So Frustrated! (Vent)

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Sorry for the vent, I'm just frustrated with some of my classes. I'm taking A&P I, English, Biology, Psychology and Intro to Computers. I'm annoyed with the teaching styles of some instructors. It's like they are intentionally trying to trick you or make you not do well on the tests. One of my instructors gave us a study guide which covered 3 chapters. I read all the chapters, took the end of chapter tests, studied the powerpoints, made flash cards based on the study guide, and when I took the test, to my shock......only about 5% of what was on the study guide was on the test. The rest of it was just random stuff from the book, or end of chapter tests, or diagrams in the book. What frustrates me is that I am a GOOD student. I study very hard, every chance I get. But how can I memorize 3 whole chapters of material? I need it narrowed down; who wouldn't? That's what I thought the study guide was for, and I made sure I knew that study guide like the back of my hand! So when the test turned out to be a bunch of other stuff that wasn't in the study guide, that kinda ticked me off. That's in my biology class. Now as for Intro to Computers....okay I have been using computers for years, I am very proficient. I thought it was funny that I had to take this course, given my computer knowledge. Well I took one of the quizzes and was floored because of the wording of the questions, the fact that there were a couple of answers that could be correct, depending on the situation. But I was going by what it said in the textbook, and got those questions wrong. I thought about challenging the instructor on this, because I know I'm not incorrect, but I don't want to make an enemy either. I would challenge out of the class but I would only get 2 points on the ranking sheet for nursing, compared to 4 points if I get an A in the class.

Anyway, I'm just frustrated at everything. I don't expect things to be easy, and I don't expect them to just hand me an A. I don't mind working for it, and studying very hard for it. But I need to know WHAT to study. Don't tell me to study ABC and then put XYZ on the test and expect to me remember it out of all 3 chapters of material. Ugh! I am determined to make all A's, but I'm finding that it's alot harder than I anticipated and NOT because of lack of effort or intelligence on my part. Whew. vent over.

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But how can I memorize 3 whole chapters of material?

Ummm keep studying until you get it...The best advice I can give you is for you to reflect on why you didn't do as well as you wanted. Maybe it's a problem with your studying strategy or maybe you don't "know" your teacher yet. I mean now that you know how your teacher tests you, you'll have a better idea what to expect the next time. BTW, I had to memorize material for 8 chapters in micro and it wasn't bad at all.

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Maybe you could make an appointment with your professor and ask her/him for some tips? Every teacher does it differently, and part of it is learning how they test. We had our first anatomy practicum, and it was a real learning experience. I knew 100% of the material on the test, but it is different when you have a body to look at, not the book :) But, I learned a lot through the experience, and now I am much more confident that I will know how to 'take' his test next time - does that make sense? Most 'tricks' are usually a test of critical thinking.

I bet your teacher would be happy to give you some pointers. Each class is different, each teacher is different, and each test is different. Good luck!

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Thanks to you both! You're right - I think now that I have seen how his tests are and where he derives his questions from, I'll know where to focus my studying!

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Specializes in Maternity.

don't get frustrated from it, learn from it. the 1st test is always a little hard because you aren't sure what to expect. now you know that studying the study guides provided to you doesn't really help. try some new methods, especially after you see where you went wrong on the exam.

you'll find that the actual nursing courses are a lot like this, a lot of chapter cramming where your expected to know everything lol. you'll get it.

good luck.

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