Dr. Bloch's 12 Steps For Academic Success

How to Use a Clock to Test Yourself Under Examination Conditions

Unfortunately, most students do not use clocks or timers to simulate time limits on examinations and as a result they run out of time when taking class quizzes and examinations.

For example, in your class you may be given short quizzes of 10-15 minutes duration as well as one or two hour examinations.

The key to success in any case is to prepare or find at least 10 times the number of questions on a given topic. Those questions are easily obtained from commercial review books or from the study group. Next, proceed to take your time to carefully work out the solutions to half of the problems. This additional exposure to the problems will increase your confidence and reduce test anxiety. With this experience under your belt, use a clock or timer to gauge your speed in solving the other half of the problems.

For example, this approach works well if you are taking a general chemistry course and you are learning how to balance equations involving the complete combustion of hydrocarbons in excess oxygen. This basic approach can be generalized to gain experience in solving problems in other areas.

Example A

With respect to metabolic pathways, please see the links below to the various pathways. Write the steps for a given pathway at least five times or until you are satisfied that you understand them. Now use a clock or timer to see if you can write those steps from memory in your stated time periods. Again, do this at least five times.

Please see the links below for a specific pathway:

1. Glycogen synthesis and usage http://ull.chemistry.uakron.edu/Pathways/glycogen/index.html

2. Gluconeogenesis

http://ull.chemistry.uakron.edu/Pathways/gluconeogenesis/index.html

3. Glycolysis

http://ull.chemistry.uakron.edu/Pathways/glycolysis/index.html

4. Pyruvate

http://ull.chemistry.uakron.edu/Pathways/pyruvate/index.html

5. Ketone bodies

http://ull.chemistry.uakron.edu/Pathways/ketone_bodies/index.html

6. Beta oxidation

http://ull.chemistry.uakron.edu/Pathways/b_oxidation/index.html

7. Urea cycle

http://ull.chemistry.uakron.edu/Pathways/urea_cycle/index.html

8. Nitrogen pool

http://ull.chemistry.uakron.edu/Pathways/nitrogen_pool/index.html

This approach can easily be modified in languages as well.

You have decided to test your memorization of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions. In which case you will first study the words and/or expressions at least five times. I find that writing them down is better because the process will slow you down and give you more time to think about what you are doing.

Please exercise good judgment. I do not wish to suggest that you should write down five thousand entries five times.

But I would suggest that the number of entries should be between 15 and 25. After you have written them down at least five times, then proceed to set a timer for a designated period (10 minutes) to determine if you can recreate those words and expressions within the designated time period.

Example B

At some point in your career you will have to write an essay or essays in class. You should have that written before it was even mentioned in class. For example, you should practice writing essays on the suggested areas. See list 1-9.

In writing the essays try to insert at some point a quote from a literary work to sell the point. This type of practice will prepare you for so called "unannounced" essays that you have to write in class. Of course, the essays may cover material that is not contained in the suggested list. But what is important are the skills you have obtained in the organization of those topics. As indicated, this type of practice will allow you to write exceptional essays within the stated class time limits.

1. Glass ceiling for women.

2. Affirmative action issues.

3. Is a college education worth pursuing?

4. Abuse of power by our government.

5. Is the cost of NASA justified?

6. Is the function of the press to report the news or to make the news?

7. High salaries paid to sports figures and movie stars.

8. Importance of adoption.

9. Problems with public education schools in the inner city.