A DOZEN HINTS FOR TAKING EXAMS
Professor Andrew E. Yagle, Dept.of EECS
BEFORE THE EXAM:
- Make sure you know what topics are and are
NOT covered on the exam. Ask the professor.
- Obtain and take practice exams, if possible.
Otherwise use problem sets as practice exams.
- Get a good night's sleep the night before it.
- If you can, spend a half hour before the exam
warming up, by going over a practice exam.
DURING THE EXAM:
- Look over the entire exam before you start it.
Think of it as looking over a marathon course.
- 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.
- If you don't see IMMEDIATELY how to do
a problem, SKIP it and come back to it later.
- Don't spend too much time on one problem.
If it's that hard, you're missing an easier way.
- Allocate time to problems using their points.
90-minute exam of 100 points=1 point/minute.
- Go back and check your work. Look for errors.
Do the problem a different way, if have time.
- If you panic, get up and go walk outside.
The bathroom is an excellent place to think.
- Be confident! The professor can only ask
helplessly questions you know how to solve.
It's batting practice, and you're the hitter!