The graphic organizer (concept map) that I have created for Chapter 15
Due to copyright issues, I cannot take the picture of the questions inside the exam. Take a look at the cover though!
This upcoming Thursday, I have one exam: Chemistry. Luckily, I had this professor last semester and I am used to her types of questions and exam format. What is good about this professor is that she hands out a review sheet with 20 sample questions that is about the same difficulty as the exam questions. Thus, if I was able to solve all 20 sample questions without any trouble, I knew that I was all set for the exam. Although I did well for all the exams during the normal exams, I did not do as well on the final, which got me the B+ at the end. I was hoping that I would receive an A this semester. Then, I was introduced to exam preparation strategy in CLS. The first strategy that I have tried was the graphic organizer. I have used this strategy as I believed that when I was creating this concept map, I am forced to review the materials and see the relationship in that major topic. As I was creating the concept map, I thoroughly went through the textbook and before I knew it, I have already reviewed a chapter which I was supposed to study for the exam. The chemistry exam covers 2 chapters and just in 30 minutes, I have already reviewed half the material and that makes it two times that I have looked at it. I have done the same for chapter 16. When I was done making the concept map, I was visually able to see the relationship between the major topic and the topics that were contained in that major topic; further helping me to understand the materials better and faster. Hence, with the review sheet and the graphic organizer, I have been able to study within shorter period of time.
Another good thing about this professor is that she gives back the exams that we previously took, unlike Biology. Thus, I am able to familiarize with the types of questions that are going to be on the next exam. In addition, I have all the exams from the previous semester, so with all 5 exams that I have accumulated in the past, I was able to see what types of question this professor usually asks. Most importantly, due to the large number of students and limited number of faculty and staff members, the exam is always conducted in multiple choices. Because the course is a factual course, it asks for lots of definitions and understanding the concepts. Occasionally, the professor asks for true & false, and calculations based on given information and equations. So, I am proud of myself that I didn't throw out the exams and have actually kept them as it is being really helpful right now. By having previous exams beside me, I am able to pick out the important materials and the materials that the professor actually emphasizes on. I have never thought of using previous exam as my study aid before taking CLS. Overall, both strategies helped me a lot and even though I would like to use both strategies for all my courses, it is unfortunate that not all of them provide review sheets and hand back previous exams. I guess I'll just take advantage of this strategy in Chemistry only and receive good grades this semester.
Great job on making the concept map! That's something new and different. It tells me that you are a visual learner, since the map is clearly organized very visually; I should look into trying that next time.
ReplyDeleteI also received the exam booklet for my AST 104 class. just like you, this helped me in understanding the format of the exam as I am preparing for the second exam that is coming up pretty soon. Overall, I think your strategies are great! Let's keep up the good work Yong Jin! :)
Concept map is really a diagram that can help you organize the method more easily. I remember making a concept map before an exam (long time ago), and it helped me get organized. Good for you that you were able to study within a shorter period. My AST 104 and MAT 121 professors also gave out the exam that I took, which benefited me. I was able to recognize what I got wrong, and was able to know how the exam's format is going to be. Never thought that looking over the previous exam will help for the coming up exams. Wish you good luck in your exams, Agent YongJin.
ReplyDeleteI understand tha Chemistry includes both equations and memorizing concepts at the same time. It is really a hard thing to do, and seeing what you created up there, I believe that it will get you through the material way faster and effectively than just reading over and over the book. I also understood that when I was working to make the concept map myself, it is different from just making an outline from the readings. When you make those graphs, and fill everything in that needs to be,they are all interrelated in a way that it makes you help understand the material more thouroughly. When writing outlines, I really do not pay attention because I am trying to write fast as I can. THeses are the differences I found, and glad that you utilized the graphic organizer.
ReplyDeleteGraphic organizer strategy looks very effective for certain type of classes, especially classes that require multiple type of concepts and equations to be memorized and understood. Unfortunately, none of my classes give out previous exam so I just have to adapt to the concepts and type of questions asked. However, your strategy helped me to have an idea what type of graphic diagram will work for my classes and exam.
ReplyDeleteYour graphic organizer looks like a good choice of strategy for a course like chemistry which consists of tons of topics. I know that chemistry is mostly comprised of materials that you must memorize such as definitions and conceps. I would like to take a peak look at what your questions look like, but what matters it that you have it and you use it to study for exam. I'm sure you will do great on the upcoming exam.
ReplyDelete