A&P lab test

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I have a lab test this week. Its lab quiz # 2. We've already had to label the skeleton. This particular test will be over chapters 1-8 from our lab book Laboratory Manual for A&P by marieb. The instructor didn't specify if it would be a test like an ordinary a&p test or if it'd be all labeling. This is my first anatomy class ever, and I've been out of school for over 10 years!! I go in for every test blind sided!!!

I don't like surprises!! I don't know what to expect!

Specializes in Progressive, Intermediate Care, and Stepdown.

Well first, you could go to your instructors and simply ask, "What do should I expect on the lab practical?" Ask if there will be only paper diagrams, or actual bones. I'll tell you what I experienced. The teacher would lay out the bones and diagrams in the lab prior to class. He would hand us a blank sheet to write our answers on outside the room. When we walked in, there were various bones and diagrams scattered around and the students would start anywhere. The numbered sheet would correspond with the numbers on the diagram. The diagrams and bones are usually ones that I was already exposed to during lab during class times. The bones are the same. The diagrams are the same. Although, sometimes they will use a different one. Not very often. And, you go around answering what is numbered. Simple as that. Lab tests are mostly based off of memorization that you've done at home. As far as bones, there usually is a list given out that the instructor wants you to know. I tore out all related bone pictures out of my lab book. Made a photo-copy and the copy was my answer sheet. Then I numbered both the photo-copy and the lab sheets to correspond with each other. However, on the lab page out of the manual, I either used white out or a sharpie to block out the answer. So, I had an answer sheet and a blank sheet that corresponded with my instructor's list of bones. That sounds semi-confusing. But, it really, really worked for me. Ultimately, the lab test used real bones so you'll have to practice with them at some point. I used that method with the blank and answer sheet with all types of memorization in A&P. Not just for bones.

Well the instructor lately has been taking 5 minutes at end of class to discuss what the test will generally have but at the end of the day the problem is he's doesnt have the test infront of him. Hes just giving what chpt 1-8 generally consists of. Then when i get the test im lucky if it has 6 questions out of 100 he said to study!

Specializes in OR.

I never depend on what the instructor says to study. We've been told repeated that if it's in the lecture notes, it's free game for lecture tests. Same goes for lab, although we're only tested in lab twice: the midterm and final. Still, at the end of every chapter of our lab manual, we have a page that says "Getting Ready for Midterm/Final" with all the terms and concepts we're expected to know. Do we know which of those might show up on the test? Nope. But we do know every one of the terms or concepts is fair game. I have found that if we ask our lab instructor what to expect, she's more than willing to help as much as she can. Maybe you should try to speak to your instructor after class our get an appointment with him for more detail.

My instructor used the same method as Flordiatrail2006 instructor did. We would have to go around the room and write down what each thing was. I would always record my teachers lectures, and then after words go back and make a list of every possible identification and study those. Also try asking your teacher to bring out models to study from. My teacher would let us stay after class for an hour or so and study the models she uses for identification. On youtube there are tons of videos of people explaining some of the exact same models my teacher would tag. I found this extremely helpful because I am a visual learner. Also note cards are your best friend!! I don't know what type of learner you are, but I would find a pictures of what I needed to study and using the business card template on word, I would make notecards for my tests. It may seem like a lot of work, but you are actually studying while you are making them. ;) Hope this helps! Good luck, and happy studying!

lochness128 - YouTube this man saved my life second half of anatomy

p.s. there are also games online that you can practice with

That sounds like how my A&P I professor was.

For our lab tests, she would put bones of the skeleton on the lab benches, or muscles, or anything, and we had to tell what that bone/muscle was, the different bony processes, what it was connected to, and all of that!! We would rotate around the room at different stations. Bonus questions would be something like name the 12 cranial nerves and spell and list them correctly (lol). I made it out of there with an A though, but I worked for it.

Right now I'm sitting on an 88 in A&P II, with two more tests to go in these last two weeks of school!! I hope to get out of there with an A too...

What worked for me during all of that though is simply.... pictures!! I too am a visual learner. Tracing the outline of the picture in the book helps me too when I need to study.

If this is A&P I, you are lucky because A&P II is where you get into the actual physiology more, and you really need to understand, not just memorize for that. But that's ok, cause I use pictures for that too...I do a lot of talking to myself, but we'll just call that self-teaching. :lol2:

You'll be fine. You want it, claim it!!

My A&P practicals were both anatomy and physiology. We would have a cat, fetal pig, sheep, cow or combination of those for the anatomy sections, along with detailed human models including bones in A&P I. For physiology, we would have 20-50 questions per practical pertaining to the physiology of the systems we were being tested on.

Youtube -- IsidoreCYO (from my school but I didn't have that professor for either I or II as she is an easier professor and I wanted to be challenged)

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