Off to a horriable start this semester

[jackal head]

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Not sure what to do about it, In gen chem, I studied pretty much everything and did a whole bunch of practise problems, I understood all the material too but on the exam made some stupid mistakes (missing units, not converting properly), do I just need to practise more?

What really worries me is microbiology, I'm taking it after 1510, I expected it to be harder and studied enough to know everything however I just bombed the first exam since almost every question was really tricky.

Any advice on what I should do? I'm investing soooooo much more time into studying but just not seeing any results. How do you study for upper level bio courses?

 

[cjf]

For chem, do you do problems over and over again? Reading it on paper is one thing. Physically doing the problems will help you catch those mistakes with units.

For general chem, units is the most important thing. Many times, you can figure out a problem not knowing the formula with units.

For upper division bio, it's just about grinding it out and studying an hour everyday.

 

[jackal head]

For chem, do you do problems over and over again? Reading it on paper is one thing. Physically doing the problems will help you catch those mistakes with units.

For general chem, units is the most important thing. Many times, you can figure out a problem not knowing the formula with units.

For upper division bio, it's just about grinding it out and studying an hour everyday.

For gen chem, when I was practising I rarely wrote anything down, just did it all on the calculator.

For bio, I usually studied the lecture material before class and went over it once or twice after class but what through me off was it was a lot more in depth then I thought it would be and I guess I need to just practise how to read problems more carefuly but all the review problems I did weren't that detailed. Most people can still do those problems because they have taken or are taking other upper level bio classes, for me, all I know is what is said in the lecture and is on the slides.

I guess I just have to study on a whole new level of detail (ie one question was regarding fermentation and on the slides it just said, its "usually anaerobic" so in my head i just thought fermentation = anaerobic, well on the exam we were sapposed to know it can be both aerobic and anaerboic which I guess makes sense but damn, you really gotta know every word).

 

[PistonFan531]

Jackal head, have you gotten your hands on Barber's old exams? Most of her exams are replicas of her old ones.

 

[cjf]

For gen chem, when I was practising I rarely wrote anything down, just did it all on the calculator.

For bio, I usually studied the lecture material before class and went over it once or twice after class but what through me off was it was a lot more in depth then I thought it would be and I guess I need to just practise how to read problems more carefuly but all the review problems I did weren't that detailed. Most people can still do those problems because they have taken or are taking other upper level bio classes, for me, all I know is what is said in the lecture and is on the slides.

I guess I just have to study on a whole new level of detail (ie one question was regarding fermentation and on the slides it just said, its "usually anaerobic" so in my head i just thought fermentation = anaerobic, well on the exam we were sapposed to know it can be both aerobic and anaerboic which I guess makes sense but damn, you really gotta know every word).

Always write it down on the paper. Many times on calculator, it is easy to lose track of your units, and it is very easy to forget conversions.

In biology, do all the questions in the back of the book to keep yourself 'interactive' while you study.

Also, it might be a good idea to take breaks and not study in a huge block. Serial position effect. You tend to forget the middle of a large chunk of time concentrated, while you remember the beginning and end.

 

[jackal head]

Jackal head, have you gotten your hands on Barber's old exams? Most of her exams are replicas of her old ones.

Do you know if the final is like that too?

Appreciate the help cjf, I never knew about that, I always used to study in huge blocks and I think I have experienced that.

 

[mrblah]

You seriously need to re-evaluate your studying habits. Get out of the habit of speed reading (i.e. reading and not understanding), and avoid cramming before the test. General chem is easy, all you have to do is do the homework, and I mean actually do the homework on a piece of paper and pen (not on your calculator). Chem is one of those classes where if you develop a good foundation, your future chem classes will be easier.

For bio and chem, after you read a section in your textbook or your notes, you should stop and either recite what you just learned to someone (i.e. discuss or tutor) or go take a break and think about what you just read. I also recommend reviewing the same day after lecture. Lastly to reiterate, NO SPEED READING.

I'm a speed reading demon, and to be honest, its a really bad habit that is hard to break, and has cost me points in the past, either because I didn't missed some important fact in the notes/text or I didn't read a test question carefully enough. To break out of the habit, I find myself underlining things, especially on the test.

P.S. It isn't a "whole new level of detail" if you failed to realize that not all microorganisms are strict aerobes, or strict anaerobes, and to be honest, there isn't anything really tricky about gchem either. Also, people who've taken upper division classes tend to do better, mainly because they've figured out what study routine works for them. So just take a step back and look at what your study habits consist of.

 

[jackal head]

You seriously need to re-evaluate your studying habits. Get out of the habit of speed reading (i.e. reading and not understanding), and avoid cramming before the test. General chem is easy, all you have to do is do the homework, and I mean actually do the homework on a piece of paper and pen (not on your calculator). Chem is one of those classes where if you develop a good foundation, your future chem classes will be easier.

For bio and chem, after you read a section in your textbook or your notes, you should stop and either recite what you just learned to someone (i.e. discuss or tutor) or go take a break and think about what you just read. I also recommend reviewing the same day after lecture. Lastly to reiterate, NO SPEED READING.

I'm a speed reading demon, and to be honest, its a really bad habit that is hard to break, and has cost me points in the past, either because I didn't missed some important fact in the notes/text or I didn't read a test question carefully enough. To break out of the habit, I find myself underlining things, especially on the test.

P.S. It isn't a "whole new level of detail" if you failed to realize that not all microorganisms are strict aerobes, or strict anaerobes, and to be honest, there isn't anything really tricky about gchem either. Also, people who've taken upper division classes tend to do better, mainly because they've figured out what study routine works for them. So just take a step back and look at what your study habits consist of.

I definitley have an issue with speed reading, another key reason why I didn't do well is probably because I relied too much on the slides. At first I was reading and doing everything in the book but after I saw the lecture slides summarized pretty much everything in the book within a fraction of the time it took to read it, I stopped using the book which was a probably a big mistake.

 

[optimistic828]

I guess I just have to study on a whole new level of detail (ie one question was regarding fermentation and on the slides it just said, its "usually anaerobic" so in my head i just thought fermentation = anaerobic, well on the exam we were sapposed to know it can be both aerobic and anaerboic which I guess makes sense but damn, you really gotta know every word).

that fermentation ? got me too 🙁

if it makes you feel any better, i studied REALLY hard for that exam too and even kept in mind that he has trick questions because thats how the practice exam was and still felt like it was really hard! hopefully the curve will help

 

[jackal head]

that fermentation ? got me too 🙁

if it makes you feel any better, i studied REALLY hard for that exam too and even kept in mind that he has trick questions because thats how the practice exam was and still felt like it was really hard! hopefully the curve will help

personally I thought his exam was a lot more in depth than the practise exam, but I think he did this because we only covered such little material which was mostly review anyway and if you look at the next couple of classes, we will cover MUCH more for the next exam so perhaps then his questions will be a bit more standard

 

[optimistic828]

personally I thought his exam was a lot more in depth than the practise exam, but I think he did this because we only covered such little material which was mostly review anyway and if you look at the next couple of classes, we will cover MUCH more for the next exam so perhaps then his questions will be a bit more standard

I don't think exams are going to change much because keep in mind only 10% get A's and making such tricky questions is how he will determine who really deserves it...

 

[ImDaStyle]

OMG, I know how you feel...I study a lot...hours and hours...and still fail...I feel so discouraged...I bombed my Organic Chem exam, I got D+ in it... -_-;

 

[sanfranalaska]

One technique that proved most successful for me in my bio classes and biochem was to write notes as I read the chapter, I would combine these with the most important points from the teachers lecture and use my own notes to study. Writing stuff down helps cement it into your memory, if I only read a chapter I remember about 1% of what I read, but if i write it down I remember like 80%. Good luck!!!

 

[cjf]

Another word of advice

ABUSE OFFICE HOURS

I said it, ABUSE. Go to every hour if possible. The teachers don't have a problem with it because they are required to have them anyways. Many times, they give you a new view of how to look at the material, and will give you hints on what kind of questions are to be asked on the test.

Good luck. You'll be fine if you take the advice everybody gives you here.

Go for it!👍👍👍

 

[cjf]

Do you know if the final is like that too?

Appreciate the help cjf, I never knew about that, I always used to study in huge blocks and I think I have experienced that.

Exercise is also very important in my opinion. It helps burn off a lot of stress, and gets your blood flowing to your brain. It gives you endorphins that allow you to get a semi-euphoric sensation even as you sit down to study.

 

[jackal head]

One technique that proved most successful for me in my bio classes and biochem was to write notes as I read the chapter, I would combine these with the most important points from the teachers lecture and use my own notes to study. Writing stuff down helps cement it into your memory, if I only read a chapter I remember about 1% of what I read, but if i write it down I remember like 80%. Good luck!!!

do you think it makes a difference wheter you write it down or type it up?

 

[Travisgee]

Amen, to breaking that speed reading habit. Im horrible about that and it cost me an A on last week's math test, receiving a B instead. I was furious.
I dont know if this is the case for you jackal, but i find that sometimes im simply bored. Im ready to learn some new stuff having studied all of the same material, so when i take the test, then i speed read and answer. I know it all, but miss out on putting it down correctly, so to speak.

I like the tip about underlining to slow down your reading. I'm going to start using that as my new test taking skill.

 

[sanfranalaska]

do you think it makes a difference wheter you write it down or type it up?

I've tried typing and it doesn't seem to be the same as writing it down. Since writing takes longer I think it sticks in your mind better.

 

[PharmD321]

Amen, to breaking that speed reading habit. Im horrible about that and it cost me an A on last week's math test, receiving a B instead. I was furious.
I dont know if this is the case for you jackal, but i find that sometimes im simply bored. Im ready to learn some new stuff having studied all of the same material, so when i take the test, then i speed read and answer. I know it all, but miss out on putting it down correctly, so to speak.

I like the tip about underlining to slow down your reading. I'm going to start using that as my new test taking skill.

+1, I had that same exact problem and I am still pissed after I got a c in my first chem test last week. I also agree with you that boredom is actually the biggest problem in test (I actually did every homework writing first then type the final draft of the homework and had a perfect score on everything including the quiz until the exam)and it makes us over confident and want to get the test over with. That speed reading will hurt you....

I am going to start to underline important things in the test from now on...

 

[pharmengineer]

sorry. make a mistake