<p>How can I stop making stupid mistakes on exams? I’ve tried everything, I come back look at the answer after I’ve completed the rest of the test. I go over the answers carefully. It seems as though no matter what I do I can’t catch my mistakes. I just did it on a test in Econ a few minutes ago. I missed one, because I didn’t notice the question was all the above, and I know I carefully read all the selections. I have the same problem in math as well(especially in math).</p>
<p>Try not to rush and CAREFULLY read the passage or problem.</p>
<p>I don’t rush, it just seems as though my brain gets careless, it can be something as stupid as something like this:</p>
<p>This is a recent stupid mistake I made. </p>
<p>(a) F(x) = e^2x/3x+5 Find F’ </p>
<p>my scrap work: (3x+5)(2e^2x)-(e^2x)(3)/(3x+5)^2
(6xe^2x)(10e^2x)-(3e^2x)
6xe^2x+7e^2x</p>
<p>Got the numerator just find except I forgot to put it all over (3x+5)^2. It stupid mistakes like this on everytest that cost me points. The answer I get is everyone makes these mistakes, but there has to be a way to atleast limit them, at least.</p>
<p>Ahh, finding the derivative by the use of the difference quotient, this stuff is easy.</p>
<p>Maybe you should just look over ur work carefully once u find the answer.</p>
<p>It’s really easy, that doesn’t mean, I won’t make a stupid mistake, no matter what, rather it’s a negative sign…just any little thing. It’s hard to start with a fresh brain if you will…I think maybe, I need to sit for 5 mins, take my mind of the test…and go over it carefully maybe.</p>
<p>I think with calculus, you need to drill the problems so much that they become 2nd nature and you just don’t make the easy mistakes. When I study for my calc exams at UT, I go back and I work every single problem in my homeworks (our tests come out with problems similar to the homework.) When I get one wrong, even if it’s due to a simple mistake, I mark the question, then I run through it again and again till I can consistently do the problems without making the mistakes. (I don’t drill consequtively though, that way I wont have the solution in my memory. I try to work on a different homework in between)</p>
<p>So far this method has worked extremely well for me. My first semester I took calculus and scored so bad that I ended up dropping the class before the final. Exam 1: 58 Exam 2: 45. I tried my new method where I just constantly drill problems (from my homeworks, the textbook, etc. To where I might do every problem 10 times.) Now that i’m taking it again, Exam 1: 90 Exam 2: 80. My 2nd exam wasn’t that great, but considering our class average was a 54, I think I did quite well. I’m expecting to make an A in the course by the end of the semester. (The course is curved at the very end of the year here, so last semester they were given a 10 point curve on top of whatever they made, an 80 was an A.)</p>
<p>I think repetition with calculus is great because you generally become very comfortable with what you’re doing and you almost don’t need to even think about the question – it just becomes a process.</p>
<p>I second this solution ^^^</p>
<p>This example you wrote, is this for economics in high school or in college?
Sorry if this is a stupid question but I’d like to compare the difficultness in math in Usa vs my homecountry.</p>
<p>This is not economics, this is calculus.</p>
<p>alec, unfortunately you can’t compare math like this. there is no single “college math” that everyone has to take, they select based on their ability and eventually work their way up.</p>
<p>He wasnt even talking about math.</p>
<p>“Sorry if this is a stupid question but I’d like to compare the difficultness in math in Usa vs my homecountry.”
Just practice, its all it takes. I am making it more than is actually is. PRESISTENCE. gl</p>
<p>Alright, but if this was Calculus, is it calculus in Highschool or in College?
It’s interesting for me to know if I should focus more on my math (hs) to manage the math in college since apparently it was quite an easy (yes I know how to solve it:)) question.
@Legionaire: I see, but then this math exam took place in college?
Do you take a test so they’ll know how good you are in math and then get placed in different groups depending on knowledge?</p>
<p>Sorry I though it was Econ. because he mentioned it in his first post. My bad.</p>
<p>“Alright, but if this was Calculus, is it calculus in Highschool or in College?”</p>
<p>Im in high school, and I do problems like these a lot.</p>
<p>okay thanks! Then we’re on the same level (more or less) what grade are you in?</p>
<p>Im a senior.</p>
<p>alec some colleges give you the option to take a placement test or they determine through the prior math courses you have taken.</p>
<p>Also Alec, it’s important to note, that the math I’m taking is Business Calculus and not college level Calc I. Calculus I is much harder.</p>
<p>Yeah, I thought it was something like that, but then I know that i’m not totally off conserning the math. Thank you guys for the answers!</p>