Midterm tomorrow

[Guest xforeverxmetalx]

So I have my economics midterm tomorrow, and I'm stressing. I feel like I know the material well enough, it's the test itself I'm worried about. The teacher tends to use tricky questions where one word could change the right answer. The other thing is that the nature of economics isn't something where you can memorize some names and dates or formulas, you really have to think every question through. It'll take a whole lot of concentration to make sure I don't make careless mistakes, as I tend to. I likely have ADHD [and possibly more], been tested for it even, but that's another story - just bringing it up to point out that focusing for me is likely more difficult than most people.

The other problem is, I'm not so used to dealing with this situation as most people. Throughout school before this semester, I was one of those kids who was smart but didn't really try, and got by. Never really studied for tests or any of that because I didn't care much for grades as I generally did decently without trying. But this time around, I really want the best grades I can get, and I know I'm capable of As. Just this is the first major test I've come across since I've started putting effort into it, and so I don't really have experience dealing with the stress that comes with actually caring about the result of a test. Possibly either I avoided previous stressful situations before or didn't care enough about most things to allow them to stress me out, or something, but stress itself is fairly new to me, being relatively easygoing. Most of the time, whatever life threw at me, I would vent about it talking to a friend, listen to music, and I'd feel better. But that's not enough this time.

I wish I could convince myself that the test isn't a big deal, but it is. I'm actually doing well at something lately [staying motivated enough to keep up with schoolwork and studying] rather than failing at most things I try. And this midterm is the first to test that effort. So if I end up doing worse than what I know I'm capable of, I don't think I could handle it.

But so, all this stress is screwing with my attempts to study and making it harder than it needs to be, and I'm sure going into the test like this won't be optimal. So any tips would be very much welcome [and quick; as I said, it's tomorrow].

Edited February 13, 2011 by xforeverxmetalx

[Guest]

I have midterms tomorrow too... I got a note today that the teacher is sick... so it got postponed. Whew! But, I got one more semester left, so I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

My midterm battle armor includes lots of food and my "happy place". I always take tests in the most comfortable environment. For in-class tests, I have my favorite chair and my favorite pen and a picture of my kids. For on-line tests, I have my nicely decorated home-office facing the lake and pictures of my kids. When I start to get anxious, I just start thinking of the cool things my kids have done recently and the funny things they do and I start to relax again and I can go on.

I'm terrible at studying. I always end up cramming for a test. But, somehow I always end up okay with my comfort food and happy place.

Hope this helps!

[annalaurabrown]

Write down the main key points on index cards and look at them right before the test. I used to do this a lot when I was a student and it always helped.

[Backroads]

I'm an essay question fan myself because it allows me to just... say what I think and defend it.

Try and reword the questions in your mind to be open-ended. See how you would answer, and that very often gives you a better perspective of what the question is asking.

Go with your first instinct.

Study tonight, highlight/mark/notecard/whatever main points, and go to bed early.

[Guest xforeverxmetalx]

Thanks for the tips, think I'll do some.

Ended up also going outside for a little while, that helped a lot with the stress. Went away like magic. Let's just hope it stays gone.

[Guest xforeverxmetalx]

So in case anyone cares, I got an 87. Not the A I was hoping for, but still good enough range. And after discovering the class average was a ridiculous 54, I feel a lot better about my 87.

[Backroads]

87 works!!! It's a respectable grade. Sounds like a difficult exam by the sound of the average.