Question

1. Chethen is required to take chemistry for his major in food science. In high school, Chethen excelled in his science classes and did not expect to be struggling in his college-level chemistry course. On his first exam, however, Chethen received a 47. Even with the curve, he did not crack a D. Chethen finds himself becoming paralyzed by each subsequent quiz and exam, and his grades do not improve. He needs to earn at least a C in this course to fulfill the requirement for his major. His midterm is approaching quickly, and Chethen is afraid he will fail not only the test but also the course.
Which method will NOT help Chethen prepare for the upcoming midterm?
A. Avoid collaborating with others, so as not to be distracted.
B. Reduce stressors in his life.
C. “Overlearn” the material.
D. Look for connections between his life and what’s going on in his chemistry course.
2. What is one step Chethen could take to improve his grade?
A. Have his high school chemistry teacher contact his college chemistry instructor to tell him what a good student he is.
B. Ask someone who took the class in a prior term to show him their old tests so he can predict what will be on the midterm.
C. Find a tutor.
D. Drop the class.
3. What is one way Chethen can reduce his anxiety when it comes to his chemistry quizzes and exams?
A. Nothing. Test anxiety is normal and will push him to do better.
B. Make studying a part of his daily routine.
C. Work on memorizing terms and formulas rather than trying to understand the broader, more complicated topics.
D. Stay up all night studying the night before a quiz or exam so he can cram the most amount of material in.

Answer 1

1. A. Avoid collaborating with others, so as not to be distracted.
Avoiding collaboration will not help him, collaboration is a great tool to get different perspectives and reinforce study habits. 

2. C. Find a tutor.
A tutor can help Chethen break down the material into manageable chunks and walk him through the processes step by step until he understands them.

3. B. Make studying a part of his daily routine.
If studying becomes part of his daily routine, Chethen will make it a habit and he will increase his productivity and effectiveness.