How To Succeed In Biology Series: Words of Wisdom from Dr. Frederick. (Part 3 of 3)

Finally, in succeeding as a Biology student, one needs to know how to approach a biology exam and also how to control the feelings that follow failure.  Dr. Frederick, PhD., breaks down how to approach exams and how to stay motivated even when failures arise. 
Dr. Frederick has always told her students that "Your grade is a number, but you are not. The exams are usually difficult but they are not a test of your intelligence."
Be sure to take some notes as we deliver this last volume of "How to Succeed In Biology"
Enjoy.

Preparing For Exams.

Staying up all night cramming is not a good way to prepare for your exam.  You do not want to be rushed, overwhelmed or tired while studying.  Being well rested on the day of the exam will help your brain think and function properly.  This helps ease test anxiety as well as the occasional “blank outs”.  All textbook reading and lecture note revision should be completed well ahead of time so that the last few days can be spent in mastering the material, not in trying to understand basic concepts.

Daily preparation and review is a must in a science course.  Fifteen minutes every day will do you more good than 8 hrs the night before the exam.  If you take some time each day to organize the notes you've taken, you can begin to integrate them with other material you have encountered.  Connecting concepts goes a long way toward success on an exam.

If you manage your time carefully and keep up with your studies, you will have plenty of time to review thoroughly and clear up any questions. This will allow you to get sufficient rest before the exam and to feel confident in your preparation. Because both physical condition and general attitude are important factors in exam performance, you will automatically do better.   Listed below are some helpful resources.

Grassick, P. 1983. Making the Grade: How to Score High on all Scholastic Tests. New York: Arco.

Shaw, H. 1976. 30 Ways to Improve Your Grades. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Shepherd, J. F. 1988. RSVP: The Houghton Mifflin Reading, Study, and Vocabulary Program, 3rd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Thistlethwaite, L. L., and Snouffer, N. K. 1976. College Reading Power, 3rd ed. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt.

Hopefully some of these tips will apply to you and help you become more efficient in your studies.  Remember you do not have to be a genius to succeed in college.  Determination and motivation go a long way.  There are plenty of smart people who fail out of college.  Learning good study habits and effective time management will improve your grades in this course and your overall GPA.       

Lastly a note by Glen A. Marvin that I think is important…

Grades are not your worth (by Glenn A. Marvin) ---

Grades have nothing to do with your worth as a human being. Your grade is a number, but you are not. The exams are usually difficult but they are not a test of your intelligence. You should never judge your own worth and your worth to others based upon a grade. We all have a tendency to do that, but it is self-defeating and destructive to do so. The one and only thing that matters is your effort. If you have made your maximum effort, then what more can be asked of you, even by you? If grades are somehow important to you, then they are your responsibility. The amount of information in the course, or level of difficulty of exams cannot be altered in order to adjust the grades in a course.

There are those who sometimes attempt to shift the responsibility for their grades from themselves to the course or instructor by complaining about course content and exam difficulty. I listen sympathetically, but my obligation is not to your grade, but to you, and to any individuals you wish to help with this information.

Dr. Frederick.



Disclaimer:  Dr. Frederick is not a part of or associated with The Eliel Arrey TEAM.  These "How To Succeed" series were uploaded with her permission and out of our good graces to share with fellow college peers.
 
Stay tuned for on getting the most out of college.
Thanks
The Eliel Arrey TEAM.

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