So I've Got the Test Jibblies

[Patchwork]

I usually don't have text anxiety. I have post-test anxiety. I don't get nervous when I'm actually taking the test at all, even when I haven't studied. I have a strong feeling that I'm not going to do so well, but I'm not really stressed. If anything, I get nervous after the test.

See, now it's different. I've had seriously bad luck when it comes to my Geology course. The first two of the four exams we've had this year I missed completely (and wouldn't you know it, they're the very tests I would've aced). The first was missed due to either being completely bedridden and the second was missed because the bus just plain decided not to come. (Unless it ended up coming an hour late).
So now my final's worht, like 60% of my grade.

So, lately I've been studying for the majority of this week and I think I mostly know this stuff. Keyword: think.
I've thought I've known stuff solid before and then bombed tests. I think a better phrasing would be that I know the concepts. And with my prof there tends to be things that just pop up out of nowhere.

I think I might be okay, but thinking that just makes me think in turn that I'm just trying overcompensate and/or ignore the issue. Just to be sure, though, I wanted to read threough all of my notes and my book to make sure I'm on top of everything, despite the fact that I'm pretty sure it's cramming and cramming never did nothin' for no one.
So this morning I've been trying to look over my stuff and study and... I can't study.
At all.
When I try I just get freaked out and distracted by how much this test is worth and the fact that I still have to registser for classes (by the by, I've got...wierd issues in doing any official college stuff. It SERIOUSLY wigs me out. Don't know why).

So I can't concentrate due to anxiety. Which just adds more anxiety because I know if I don't study than I fail and if I fail then it screws up my transcript, which is screwey enough, thank you. And a nasty transcript screws up my transfering to UTSA and means I'll have to spend MORE time at my community college and I'm too old to still be here and I don't have a job and have no idea how the world works and I'm going to give in a decrepid house on the west side for the rest of my days eating Spam. And I hate Spam in all it's forms that aren't Monty Python related.

It's probabaly gonna steal my sleep like it's been doing for the past three days. Because hey, lack of sleep is just what I need right now before a tests when I'm trying to get over a cold.

So...yeah.
This is really my first time with pre-test jibblies. I don't suppose anyone has some advice?

[Captain Highwind]

When I try I just get freaked out and distracted by how much this test is worth and the fact that I still have to registser for classes (by the by, I've got...wierd issues in doing any official college stuff. It SERIOUSLY wigs me out. Don't know why).

That seems like your problem then; you're distracting yourself. It sounds like you've studied for a considerable amount of time (one week is exceptionally good for a test in my book.)

Get the test out of the way, the rest will follow.

As long as you've read the chapters, took down the notes in class, chances are you'll do fine. If there are essay questions involved, I've found that if you write your ideas out beforehand using an outline usually takes a good chunk of anxiety away during the test. It doesn't have to be anything extravagant, just enough for you to recall on test day.

Teachers love it when you write down what you remember in a quick outline on the test before actually writing the essay itself. I use really simple wordmaps (I think that's what they're called), so that there's a picture in my mind of all the facts laid out on the page.

Assuming the teacher gives you the essay questions beforehand. I guess I should have asked this first:

What's the format of the test? Essay, multiple choice, true/false, or all three? Review sheet?

[Classic Speedy]

Geology was my toughest course in college, too. I'm just not good at memorizing all kinds of rocks or facts about rocks. I took the course, thinking it would be the easiest science course available ('learning about how the Earth moves- how hard could THAT be?')- boy, was I wrong. I passed, but just barely.

I don't have any advice, other than maybe to hook up with someone else in the class so you can help each other out, quiz each other and stuff. I did that a few times, and also went in to a few study sessions with the prof.

[Captain Highwind]

I'm just not good at memorizing all kinds of rocks or facts about rocks.

I'm guessing there will be a matching section too, then?

Flash cards!

[Patchwork]

That seems like your problem then; you're distracting yourself. It sounds like you've studied for a considerable amount of time (one week is exceptionally good for a test in my book.)

Well, it wasn't really a full week. More like from Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and today in little intervals. And Wednsday I just watched Futurama from bed coughing and shivvering.

What's the format of the test? Essay, multiple choice, true/false, or all three? Review sheet?

Well, all of the other exams were all multiple choice, so I'm thinking that's what the final's going to be as well. Well, that and some matching.
So's my Music Appreciation Test. History's both multiple choice and two essay questions, I beleive. but both of those are more or less the easy ones.

Geology was my toughest course in college, too. I'm just not good at memorizing all kinds of rocks or facts about rocks. I took the course, thinking it would be the easiest science course available ('learning about how the Earth moves- how hard could THAT be?')- boy, was I wrong. I passed, but just barely.

That's more or less what happened to me. I figured it'd be easy, but interesting, since I knew some basic geological stuff about erosion and ocanography (thank you, Aquatic Science high school class!).

[Classic Speedy]

That's more or less what happened to me. I figured it'd be easy, but interesting, since I knew some basic geological stuff about erosion and ocanography (thank you, Aquatic Science high school class!).

Yeah, luckily our prof really went out of his way to make sure we understood the material- whether it be giving study sessions or handing out typed copies of the notes or taking time to answer lots of questions or whatever. So I can't blame him for my low grade- that's all me, and my general difficulty in the subject of science. (I can only imagine if I had MAJORED in it... yeesh)

What's amazing is that I did the exact same thing in high school! I took physics because I thought, 'Oh well, this will be easy, fun and logical concepts like "For every action there is an equal but opposite reaction"!' And then all the math equations/formulas factored into it.

[Patchwork]

I really wish I had your prof. We did ahve typed note, but it's a very broad outline. It helps, but not a whole lot.
Mostly he lectures, but doesn't really explain concepts at their root. He gets in depth but doesn't bother to really expalin the basics first. He does try to answer questions, but really, it's hard to get a word in to ask it.
I understand the book. the book I get. It's his lectures I don't get. I think he's trying to both simplify and talk about the subject in depth.

Plus, his little diagrams... don't help at all. But that's just because I need fancy color coded diagrams if I'm going to get it, when it comes to science. I'm much better if I can actually see it, the more realistic the better. Or do experiments. Like the ones we did in high school with wiggiling springs to illustrate waves and earthquakes. Or doing those mouse trap cars. Those just magically explained everything. (I jsut wish I didn't have to work in pairs to do them)

[Captain Highwind]

^ Group science projects used to drive me nuts. I know we had to meet a participation standard in class, but we were so busy trying to get everybody to work together that by the end we didn't care about the end result.

It would've been easier if the teacher already had it made and just showed us how the experiment works. You know like in the movies when the R&D guy comes out and explains stuff with puppets. Everybody gets it then and they didn't even have to participate... =D

[Master Moron]

I usually don't have text anxiety. I have post-test anxiety. I don't get nervous when I'm actually taking the test at all, even when I haven't studied. I have a strong feeling that I'm not going to do so well, but I'm not really stressed. If anything, I get nervous after the test.

See, now it's different. I've had seriously bad luck when it comes to my Geology course. The first two of the four exams we've had this year I missed completely (and wouldn't you know it, they're the very tests I would've aced). The first was missed due to either being completely bedridden and the second was missed because the bus just plain decided not to come. (Unless it ended up coming an hour late).

Well, the first one I can't sympathize with since I always go to class even if I'm really sick. But, the second one is just ridiculous. I would have called the bus company or something and yelled at them. No school should cause students to miss exams because the buses don't run. How far away from your school do you live anyway?

[Lavenderpaw]

Geology?THAT'S IT.Try math in college.

[Patchwork]

Well, the first one I can't sympathize with since I always go to class even if I'm really sick. But, the second one is just ridiculous. I would have called the bus company or something and yelled at them. No school should cause students to miss exams because the buses don't run. How far away from your school do you live anyway?

Oh, about twenty miles or so away. Rough estimate. I'd drive if I had the gas money...and a parking place. (I think finding parking takes as long as a bus trip)
Looking back, I do wish I'd put in an email or called up the company or something, if for nothing else, to make sure it didn't happen again on my next exam. But I've never been the type to file complaints, so I just went home and simmered.

I now usualy end up taking the bus an hour earlier on test days, just to make sure it doesn't happen again. Plus, it gives me some extra study time.