging.

But isn't this considered cheating?

 

[deleted303591]

But isn't this considered cheating?

Not at my university. 😎 😀

Plus if you google well, you can find good exams in general from various universities.

 

[Josh7]

But isn't this considered cheating?

It seems like borderline cheating to me, but at most universities it isn't considered cheating.

 

[BABSstudent]

But isn't this considered cheating?

If the exams are not available to everyone then I would say yes. Many professors don't even change the tests, so using old exams would essentially be like getting the test beforehand.

And don't use the line, "if they don't change the tests, they are asking for it." I dare you to go tell your professor that you had old copies of the exam.

 

[Anathema]

Story for everyone:

My first physics exam was based DIRECTLY, QUESTION FOR QUESTION off of a 2005 exam (I took the class last year). The kicker was that people that applied for more help within the course could access this test and even went through it with their peer mentors.

Needless to say that curve was not genuine. I don't know if anyone brought it up to the professor or the TAs but the professor probably wouldn't have cared since he used the same exact copy.

Anyway, I'm not against using old exams if they're out there because they're practice. If the professor decides to use questions exactly like those questions, it's not you that's to blame but rather the professor. I'm saying this thought because most of the time my professors will give out practice exams and use 2-3 just to reward people that actually go for the extra practice.