Where did I go wrong in my studying methods for Calc 1 with Physical Sciences?

College Life
1

Hello, I had a Calc 1 exam yesterday that I thought I studied well for but I guess I didn’t. When I took the exam, there were some questions that I just did not know how to do. I studied for approximately 5 nights, 3-4 hours a night, and studied everything. I studied all my lecture notes and did the textbook problems section by section listed on the syllabus. I tended to get most of them right, and if I didn’t I reviewed my notes and textbook and eventually figured them out. There were some exam problems that did not resemble anything from what we have seen in class or in the textbook. Where did I go wrong? Please help, I’m quite frustrated and distraught from this ordeal. I like to think I’m generally good at math, but this exam made me re-evaluate my studying method. I gave myself a decent amount of time, and covered all my bases.

2

Were there any practice exams available? Did you do those?

3

I think you did everything fine, but it seems like there’s either 1. material coming from somewhere that you hadn’t known about or prepared for or 2. problems that are formatted or use the material differently than what you’re used to. If it was new material, talk to your professor or teaching assistant if there is one and ask where it came from. If it was a new way of applying your knowledge, then that’s a sign that you need to practice a wider variety of problems (like those outside the syllabus) or problems that combine multiple concepts and skills together.

Chances are, though, if you didn’t understand some problems, then neither did many other people.

4

^ 2. problems that are formatted or use the material differently than what you’re used to.

In my Calc 1, that was the most common complaint by my classmates. One TA argued then maybe you got busy memorizing the structure of the practice problems that you ignored learning how to apply the concept.

I did the strategies of doing wider set of problems plus went on internet for more ways to explain the material (i.e. different examples)

5

What you are doing is excellent…you are analyzing why you didn’t do well.

  1. Go to prof during office hours and ask him/her where this material was covered because when you took this test you were not aware of it.
  2. Do problems from a different source…e.g Khan academy, internet, Calculus problems book (search on amazon)
  3. See if the sylabus mentions different topics…if the missing topic was mentioned there? if so, make sure to study al topics