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Archive for the ‘Exam Tips’ Category

More problems to work …

July 13th, 2009

You can download all the published exams since 2000 here. I’ve removed the problems that are no longer on the syllabus. Please remember that none of these exams contain DM problems.

You can download a breakdown of the problems by topic here. Again none of these exams contained DM problems which make up about 20-25% of the exam now.

Exam Tips

The last two days before your exam …

May 4th, 2009

Here is what I would do the two days before the exam:

http://theinfiniteactuary.com/blogs/exam2/?p=46 

Exam Tips

Test taking tips …

May 4th, 2009

Please see the following post for some test taking tips:

http://theinfiniteactuary.com/blogs/exam2/?p=43

Exam Tips

Published Exams and Breakdown

March 16th, 2009

You can download all the published exams since 2000 here.  I’ve removed the problems that are no longer on the syllabus.  Please remember that none of these exams contain DM problems.

You can download a breakdown of the problems by topic here.  Again none of these exams contained DM problems which make up about 20-25% of the exam now.

Exam Tips, Updates

The last two days before your exam …

May 27th, 2008

Here is what I would do the two days before the exam:

http://theinfiniteactuary.com/blogs/exam2/?p=46 

Exam Tips

Test Taking Tips

May 27th, 2008

Please see the following post for some test taking tips:

http://theinfiniteactuary.com/blogs/exam2/?p=43

Exam Tips

Last couple of days …

November 5th, 2007

Today you should be working problems, but what about tomorrow?  I always like to rest the day before the exam.  I might flip through the summary sheets a couple of times, but nothing more.  I definitely recommend going to bed early.  It is likely to take you longer than usual to go to sleep so it helps to get into bed 30 minutes to an hour early.  IMO, the worst thing you can do is stay up all night studying.  You will likely be tired so the studying won’t be too effective and it could cause you to be tired on exam day too.

On exam day there will be a handful of people with their notes cramming right before the exam.  I always thought this was silly.  If you don’t know it by the morning of the exam, then you are not going to know it.  Plus there is always a chance that you will confuse yourself of something that you do know.  I strongly recommend against cramming the morning of the exam.

During the exam try to relax and stay positive.  If you have studied hard enough, then it is very likely that you know how to work enough problems to pass.  The key is finding those problems you know how to work and getting them right.

Good luck!

Exam Tips

Test Taking Tips

November 4th, 2007

In my opinion, the difference b/w a pass and a fail can often come down to test taking strategy.  If you don’t have a good strategy, then you are a serious disadvantage.  The first thing to realize is that all questions count the same.  That means answering the easiest question correctly on the exam is worth just as much as answering the hardest question on the exam.  For that reason, it is imperative that you get to attempt every problem on the exam.  You must not run out of time and force yourself to guess on any questions without first having a chance to devote a few minutes to solving them.

What does this mean?  You must be willing to skip a problem.  If you read a problem and don’t have a clear picture in your mind of how to solve it, then skip it.  If you read a problem and you are confused on the wording of even a single sentence, then skip it.  If you read a problem, but can’t think of an elegant solution and the one you have outlined in your head is a long a tedious one, then skip it.  If you start to get frustrated with a problem, then skip it.  Please do not be scared to skip a problem.  You are not required to work them in order.

The key to passing the exam is getting all the questions you know how to do right.  If you spend 10-20 minutes working on a problem that you likely wouldn’t get even if you had 30-45 minutes, then you made a huge strategical error.  That means you have less time to devote to problems that you do know how to work.  You will be rushed on the easy problems and could make a careless mistake b/c of it.  Don’t fall into that trap.

When the proctor tells you there is 15 minutes remaining make, stop whatever you are doing and make sure you have an answer bubbled for every problem.  There is no penalty for guessing and you do not want to find yourself with one minute and stressing over if you have everything bubbled in.

Bring at least one extra calculator.  Make sure it is the same model as your other calculator.  You would hate to have to switch calculators and be unfamiliar with the 2nd calculator.

Exam Tips

Thread on last sitting’s exam

October 30th, 2007

If you are interested in the stuff they asked last sitting, then take a look at this thread. It is pretty long and there is a lot of garbage in there. Don’t get too hung up on anything they say in there. If it starts to overwhelm you or confuse you, then stop reading immediately.

Exam Tips

Just 2 weeks left!

October 24th, 2007

There are only 2 weeks left before the exam. These last two weeks are very important to your success on the exam. You should be working as many problems as humanly possible during these last two weeks. You should also be reviewing the summary sheets daily (this should just take 10-20 minutes at most).

Now would be a great time to take a practice exam too. I recommend taking the exam under strict exam circumstances. Get a stop watch and set the timer for 2.5 hours. Do not stop the watch for any reason. If you have to use the restroom, then keep the clock running. They will not stop it for you on exam day. Do not look at your notes during the exam. Do not check your answers as you go. This is a great chance to practice exam taking strategy.

If don’t do well on the practice exam don’t get discouraged. Many students told me that my practice exam was harder than the exam last sitting.

I’m in the process of creating a second practice exam. I hope to have it finished by Friday evening. That will give you another practice exam to take this weekend if you have already taken the first one.

Study hard!

Exam Tips