How Long - Just Curious

[mapalo]

Just curious

How long does it take you to go through flashcards with 40 questions or more?

Sometimes I find myself on hours long doing one section and I am just wondering if I can learn a new technique from others.


Mapalo

[gregjohnson]

I just answer them in my head- MUCH faster that way. Don't bother to keep track of which ones you miss until you've gone through them a few times.

I hope this helps. Greg

[MadMax396]

I am studying for Environment Race to save right now and it is flowing at maybe 50 cards in 25 minutes. However, Modern Middle east had very long explanations. It was taking a minute of pondering per question for me at least.

[mapalo]

Do you Guys write down everything including expalanations, or you just read through them and then go to the next flash card


Mapalo

[Epiphany]

Do you Guys write down everything including expalanations, or you just read through them and then go to the next flash card


Mapalo

Read, repeat.

After going through twice, I start typing in answers. When I can get 90%, I move on. Normally that's 3 times through. I track how I'm doing on a spreadsheet for two reasons:
1. I'm just like that
2. Motivates me to do more

As I finish sections and move on I go back to the beginning every so often and flip through (no typing) again.

[malcs]

I take a different approach that works for me.

I go through them once as follows:
1) Open a Notepad file before starting

2) Go through the entire IC card set as follows:
a) Look at each IC question, and try and answer it in my head
b) Copy the explanation from the answer into Notepad if I get the answer wrong, or if I guessed.

3) I then go through the notes, and look up any of my weaker areas in Google, Wikipedia, etc.

** I end up with 20 someodd pages of IC notes and a bunch of related articles from my research. **

4) Over a few days, I review the notes, and check off the things that I know in the notes.

5) If there are quizes on the companion site for the textbook, I take them and paste the problem areas into my notes.

6) Before I take the test I spend about 15 minutes reading the notes.

7) Take the test

8) Wash it down with a beer or two, and start the next cycle. (this may be the key step)

I am averaging 1 upper level credit per day using this method. Your mileage may be different. 21 credits in 3 weeks, 6 credits to go! 5 A's, 1 B, 1 C.

My total time in IC is about 5 hours. Total time on each subject is about 3 days, maybe 6 intense hrs/day. Test taking becomes like a battle of the minds between me and the test writer.

I have become very fast at finding the one or two self-contradictory answers in each question, like:
" c) The person has reduced his intake of OPIATES, but increased his use of HEROIN "
This helps me with the questions that I am clueless about.

Hope this helps,
Malcolm

[mapalo]

Thank you all this is very helpful,
You would think a person like me with 112 credits units most of them from testing would have gotten this perfect well. But No.... with two Exams to go Humanities and Maths, I find myself struggling and spending way to much time on one question

Yesterday I went into the Libray from 11am to 5pm I did not even finish one section of Humanities with 80 questions and sometimes I struggle with the 50 questions spending days before I finish the section.

Thank you I am really motivated now

I thank you all for your support

Mapalo

[malcs]

Thank you all this is very helpful,
You would think a person like me with 112 credits units most of them from testing would have gotten this perfect well. But No.... with two Exams to go Humanities and Maths, I find myself struggling and spending way to much time on one question

Yesterday I went into the Libray from 11am to 5pm I did not even finish one section of Humanities with 80 questions and sometimes I struggle with the 50 questions spending days before I finish the section.

Thank you I am really motivated now

I thank you all for your support

Mapalo

Too much time on one question is a strategy mistake. You need to blow through all of the easier questions, and quickly pick a best guess on the ones that are brain teasers, and mark them for review. This allows you to get 90% of the test out of the way, and then go back to the hard ones without feeling the time pressure. You can usually get the complicated questions down to two questions by eliminating the stupid answers, so you statistically will get half of those correct.


I am around that 112 credit mark as well, and Had my confidence shaken with a B last week with Research Methods in Psyc. I somehow got at B, but felt I was going to get a D. That is the All-Or-Nothing game we all play up here. It is sooooo much harder than sitting in a class for 30 lectures, with your parents footing the bill, learning most things through osmosis, and having incremental exams along the way. Good thing it is so much faster doing it this way.

Good luck

[mapalo]

Too much time on one question is a strategy mistake. You need to blow through all of the easier questions, and quickly pick a best guess on the ones that are brain teasers, and mark them for review. This allows you to get 90% of the test out of the way, and then go back to the hard ones without feeling the time pressure. You can usually get the complicated questions down to two questions by eliminating the stupid answers, so you statistically will get half of those correct.


I am around that 112 credit mark as well, and Had my confidence shaken with a B last week with Research Methods in Psyc. I somehow got at B, but felt I was going to get a D. That is the All-Or-Nothing game we all play up here. It is sooooo much harder than sitting in a class for 30 lectures, with your parents footing the bill, learning most things through osmosis, and having incremental exams along the way. Good thing it is so much faster doing it this way.

Good luck

Mac
what I meant I spend so much time on was the IC flashcards not the Exam.
Congrates on your R M in Pysc that's not an easy Exam. I was suprised I got an A in it. Wish you all the best in your remaining Exams what do you have next?

[malcs]

Malc
what I meant I spend so much time on was the IC flashcards not the Exam.
Congrates on your R M in Pysc that's not an easy Exam. I was suprised I got an A in it. Wish you all the best in your remaining Exams what do you have next?

Oh, gotcha.
This morning I finished Exclsior Literacy, now up to 22 cr

This thurs is Abnormal Psyc

Next tues is Social Psyc

I think I am done with my BSLS then, but the problem is that I will be done with the courses before my official evaluation comes in. I may get stuck taking two additional lower level A&S courses if they don't give me six credits for my CS GRE.

I started with this in the 80's, and life kept getting in the way. While life got in the way, credits went stale and were no longer accepted. Looks like I will be done with the 28 credits in less than a month of full time study. Finally, I will have a BS degree and not have to do that dance at interviews explaining why I don't.

I guess that this is all a testimoy to how well this InstantCert process works. In all cases, it has gotten my more than half way there, and a day of my own research has filled in the gaps. I would not have had the patience or time to start each subject from scratch.

Good luck with your mission!