Ervin's Exam Advice

Exams are instruments by which instructors assess the degree to which students understand material that was meant to have been taught.  In order for a student to do well on an exam, that student must convey a clear understanding of the material.  Usually, that understanding must be conveyed in written form without the opportunity for clarification.  Thus, the student should give some thought to his/her responses and write specifically to convey the intended meaning when responses are read by the instructor.  The following guidelines should help in providing clear, understandable responses that are less open to misinterpretation during grading.

General tips for successful performance on written exams:

1.  Study - Read the chapters, study the figures and other data, read boxed or otherwise highlighted information, read assigned journal articles - READ, READ, READ.

2.  Know the principles underlying the patterns presented in class.  This knowledge will enable you to apply what you know to diverse problems/questions.  I likely will ask questions using specific examples that we do not address in class - memorization will not help you here.

3.  Draw pictures - A picture is worth several points on an exam when you can't find the words to describe what it is you want to say.  A picture also may demonstrate more thorough knowledge of the subject and indicate that you are not "fertilizing" your way through your response.

4.  Read the question, and answer the question being asked.  One of the most frequent difficulties that costs students points is answering a question that was not asked.

5.  Read the question, and answer the question completely.  Another of the most frequent difficulties that costs students points is answering a question incompletely.  Often my exam questions will have multiple parts, and, inevitably, one or more students will neglect to answer all of them.  Be thorough.

6. Answer all the questions - Never, ever leave any question unanswered.  You never will receive points for empty space you leave behind, but you may receive partial credit for a partially correct response.

For more in-depth advice, try the following link.  Particularly helpful are the last two PDF files listed.

Advice and evaluation strategies for Science Teaching (Montgomery County, MD, Public Schools)

Instructor contact info:

Gary N. Ervin     (662) 325-1203

gervin <at> biology.msstate.edu