What students should NOT do before,during, and after exams

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Specializes in LTC.

i just had my exam last night and here are a couple of things i find that are very annoying before, during , and after an exam.

1) students all 50 of them discussing class content openly ! seriously, i'm already confused and stressed as it is... the last thing i need to hear is s/s of this and that, treatments of this and that, and values of this and that. if you don't know it 5 minutes before the exam you won't know it now. i literally had to sit there with my hands over my ears so that i couldn't hear them and remain just a little of my insanity before taking this exam. :banghead:

am i the only one who gets annoyed when students talk about content right before or as the instructors are handing out the exam ?

2) during the exam make sure we can't hear your phone ringing and vibrating just in case you didn't know its distracting ! and just because you and your friends finish first it doesn't mean you can stand outside the class and talk loudly!

3) after exam don't expect for me to remember each question and answer verbatim. no i honestly don't mind discussing the exam with you, but i need a little more info than just " what did you get for the one about the women with pre-eclampsia... ?" uh , we had about 5 questions on pre-eclampsia... which one ???

does anyone else have weird things going on before, during, or after nursing exams ?

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A-MEN!!! Before the exam, shouting across the room to another patient about the material will NOT help you get a better grade on the exam and it only distracts/annoys your fellow classmates!! Looking at your friends note cards is not necessarily going to help either and shouting across the room about what they meant by something written on the card is not helping anyone.

We are mid-way through the semester - if you can't remember by this point to turn your phone off before class, then don't bring it. It's distracting during exams and lecture! Also, PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY, STOP tapping your pencil, clicking your pen, drumming your fingers on the desk. If this is REALLY how you test best, then you need to make arrangements with the instructor to take your exam alone - you are ticking everyone else off! When you hand in your exam, please don't ask the instructor 10 different questions while the rest of us are still taking our exam.....we are TRYING to concentrate and your voice is even less helpful now than it was when you were shouting across the room before the exam!

When you are done with the exam and waiting in the hall, try being just a little conscientious of the other students who are either in the classroom you just left taking the exam, or in another classroom trying to listen to their instructor, and when that instructor comes out and asks you to be quiet, it means be quiet, not shut up until she goes back in the room and then start to talk again.

Just my :twocents:!!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I totally agree with you on the vibrating phone.

I don't know why my classmates put it on vibrate anyway--it's not as though they'll be able to leave the testing room to answer it :chuckle

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wow you guys are grumpy lol

My study group and I study in our classroom for about 2 hrs before tests and most other days before class as well, and we continue right up until test/quiz time and have no intentions of changing that. There's nothing wrong with studying the day of the test. If it bothers you, don't show up until the last minute or go sit in the hall or something. Just because it doesnt help you doesnt mean that it doesnt help others or that everyone else should stop. I study a certain way and each of my study group study their way and hearing the same material from another point of view or something that I skimmed over or even just a refresher helps me. We're not obnoxious about it, but we're not going to stop just because someone is putting their hands over their ears (do you really do that? lol) Its better than hearing about someone's favorite TV show 5 minutes before a test IMO.

During a test... I agree. Quiet is important for everyone, but I doubt anyone would argue that. Some people just have nervous habits and many dont even realize they are doing anything.

You're just going to have to accept that everyone studies differently. It is what it is. If it helps others (like me) and bothers you so much, maybe earplugs would be a bit more of a mature response? :)

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Specializes in LTC.
wow you guys are grumpy lol

My study group and I study in our classroom for about 2 hrs before tests and most other days before class as well, and we continue right up until test/quiz time and have no intentions of changing that. There's nothing wrong with studying the day of the test. If it bothers you, don't show up until the last minute or go sit in the hall or something. Just because it doesnt help you doesnt mean that it doesnt help others or that everyone else should stop. I study a certain way and each of my study group study their way and hearing the same material from another point of view or something that I skimmed over or even just a refresher helps me. We're not obnoxious about it, but we're not going to stop just because someone is putting their hands over their ears (do you really do that? lol) Its better than hearing about someone's favorite TV show 5 minutes before a test IMO.

During a test... I agree. Quiet is important for everyone, but I doubt anyone would argue that. Some people just have nervous habits and many dont even realize they are doing anything.

You're just going to have to accept that everyone studies differently. It is what it is. If it helps others (like me) and bothers you so much, maybe earplugs would be a bit more of a mature response? :)

There is nothing wrong with studying the day of the test... and I'm sure your study group don't continue discussing the material/content all the way up to the teacher passing out exams. And I'm sure you all aren't studying when the class is full of other students who are talking so loud that you can't even hear yourself think.

And yes , I did take a step out of the class and came back. Anyway, I was just venting... totally didn't mean to get anyone's panties up in a bunch.

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Your allowed to have phones during an exam? If a student were found with a phone during our exams they would get an automatic zero! We are allowed nothing but a pencil and picture ID that must be turned in at the door and picked up from the proctor when we leave.

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here's a way to solve these problems...

go into class just before the exam. maybe go in, drop off your bags so you can save yourself a seat, then go outside & relax off by yourself. don't sit in class before the test & expect everyone else to discuss anything but the test.

after the test, if you don't feel like discussing the test, go off somewhere by yourself or with other people that don't want to discuss it either.

there's no way to control other people's actions, only your reactions to them. i know these things can be annoying, but now that you know how you react, you can change your behavior to make your experience better for yourself.

good luck!

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I have not started nursing school yet,but what I do to prevent this is to arrive 5 min before a test any earlier is a waste because everyone is in the classroom discussing why there answer is the best and blah blah.... to no end.

After I test i dont waste my time discussing the test it is done and over with and I cant change the result.When the test is given back they want to know your grade I just tell them i dont discuss my grade or just say that I passed. There have been many fake people /haters in my class they just want to befriend you to join your study group and review your test.They bring nothing to the table they just take ,so I just avoid them like the plague.As long as the class is not cheating then I dont really care what another classmate gets.

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.
wow you guys are grumpy lol

My study group and I study in our classroom for about 2 hrs before tests and most other days before class as well, and we continue right up until test/quiz time and have no intentions of changing that. There's nothing wrong with studying the day of the test. If it bothers you, don't show up until the last minute or go sit in the hall or something. Just because it doesnt help you doesnt mean that it doesnt help others or that everyone else should stop. I study a certain way and each of my study group study their way and hearing the same material from another point of view or something that I skimmed over or even just a refresher helps me. We're not obnoxious about it, but we're not going to stop just because someone is putting their hands over their ears (do you really do that? lol) Its better than hearing about someone's favorite TV show 5 minutes before a test IMO.

During a test... I agree. Quiet is important for everyone, but I doubt anyone would argue that. Some people just have nervous habits and many dont even realize they are doing anything.

You're just going to have to accept that everyone studies differently. It is what it is. If it helps others (like me) and bothers you so much, maybe earplugs would be a bit more of a mature response? :)

I may be wrong but do you have permission to use your classroom for a study group before an exam? I'm pretty much put off my your answer that if that bothers someone, don'e show up until the last minute. Sure, everyone studies differently but there is something called common courtesy to your fellow students. What helps you may not help others as you admit in your own post but your way is not necessarily the correct way and 'just accept it'. Earplugs don't signify a 'bit more mature response'. It really works both ways. Why should your fellow students be put out because of your study group?

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I don't have any issue with people who study right up until the test, I do that as well. My issue is with the people who instead of talking quietly about things feel the need to sit on opposite sides of the room and yell questions/answers to one another.....this is not being courteous to your fellow students and is not an issue with studying or not studying. It's just plain rude. Please don't take my comments the wrong way...we all squeak out whatever study time we can get, even if it is 5 minutes before the exam, just be courteous to your classmates.

As for the tapping, etc....yes, I know that it is a nervous habit. I used to click my pen like crazy!! But one day someone told me that it was bothering them, I was shocked because I didn't even realize I was doing it! I just think that it is important to try to be conscious of these things and be as courteous as possible to other students who are working just as hard as you are.

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I totally agree...right before an exam, I like to be a little quiet and take a moment for myself before plunging into the material (getting into my "mental zone" if you will). If my fellow students don't know the material by then, it's not going to stick at the last minute. I definately don't mind when students courteously ask me for a small clarification on something... but seriously...

After the exam, I also like to decompress completely and not worry/lament/freek out/fall-apart about every single question that may or may not have been answered correctly. LET IT GO! We'll review the material after the tests are graded, and THEN you can figure out what is right or wrong. Getting all emotionally worked up while speculating on the results is such a waste of energy!!!

Sometimes, I've been known to wait outside the classroom until right before the test starts...and dash out immediately after. The worse is when we have a lab class following lecture and it's just non-stop stressing all around....

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Specializes in Emergency.

wellll i do all of those. so i guess you wouldnt like me.. =)

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