GUIDELINES TO HELP YOU PREPARE

FOR EXAMS IN PROF. WATERS' CLASS

Refer to the exam study guides to help you focus on the appropriate topics.
Keep up with the reading assignments throughout the semester! Don’t leave most of the reading until a day or two before the exam. This will likely cause you to become overwhelmed and you probably won’t be able to retain all of the information.
Read over your lecture notes after each class meeting. You don’t need to spend a lot of time doing so, but going over your notes once or twice immediately after the lecture will allow you to absorb more of the material.
Make sure you have all course materials before you begin studying. Get any missed lecture notes from another student, check with the instructor about handouts you may have missed in class and check the Handouts/Course materials link for some handouts. Remember that the exam will cover information from all of these sources, as well as the assigned reading.
Rather than rereading entire chapters (and articles) before each exam, skim over them and pay careful attention to those topics which are listed in the exam study guide.
Concepts, terminology, etc. you come across in the textbook or articles that were not discussed in class lectures, films, handouts, activities, etc. will not be on the exam.
Find out as soon as possible which study techniques work best for you. You might want to take the Learning Styles Survey to help you determine how you learn (it also includes some study tips at the end). For some students studying with peers is most helpful, while others prefer to study along. Some techniques used by students include: creating flashcards, typing lecture notes, creating chapter outlines, etc. There is no one study method that works for everyone. It’s important that you discover how you learn so that you can use the techniques that best compliment your learning style.
Allow plenty of time to study for exams. This is, perhaps, the most important factor that will determine how well you perform on exams. One of the most common reasons for poor performance is not spending enough time studying. For most students, studying a couple of hours the night before (or morning of) the exam is not nearly enough. If you’re not sure how much time you’ll need, start studying well in advance.

HOW TO TAKE ANTHROPOLOGY TESTS
(Adapted from Pulford and Rice, 2004)

Instructors and students agree on one thing: they hate to give and take exams. But unfortunately, it is often the only way instructors can evaluate students, and because evaluation is a required part of your college career, it's never too early to think about testing. You received a syllabus for this class on the first day, so you already know which types of evaluation will be required during the semester. In introductory-level courses, you’ll often be expected to take tests that include one or some combination of multiple choice questions, true/false questions, short term identifications and essay (they will vary in length and content). This article will help you think about tests before, during, and after; it should help you with every test in this course and perhaps other courses as well.

Test taking is a skill that can be enhanced by learning how to take them. Some students are “test smart”, which menas they find taking tests to be easy, and they do well on them. Others don’t do well on tests just because they’re not “test smart.” Two of you in this class may know the exact same things because you went to class everyday, read the textbook, and even studied together, but one of you may do very well and the other may not do as well. Because being or not being “test smart” is not part of what instructors want to grade you on, this article should help to level the playing field. Remember that Einstein didn’t do well in school in Switzerland, perhaps because no one told him how to take tests!

Advice
Know what you’ll be tested on; check the syllabus, any available study guides and, if in doubt, ask the instructor. Read all of the written materials (textbook chapters, articles, etc.) at least once when assigned, underlining or highlighting what you believe will be important concepts and principles, or what your instructor says to look for in the reading. Spend just as much time, if not more, on reviewing in-class materials (e.g. lecture notes, handouts, exercises). Do not miss class unless absolutely necessary. When making out a test, your instructor must assume you have been to every class session. Your instructor believes that what he or she presents in class is important. Most tests will cover both readings and in-class materials but may vary in how each will be weighed. Your instructor should tell you whether the test is mostly based on readings, lecture material or a combination of the two.

Take good notes during lectures. You need not write down every word your instructor says, but be sure you note all concepts, principles and identifications, because that is often what shows up on tests. Instructors often put key words and phrases on the chalkboard, overheads, etc. so be sure to note them and their importance. If you must miss a class, get notes from someone who was there because it's better than a blank spot in your notebook.

General Rule of Thumb Regarding Multiple-Choice Test Questions
If you go to class every session and study your notes, it is possible to get every in-class question correct on the test; if you get notes from another student who was there, you probably will get about half of the in-class questions right; if you don't go to class, and therefore can't study these materials, you may get 25 percent correct. Most multiple choice questions have four or five possible answers, so if you have nothing to study and are guessing at answers, you will average 20-25 percent correct. You can't study in-class materials if you have nothing to study!

SUCCESS IN COLLEGE (AND BEYOND!)

As you complete this class, and others throughout the years, keep the following in mind. Use this knowledge to help you get the most out of your college education:

College classes prepare you for the real world. A community college education provides you with many important - and critical - skills that apply to many aspects of your life. College classes allow you to develop personal organizational skills, learn to manage time effectively, develop critical thinking skills, interact with people from a variety of backgrounds, and become a well-rounded individual with knowledge about various subjects. These skills are necessary to transfer to a university, and will be highly valued by your future employers.
You can learn something useful from every class regardless of whether it’s your major or not. Each class provides you with some skill, knowledge, or perspective that can be applied to other classes, jobs, relationships with others, etc.
Treat this class, and all others, as you would a job. Your professors have many of the same expectations of you as an employer does: be punctual, keep absences to a minimum, take responsibility for your work and act responsibly. Of course, unlike a job, you’re not getting paid to be here – rather, your college education is an investment in yourself that will pay off in the future.
Don’t forget that college isn’t supposed to be easy. If it was, then everyone would be getting a college degree.
You're responsible for your education. Don’t rely on excuses, or blame others for your lack of commitment or inability to do well. Your education is no one’s responsibility but your own.
Don’t settle for being “average”. Many students just want to get by with a “C”, just barely doing enough work to pass the class. If you push yourself – even just a little – you can be “above average” and stand out above the rest. Not only will it mean a higher GPA, but also a stronger work ethic, better study habits, in depth knowledge and skills, etc. Above-average students generally have more opportunities in their future than those who barely pass their classes. For instance, they have more universities to choose from when they transfer, qualify for scholarships and often get better jobs when they graduate. Employers often complain how difficult it is to find above-average, hard-working employees. The ones that are, have more opportunities for promotions, higher salaries and higher quality jobs.
Take advantage of the services and programs offered by your college. Whether it's the Writing Center, Career Center, a student club or tutoring services, utilize at least some of the programs ECC offers because they're designed to help you succeed and make the most of your college education.

El Camino College Student Services