College Exams High School Tests Courses may only have only 2-4 Tests occur frequently and cover exams that cover a lot of minimal course content. material. If you miss a test, you can usually Missed exams cannot not usually be make it up later. made up without prior Teachers often consider school arrangements. events or other obligations students’ Professors do not consider your when scheduling tests. other obligations when scheduling Tests are about memorizing and exams. Students must plan ahead for repeating back information exams. taught. Students must learn how to apply There are typically lots of review concepts to other situations for exams. sessions done in class before a test, Instructors do not always use class giving students an idea of what they time for review or say what will be on will be tested on. exams. Organizing and preparing for review time is up to the students. College Grading High School Grading Not all work is graded, so students Grades are given frequently, and must keep in contact with instructors most assigned work is graded so that to know how they are doing in a students are aware of where their given course. grades stand in a class. Students must put more effort into the Smaller assignments (homework, larger assignments (exams, papers, quizzes, etc.) can raise overall etc.) because they often account for class grades significantly when most of the overall course grade. other assignments do not go well. Beware of the first round of tests. The first couple of tests in a class They are often very different than are sometimes easier than later tests. students to get expected. Don’t wait If the scores are low, students don’t help! Go to the professor or a tutor always take action because they can right away, and try new study skills. often do extra credit later. Instructors may check attendance Attendance is typically checked without announcing it, and class every day, but a lack of participation sometimes participation will not usually affect contributes the overall grade in the class. significantly to overall course grades. This handout was created by Kristin Burkhart, Assistant Director of Learning Services at Mount St. For an appointment at the Learning Services, please call 301-447-5006. Mary’s University. Mount’s Some information in this handout was taken from Southern Methodist University: .
High School Tests Tests occur frequently and cover minimal course content. If you miss a test, you can usually make it up later. Teachers often consider school events or students’ other obligations when scheduling tests. Tests are about memorizing and repeating back information taught. There are typically lots of review sessions done in class before a test, giving students an idea of what they will be tested on. College Exams Courses may only have only 2-4 exams that cover a lot of material. Missed exams cannot not usually be made up without prior arrangements. Professors do not consider your other obligations when scheduling exams. Students must plan ahead for exams. Students must learn how to apply concepts to other situations for exams. Instructors do not always use class time for review or say what will be on exams. Organizing and preparing for review time is up to the students. High School Grading Grades are given frequently, and most assigned work is graded so that students are aware of where their grades stand in a class. Smaller assignments (homework, quizzes, etc.) can raise overall class grades significantly when other assignments do not go well. The first couple of tests in a class are sometimes easier than later tests. If the scores are low, students don’t always take action because they can often do extra credit later. Attendance is typically checked every day, but a lack of participation will not usually affect the overall grade in the class. College Grading Not all work is graded, so students must keep in contact with instructors to know how they are doing in a given course. Students must put more effort into the larger assignments (exams, papers, etc.) because they often account for most of the overall course grade. Beware of the first round of tests. They are often very different than students expected. Don’t wait to get help! Go to the professor or a tutor right away, and try new study skills. Instructors may check attendance without announcing it, and class participation sometimes contributes significantly to overall course grades. This handout was created by Kristin Burkhart, Assistant Director of Learning Services at Mount St. Mary’s University. For an appointment at the Mount’s Learning Services, please call 301-447-5006. Some information in this handout was taken from Southern Methodist University: .
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