I can still remember the feeling when I walked out of my last exam. That feeling ranks right up there among my most unreservedly overjoyed moments . . .truly. As I reflect back on the angst of years of approaching exams, I have questioned the value of the exam process. Here are some of my conclusions.
Despite the sheer terror evoked by exams, exams have tremendous value. They help to sharpen the focus of the entire course. They connect the dots, forcing the student to interlink the units covered over the semester and to find common themes. A proper exam is fair and gives the student with a strong work ethic an opportunity to find better understanding and success. With a student’s successful performance on an exam comes a shared feeling of accomplishment for both the student and his or her teacher.
Because of the value I have found in the exam process, I question the increasing tradition of schools to offer students exemptions from exams for high grades and strong attendance. I believe we may be robbing students of the capstone to their semester’s work. Please don’t tell my students that I feel this way; it will not be a popular sentiment.
During a recent visit to Princeton University, I had an opportunity to discuss midterms with students, which in November, there, had only recently passed. I have incorporated some student reflections about exam preparation into my list of how to ensure successful prep. Whether your high school student has exams this week or next month, take note of these tips:
1. Do not underestimate the power of regular exercise, proper nutrition, and a good night’s sleep!
2. Ask your teacher about the format of the exam.
3. Gather and organize well, by subtopics, all materials needed for exam preparation, including all available assessments from the semester.
4. Prepare a realistic and detailed study schedule and identify what specifically, by subtopic, will be studied during each session. Schedule breaks at least every 30 to 45 minutes, and spread your studying over at least five days for each course.
5. Anticipate what your teacher deems most important in each subtopic.
6. Spend 80% of study time on a combination of what your teacher deems most important and on what is most difficult for you to understand; spend the remaining 20% on the easier content.
7. Details can be very important, but do not neglect the big picture. Try to grasp overarching themes and concepts.
8. Use on-line resources.
9. Create your own study tools that complement your learning style.
10. Do not be afraid to ask for help, from both your teachers and your peers!
I wish for your child that same feeling of elation that I can evoke in my memories of exam terms gone by.