A DOZEN HINTS FOR TAKING EXAMS
Professor Andrew E. Yagle, Dept.of EECS


    BEFORE THE EXAM:
  1. Make sure you know what topics are and are
    NOT covered on the exam. Ask the professor.
  2. Obtain and take practice exams, if possible.
    Otherwise use problem sets as practice exams.
  3. Get a good night's sleep the night before it.
  4. If you can, spend a half hour before the exam
    warming up, by going over a practice exam.
    DURING THE EXAM:
  1. Look over the entire exam before you start it.
    Think of it as looking over a marathon course.
  2. Start with a problem you know how to do.
    Get one (or more) under your belt to start off.
    You need not do problems in the order given.
  3. If you don't see IMMEDIATELY how to do
    a problem, SKIP it and come back to it later.
  4. Don't spend too much time on one problem.
    If it's that hard, you're missing an easier way.
  5. Allocate time to problems using their points.
    90-minute exam of 100 points=1 point/minute.
  6. Go back and check your work. Look for errors.
    Do the problem a different way, if have time.
  7. If you panic, get up and go walk outside.
    The bathroom is an excellent place to think.
  8. Be confident! The professor can only ask
    helplessly questions you know how to solve.
    It's batting practice, and you're the hitter!