|
Exam
Nightmares
THIS
IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS A RTF FILE
The following scenarios
detail problems that occur during essay exams. Read each scenario and
then identify the problem, its cause, and potential solutions –
ways the problem may be prevented.
1. Susan enjoys an
active social life. Besides attending college, she has a part-time job,
belongs to several clubs, and also volunteers to help her friends with
their homework. The night before her history test, she begins to study.
She races through an entire semester’s worth of notes and readings.
She stays up until 5:00 a.m. When she starts her exam, the questions look
vaguely familiar, but she can’t organize her thoughts. She is exhausted.
Problem:
Cause:
Solution:
2. Joshua is a conscientious student. He attends his Botany class, reads
the materials, and reviews for his exam one week in advance. He feels
confident on the day of the exam. His first question asks him to "Enumerate
and discuss the steps involved in the process of photosynthesis."
He isn’t sure what "enumerate" means, so he frantically
writes down random facts about photosynthesis. His final answer is unfocused
and confusing.
Problem:
Cause:
Solution:
3. Judy is preparing for her exam in political science which is three
days away. She sits down to study and realizes that the exam will cover
600 pages of reading and 70 pages of lecture notes. She decides to reread
everything. When the exam day arrives, she has only read one third of
the materials.
Problem:
Cause:
Solution:
4. Helen reads the three essay exam questions on her geography final.
She knows the answer for question #2. She immediately plans and then writes
a thorough, well developed response. She realizes she has omitted an important
quote, so she starts to rewrite the entire essay. She finishes her first
essay, and the instructor says: "Five more minutes."
Problem:
Cause:
Solution:
5. Karen selects
essay #3 on her American literature exam. The question reads: "Benjamin
Franklin has been called the ‘first fixer and former of American
political thought.’ Discuss Franklin’s contribution to American
political thought. How does his life exemplify the myth of the self-made
man in pursuit of the American dream?" Karen remembers a few details
from Franklin’s autobiography, but doesn’t think Franklin’s
life was as interesting as her own grandfather’s struggle to build
his own business. She decides to focus upon her grandfather instead. The
instructor will appreciate her ingenuity.
Problem:
Cause:
Solution:
6. George didn’t go to class on Monday. He knew they were just reviewing
for the test. He figured his roommate could get the notes from this other
guy in his class. He had asked him to ask this guy, who was also in his
roommate’s speech class. It was no big deal. The night before the
test, George asked his roommate about the notes. Jim, his roommate, said
the guy never came to speech. So George looked at his notes for a few
minutes and then went to sleep. The next morning, he went to take the
test. The instructor asked the class to take out their blue books, and
their two note cards. George didn’t have either. He ran to the bookstore
for a blue book, returned and wrote the exam without any note cards. He
left the exam frustrated and angry.
Problem:
Cause:
Solution:
|