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Post by Mr Fisher on Oct 24, 2005 4:39:22 GMT -5
What are your thoughts about the physics tests? Too hard? Reasonable? What can students do to prepare for the tests?
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Post by Gracie Beard on Nov 12, 2005 8:08:56 GMT -5
In the beginning, the tests seemed unreasonably hard. but now that i have had few tests, I am more comfortable and confident then I was in the beginning of the year. Help sheets and practice tests really help me, along with tutoring sessions when they are available. I think it is good that your tests are a little harder than the exams... I don't get as nervous about them now.
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Post by Ankita Desai on Nov 12, 2005 12:14:33 GMT -5
I agree with Gracie and I am glad that the physics tests are harder than the Quarterly tests. I am also glad that we are allowed to use a help-sheet because they live up to their name and they really do help me. The practice tests and Physics Quizzes help me a lot too because they are a preview of the tests. The tests are not that difficult and they are pretty reasonable. I think students can improve on the tests by putting more practice problems on their help-sheets and also doing the homework early and having time to ask questions in class would really help them. This is so they have time to understand the concepts and they don't rely too much on the help-sheets and they know what they are doing on the tests and in general.
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Post by wafisher on Nov 13, 2005 6:38:33 GMT -5
Well written Ankita! GreAt advice for any student trying to improve their understanding....and their grade on the test!
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Post by Morgan Carney on Dec 1, 2005 21:30:48 GMT -5
I agree with Ankita's reply about help sheets. They really do help but if you don't know the material to a certain point its not going to do you any good. I also think that study groups are a great especially if you need clarification on how to do certain type of problem. I got together to study with Chase and Kate before the last test. It really helped all of us I think because we were able to answer each others questions about the practice test and help each other if we had problems with certain things! I would definitely recommend forming a study group especially if you are having trouble with a particular unit!
PLUS its extra credit ;D always nice...
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Post by Hannah King on Jan 5, 2006 18:42:04 GMT -5
I find the tests to be very difficult.. everytime. I do handfuls of physics quizzes and i go over my practice tests and ive even been to toutoring once and i will also go again before the exam but i still feel the tests are too hard. I am glad they are harder than the exam that does make me feel better... but when i take the tests especially the last one we took i always think i do really well and get it back and its a C. I feel like i think i know the material but i guess i really dont and its hard b/c i think ive studied enough and no the material but i dont. And the thing is that also my test really bring down my grade and thats bad.. but its also bad b/c i dont no the material really well so im worried about how well i will do on the exam and that could realllly bring down my grade.
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Post by Chase on Jan 7, 2006 13:18:45 GMT -5
For some reason i did better on the earlier tests than I am doing lately. I have no idea why that is...i work more problems now than i did then, i start my hw early (i need to start it earlier) and I try and get together with a study group.
Sometimes i get sortof frustrated when I ask certain classmates for help and they are like how do you not get that and then don't really explain enough to me.
And student mode, when Mr. Fisher spends a lot of his time always helping the same students, I may have a question but am never able to get it answered. I have questions too and my classmates may not be able to always help me.
I imagine I'll come in for the "tutoring" session on monday but the last time I tried that, I left feeling as befuddled as when i came...I think Mr. Fisher was yet again too busy.
Not to say the class is bad...for it is one of my favorites. I just want to do well and sometimes its frustrating when I'm not doing how I want to be doing.
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Post by Daniel C on Jan 10, 2006 18:34:57 GMT -5
I disagree a little, Chase. I find other students very helpful when I can't figure out a problem. Also, you can get Mr. Fisher to help you, but you have to be aggressive. I've learned that sitting with your hand raised will not get you assistance; you need to verbally ask him or approach him, otherwise your arm will just keep getting tired.
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Post by Peter on Jan 10, 2006 22:16:24 GMT -5
I think that the physics tests are challenging. I think that this challenge is offset by the square root x 10 curve, to give a more than reasonable final grade.
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Post by Sarah Acuff on Jan 29, 2006 21:23:24 GMT -5
As said before, I think it's a good thing the tests are harder than the quarterly tests. But, I think since the tests are so hard, the practice tests need to be just as hard. I've had problems on a previous test because the practice test was nothing like it. And though I understood everything on the practice, when I got the real test I know I wasn't prepared. It gave me a false sense of confidence that I was going to do well, and then I got the grade. So really, I think the difficulty of the tests is fine, but wish that we had more challenging problems to practice on.
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Post by Vivi on Jan 31, 2006 21:25:56 GMT -5
As said before, I think it's a good thing the tests are harder than the quarterly tests. But, I think since the tests are so hard, the practice tests need to be just as hard. I've had problems on a previous test because the practice test was nothing like it. And though I understood everything on the practice, when I got the real test I know I wasn't prepared. It gave me a false sense of confidence that I was going to do well, and then I got the grade. So really, I think the difficulty of the tests is fine, but wish that we had more challenging problems to practice on. I know what you mean by the false sense of confidence Sarah. Being thrown off completely on the unit sometime before, I agree with you on about wanting the practice difficulty level to correspond to the real test.
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