How to Pass a Course/Exams

Going to the exam

Before you do your first test, take a break. You must be a good mental condition before going into an exam. Avoid studying two hours or less before the exam. Arrive on time to the exam, make sure you have as much time as you need. Make sure you have all needed materials, such as pen, pencil, or calculator. Put on a positive attitude, and go in, you are ready to pass the examination, you just have to do some paperwork. Make sure you're adequately rested, and don't consume caffeine unless to stay conscious. Caffeine will scatter your thought, but also keep your eyes open if needed.

Let's begin

If it's a small class and the professor is proctoring the exam, sit as close to him as possible, you'll see why later. Once you get the exam, read it over completely before you begin. Identify the easier questions, and the harder ones. Start with the easier ones. Pay attention to the content that each question is evaluating. Most tests try to cover the material evenly, so this might give you a clue about how solve some of the questions on which you are not sure how to solve.

For example, let's take a Calculus exam where you need to solve several integrals. If you solved one using using substitution, most likely the other ones will require different methods, such as integration by parts. Don't rule out any possibility, but having a mental checklist of material that has been evaluated by the different questions might give you a clue.

Asking questions

If you have a doubt, don't ask a classmate, try to ask the professor directly. That's the one person from whom you can get a reliable answer. Some professors answer questions, some don't; but it's worth a try. In order to get the best possible answer, do as much of the question as possible, even if wrong, and then ask. That will increase your chances of a useful clue. If you are sitting next to the professor, you might be able to hear some answers to other students' questions. Again, that's best source of information.

Don't copy from somebody else. Even if you don't get caught, the person you are copying might be more confused than you. It's not a good chance to take. In the worst case, the person next to you might have a similar but different test. And you might find out only after you get your test back.

Scope out the location

Always scope out the exam location. If it is the room that you take your class in, then this step is probably already done. However, if your college exam is in a different building, it's important to go there, find you seat and see if there's anything wrong with it. If you don't do this you could be taking a final in a broken seat or under a broken light, or simply on a wrong-handed desk. This will help you find your seat on exam day, and familiarizes you with challenges that you might panic about otherwise, like tiny desks or temperature issues.

Practice on the Internet

Depending on your course material, often online tests can be found if you search the web a little. Keywords are U.S. history quizzes or U.S. History tests or Practice Calculus problems. Finding these quizzes online take some time.

If you're interested in U.S. History quizzes: :http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/history/us_history.html Other quizzes in different subjects can be found online.

Many people create websites for AP student to practice his or her knowledge on a quiz. Many of these quizzes can be found online. The Internet is a goldmine.

Specific tips and hints

There are several tips that apply to specific types of exams:

• Number based tests
• Essay based tests