AIBU to think ability to answer questions in an exam determines your knowledge of that subject

[kalosrosea]

So I sat in a cell biology exam at university, I had worked hard, knew my content and froze, could not answer some of the insert the word questions. Essay questions went fine. I feel like such a failure but I know that I know the content and it has knocked me as I am only in my first semester. AIBU to think that sometimes certain exam methods don’t always voice someone’s knowledge on the subject. How do I do better and not freeze in the future. I am spending so much time away from my daughter that doing so rubbish in this exam feels like a kick in the teeth. What are the best methods to brush yourself off and do better

To add my coursework has been between 65 and 89 percent

It's one exam and you may well have done better than you think you have. Exam technique is a necessary part of uni though.

Do you mean the exact opposite of what your title says? If so, I'm not sure its just exams that you need to concentrate a bit more in.

i got 91 in my cell biology exam but thats because, imo, the questions were similar to my study notes.

for example, i drew alot of diagrams with labels etc which helped to answer questions on structures of cells. maybe you could try past papers from uni website and practice answering in the style from those questions?

Sorry doesn’t determine your subject knowledge

Esk1mo it is one worded answers, the long answer essays went fine and I hope went fine

Practice on past exam papers. It's one of the best ways to study. But make sure you go back and check the answers from your notes / book etc.

I'm crap at exams - can't retain the information in my head or recall it, and get stressed too. I'm great (relatively speaking) at coursework because I can take my time and research it, and polish it. I don't do studying now that needs exams.

YANBU. Unfortunately exams are quite an efficient way of mass testing, which is why we are stuck with them until someone comes up with something better.

If you really froze in the sense of anxiety/ panic, go and see your university counselling service or what have you. They can help you work out coping mechanisms and get through whatever's blocking you.

Nope- I’ve always said- exams are memory tests- when do you need to have that kind of memory outside of exams(unless extremely applicable) In most jobs- you can ask someone, google, look at a text book and have ‘muscle memory’ from the amount of experiences you have. Tests , I think, are just not comparative to everyday jobs and life.

I have this same problem. In my first year Pharmacy exam last year I got 36%, then 46% on the resit. It frustrates me, I know my stuff but I can't seem to convey that in an exam. My coursework ranged from 70-87% I'm one of the top performing students in the year. The exam was a mixture of multiple choice and short answer questions. We only have one exam for the entire years worth of learning. You need an average of 55% overall to progress to the next year, so it's a good job I excel at Lab reports!

Suspect you need to have some help with your panic... As you'll know its fight, flight, or flop.

Usually the best pay offs with exams is loads of question practise til you're thoroughly sick of it!

Was I one of the answers?

It's one way to determine knowledge but there should be lots of other ways across your whole degree programme. Having a variety of assessment methods is a good thing. For every student who hates exams, there's another one who does their best work under exam conditions.

One reason universities like exams is that there's a pretty good chance students are actually being marked on their own work. Coursework fraud is common - so many students fake their coursework, paying someone else irl or online to do it for them, and it's difficult to catch if the work is not plagiarised. Exam fraud is much riskier and more difficult to pull off so it happens far less often.

Yes I need a technique not to panic so much and improve my revision and exam techniques

The thing is, exams test one set of skills (retention of facts, ability to think quickly, ability to stay calm under pressure, ability to structure thinking in a short timeframe). You might now have those skills under exam conditions but you can retain facts when not stressed. But the thing is, people who are good at exams can probably do even better out of exam conditions. Thus if you can do well in an exam, you have better, additional
Skills to someone who knows the stuff but panics.

Therefore they deserve to do well in exams?

Thanks for your responses, I just need to get better

I have been under exam pressures before and various other pressures in leadership job roles and have not fazed me . It was this particular style of testing that threw me as I did a genetics one different style of exam and sailed through . Which is why I don’t understand freezing

Do you have any academic skills support at university? I went to university in my 40s and found our lovely academic skills tutors were invaluable in helping me with exam techniques. They really did help me attain my academic potential. So much so I progressed from my BSc HONS into an MSc and did really well. Good luck I know how miserable exams made me feel xx

You university probably has study skills classes? Perhaps through the library?

Panicking isn't unusual when faced with a turned over exam paper... (I remember it well!!). You need help to 'surf" the panic, so it doesn't overwhelm you and so you can do your best on the exam!

A quick way.. To experiment with... It's difficult to feel panicked if you're not breathing too quickly /hyperventilating..

This is a simple exercise... - breath in for a slow count of 7,...theb gradually breathe out for a slow count of 11...

If you practice this, (before your next attack), I guarantee the attack won't feel as bad!

Assuming no disabilities. Obviously, a blind person couldn't read questions off a paper (assuming it's printed text, not in Braille) and write answers. There are lots of physical and mental disabilities that could interfere with the process of answering exam questions, even for someone who does know the answers. Here in the US, you can get accommodations like extra time on exams if you have certain disabilities, maybe they do something like that where you are. Anxiety or panic disorders might qualify for some kind of accommodation.

Talk to your professor. Tell them what happened. If the professor is any good at teaching (warning, not all of them are), they'll want to help you learn the material and do well. If you don't get the impression that that's what they do want, then consider dropping the class and taking it with a different professor.