Taking Math17 exams

I love Math.

I'm not boasting or anything but Math is a really easy subject for me because you don't have to pass any projects, memorize names or dates. Since kinder I was not really reviewing for any math exams be it a simple activity or a long exam, for me Math was and will always be "just that".

Then came the Math 17 midterms exam.

Unlike the other previous Math exams I took there was this feeling of "impending doom". That's why unlike previous exams, this one I studied TWO DAYS before!!! Imagine that?

The exam happened last August 16, 2008 2 - 4 pm. Because almost half of the freshies (like me) are taking Math17 this sem, Math building could not accommodate us so we were distributed to different buildings. Imagine UPCAT but less takers and less cars. ^^

I was assigned to take the exam in PH1327 (Chem. Pav.). I was kind of excited so we left Kalai at about 1:30pm (AS time) and despite the laughter I could really feel that all of us were really tense.

I arrived at the building about 1:45 pm. I started to look for my room. I climb and climb. I was really shocked when I couldn’t find my room because the rooms were only up to PH1326 so imagine me almost crying because I thought I wouldn't take exam because of the stupid reason that I can find my room. But thankfully I did, It was just a wall away. ^^

The room accommodated two sections both of which were Sir Jelo’s class. It was fairly humid and fairly cool. I was really thankful that my nose didn’t explode from over nose bleeding. I finished the test confident that I would not fail.

Some tips in taking Math exams:
I. Pre - exam
1. Make sure you know the basics. Math is a chronological process. And that the basic principles are your foundation to higher “nosebleed-incurring” math.
* You cannot solve 2^2 if you do not know 2 x 2 right?
2. Swallow your pride and ask what you don’t know to your prof or your friend who happen to know a lot about the subject. Remember it is better to look dumb once than be dumb forever.
3. Group Study!!! Study with friends and really study together not talk and talk.
4. Study alone!!! I know this is contradicting with my first statement but sometimes there are things that won’t seem to stay in your mind so what you do is go to a quiet room and study there. It really helps.
5. Find your testing room. This prevents confusion in the actual taking of the exam.
6. Study 3 or 2 days before. Do not CRAM.
7. Sleep early the night before the exam. Some prefer sleeping late to study but for me sleeping early helps in having a clear mind during the exam.
8. LASTLY, Relax. You are not a robot for Pete’s sake give your mind a rest once in a while it will not only distress you but it will give the brain more time to digest what you have studied

“Luck favors the prepared mind”

Although the process of reviewing and recalling subjects was excruciatingly hard, my love for Math would never cease.