Finals season will soon be upon us; now is the perfect time to start preparing for them! Some professors wish for you to regurgitate every single fact mentioned while others want to see you actively synthesize the knowledge. There are different strategies for dealing with both types of exams.
- Detail heavy
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These are the types of professors that love to test your knowledge of every single word on the topic. Thus, it is important to pay close attention to what is said and what is written on the slides. In this case, start memorizing concepts early by making a glossary of terms or a set of flashcards. Keep revisiting and adding to these notes throughout the term, which is especially useful if your final is cumulative. For one of my microbiology classes, I had to remember a list of microbes. I made character profiles for each of them: their habitat, morphology, survival adaptations, and most distinguishing characteristics. That way, I had a clearer picture of how I could identify the organism and what I needed to remember about their characteristics.
- Application
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These professors like taking their tests one step beyond recall. Memorization here isn’t enough to do well. Their questions require critical thinking to apply the concepts learned. When applying what you have learned, it is important to ask the question, “What does this mean?” For example, if you were learning about DNA and RNA, there are many things that these molecules have in common but some key differences. If a question asks, “why is DNA better at storing genetic information than RNA?” then you would need to compare and contrast the two based on some key features, like so: DNA is double-stranded and RNA is single-stranded. Since all the bases are paired up in DNA, it is much less reactive; therefore, more stable whereas RNA is the opposite. To make these connections, create charts and tables to compare the differences and similarities between similar categories of information.
No matter the style of the exam here is some universal advice. Typically, professors will like to test what they are passionate about. Pay attention to what they frequently mention or spend the most time on. That is why attending class is crucial. Make sure you also take advantage of their office hours and talk to the TA’s to ensure you have a good understanding of the topics. Reading the textbook can also help reinforce concepts.
I wish everyone the best of luck on their finals!