So them finals...

SmoodCrooznSmoodCroozn Join Date: 2003-11-04 Member: 22310Members
<div class="IPBDescription">How do you win?</div>I got finals next week and I often get lazy at studying. Actually I have one tommorow, but as much as I read books, I don't get much out of them. The final I have tommorow is on statistics and I know probably 60%, but when it went through p values and stuff, I bombed. Anything you guys do or use to help you out?

Comments

  • RevlicRevlic Join Date: 2006-11-04 Member: 58367Members
    Blah, I have to take one of my grades to the dean.

    I have pretty good evidence to show that I had conflicting interests with my teacher.
  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    edited December 2006
    <!--quoteo(post=1588649:date=Dec 14 2006, 05:41 PM:name=Revlic)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Revlic @ Dec 14 2006, 05:41 PM) [snapback]1588649[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Blah, I have to take one of my grades to the dean.

    I have pretty good evidence to show that I had conflicting interests with my teacher.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Revlic's Interests: Awesome grades, nail hot chicks, plenty of booze.

    Teacher's Interests: Grades based on performance, learning in class.

    Conflicting interests: Awesome grades/grades based on performance.

    Area of conflict: Teacher bestowed nonawesome grade on Revlic, who prefers awesome grade.

    Source of conflict: Teacher believes Revlic's performance does not merit Revlic's expectation.

    Solution: Summary execution.


    My plan for tests is basically to learn all the material when they teach it. That way I don't have to bother studying at all.
  • RevlicRevlic Join Date: 2006-11-04 Member: 58367Members
    edited December 2006
    <!--quoteo(post=1588667:date=Dec 15 2006, 02:10 AM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Dec 15 2006, 02:10 AM) [snapback]1588667[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Revlic's Interests: Awesome grades, nail hot chicks, plenty of booze.

    Teacher's Interests: Grades based on performance, learning in class.

    Conflicting interests: Awesome grades/grades based on performance.

    Area of conflict: Teacher bestowed nonawesome grade on Revlic, who prefers awesome grade.

    Source of conflict: Teacher believes Revlic's performance does not merit Revlic's expectation.

    Solution: Summary execution.
    My plan for tests is basically to learn all the material when they teach it. That way I don't have to bother studying at all.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Had more to do with the fact I wasn't willing to help him (on my own time) with a presentation for a company the teacher works for, so in my refusal he turned into a ###### to me the rest of the year.

    It was for a multi-level marketing company. It's a business practice I don't believe in.

    I've already have a signature and letter from another teacher who teaches the same class reviewing my final project and he said it was one of the best one's he's ever seen. So I have a pretty solid argument.

    I don't study for my classes, because I already know all the work. Me being in the classroom is simply a formality since I've already "tested out" of any classes I could. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />


    But your head on when it comes to the drinking part. I love drinking!
  • UltimaGeckoUltimaGecko hates endnotes Join Date: 2003-05-14 Member: 16320Members
    I should actually be writing a paper on the crusades and the difficulties in command between Richard I and Philip II...but instead I'm meandering around these forums and avoiding doing the paper that's due tomorrow. Usually for studying (if a class really warrants it) I'll just read through any notes I happen to have lying around. I usually half-###### it though, since I tend to write better stuff just from memories coming to mind as I'm writing the essay/filling in answers. In that vein of thought, both my crusades and American history exams will involve looking through my notes, going "bah" after 5 minutes and then just winging the exam. Luckily I don't have to go to 2 of my exams anyway.
  • enf0rcerenf0rcer intrigued... Join Date: 2003-03-16 Member: 14584Members
    - read notes
    - repeat ad infinitum

    Then again, that's not going to help a huge amount for a class like stats - I normally see if i can mooche old finals from exam banks (if you have them on campus) and just do practic questions.

    There's no magical solution you just have to do the work


    on a related note - I just wrote my last final, molecular biology and genetics today

    WOOOOOT I'M FREE FOR CHRISTMAS!!!
  • TheDestroyerTheDestroyer Tooobah Join Date: 2003-07-12 Member: 18123Members, Constellation
    edited December 2006
    Don't cram last minute. The information being "fresh on your mind" is a bunch of bs. I went and took a final yesterday and didn't even review the notes. I'm pretty sure I won that final, too.

    I also find associating the information with pictures (or patterns, which I did for my piano test today) helps me a lot. I learn best by visuals, so being able to picture something to associate with the information helps me recall it better (especially if its a funny picture).

    Don't stress out. Whats the Fonz like? He's cool. Just be like the Fonz. I find that when I'm about to take a test, if I'm relaxed versus "omg-finalztiem-medpackstat!" then I will do better.
  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    I just finished my last final today.

    My study strategies include: Pay attention in class, take notes, read the text book, sometimes...

    Go into test with confidence, take test, win. I can usually get a B without trying too hard.
  • TransmissionTransmission Join Date: 2003-03-12 Member: 14456Members
    edited December 2006
    <!--quoteo(post=1588681:date=Dec 14 2006, 09:52 PM:name=TheDestroyer)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TheDestroyer @ Dec 14 2006, 09:52 PM) [snapback]1588681[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Don't cram last minute. The information being "fresh on your mind" is a bunch of bs.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I completely disagree. I tried keeping up with work as the class went on, and I found it harder than cramming everything in the week before finals. I found I would too easily forget what happened three months ago if I kept up with classes, but compressing an entire course into a day did keep it all relevant. Also, studying everything at once helps me see the connections between topics.

    As long as I attend classes so I know what's being talked about, and then cram at the right time, getting consistent A/A- grades isn't difficult.

    Sadly, I still have three finals to go, finishing next Wednesday, with a biochem exam tomorrow. fun fun
  • GwahirGwahir Join Date: 2002-04-24 Member: 513Members, Constellation
    edited December 2006
    most of my classes are taught in order of dependency... so it generally just works itself out.

    edit: typo
  • enf0rcerenf0rcer intrigued... Join Date: 2003-03-16 Member: 14584Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1588688:date=Dec 14 2006, 10:20 PM:name=Transmission)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Transmission @ Dec 14 2006, 10:20 PM) [snapback]1588688[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I completely disagree. I tried keeping up with work as the class went on, and I found it harder than cramming everything in the week before finals. I found I would too easily forget what happened three months ago if I kept up with classes, but compressing an entire course into a day did keep it all relevant. Also, studying everything at once helps me see the connections between topics.

    As long as I attend classes so I know what's being talked about, and then cram at the right time, getting consistent A/A- grades isn't difficult.

    Sadly, I still have three finals to go, finishing next Wednesday, with a biochem exam tomorrow. fun fun
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    this is pretty much what I do too. It totally depends on how you find the course while it's going on. If it's easy you can get away with a single day of studying before a final. I like at least 3 days for a final.
  • TheDestroyerTheDestroyer Tooobah Join Date: 2003-07-12 Member: 18123Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1588688:date=Dec 14 2006, 11:20 PM:name=Transmission)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Transmission @ Dec 14 2006, 11:20 PM) [snapback]1588688[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I completely disagree. I tried keeping up with work as the class went on, and I found it harder than cramming everything in the week before finals. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I guess I should re-word what I ment. Don't learn last minute. (i associate cram with learning, instead of review)
  • SmoodCrooznSmoodCroozn Join Date: 2003-11-04 Member: 22310Members
    The problem is I can't visually memorize math problems. I mean maybe the apples and mangos for addition, but when you're dealing with p values and central limit theorems and... Ack.

    I tend to be a logical guy. I understand the probability part, you know, dice and cards. But when we you have to find critical values and what percentage of that is the confidence level and all this mumbo jumbo... my brain implodes.

    Well that's math at least.

    Usually, I'm good at guessing, using logic of course.
  • UltimaGeckoUltimaGecko hates endnotes Join Date: 2003-05-14 Member: 16320Members
    I think stressing is fine, as long as you can manage to control any sort of adrenaline or other chemical emotion causing hormones. The key is to not get depressed or to worry about how well you're going to do. Focus the energy you'd spend worrying on studying and the benefits are two fold: you've studied and you haven't worried.


    That said, I always go in with a sense of 'zomg, I don't think I'm going to do well' because it makes me try harder, but, as the old addage goes, to each his own.
  • ByekaByeka Name changed from Freak83 Toronto Join Date: 2003-03-13 Member: 14484Members, Constellation
    Just having finished written my finance final (and having done two stats courses prior) this is basically the method I used to study for those:

    - Pull up about two desks in front of me
    - Get my calculator and pencil out
    - Do as many different types of problems as I can

    For my stats courses we were allowed three cheat sheets (which we made) for each course, so making sure I had exactly the right information on those sheets helped prepare for that to great extent. For the finance exam I just finished we were provided with three pages of formulas so it was more about just making sure I knew how to do each and every type of problem (which after writing I now realized I hadn't apparently done as well as I had thought).
  • BlackMageBlackMage [citation needed] Join Date: 2003-06-18 Member: 17474Members, Constellation
    i'm probably going to pass all of my BS prereqs so i can take more prereqs so i can qualify for some actual engineering courses.
  • briktalbriktal Join Date: 2003-08-20 Member: 20021Members, Constellation
    I try to take classes where I can answer exam questions by drawing some circles/boxes, some arrows, and maybe a few labels.
  • SmoodCrooznSmoodCroozn Join Date: 2003-11-04 Member: 22310Members
    Well I took it today and... there was only 8 questions.

    I probably understood what I was doing in 5.5 of them... eep.

    I just don't get it. I still don't get what the heck critical values are, despite me staying up until 3 last night on the can reading about it. I don't get how alpha works with the z-scores.

    What the fung is a significance level arghh!

    I guess my problem is I tend to look at the WHY of things happening, not the what. My teacher says if you do this, this will happen. I'm the one asking why that works like that, like WHY is pi 3.14 or why do we mix and rape numbers for a simple poll.

    Oh, and it turns out we only had 2 hours to do the test. Too bad I took a 30 minute nap, thinking we had 4 hours.
  • MulletMullet Join Date: 2003-04-28 Member: 15910Members, Constellation
    <img src="http://www.ennislaw.com/images/adderall_xr.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />

    Nuff said.
  • enf0rcerenf0rcer intrigued... Join Date: 2003-03-16 Member: 14584Members
    you must be joking - you took a freaking nap. Wow. Try reading the first page of the exam, it normally says "The duration of this exam is 2 hours" in big bold letters.

    no sympathy for that blunder.

    Most of the stuff you mentioned isn't even that complex either - you must've been using a terribly worded textbook if you didn't get it. I've had that happen before too. Really critical points worded very vaguely in a few sentences.

    Oh well if you think you knew what you were doing for "5.5" of the questions you probably got at least part marks for the others. Give yourself a little credit and i'm sure you did fine.
  • BlackMageBlackMage [citation needed] Join Date: 2003-06-18 Member: 17474Members, Constellation
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