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 »  Home  »  Learning tips  »  Exams: The problem is remembering the problem
Exams: The problem is remembering the problem
By Ray Vetne | Published  10/22/2006 | Learning tips | Rating:
Exams: The problem is remembering the problem

Have you noticed that you often make the same language mistakes over and over? Here are some suggestions for how to remember them, especially if you have an exam coming up.

  • Know your weaknesses
    Be conscious of the mistakes you do when reading and writing. This is one of the most important functions your language teacher has - pointing out your errors so you can work on them. View all the red scribbling on your essays and papers as a potential for improvement.
     
  • Write it down at the exam
    Learn your list of common errors by heart and write it down on a piece of paper at the beginning of the exam, and refer back to it regularly during the exam.
     
  • Review your answer wearing a pair of "error glasses"
    Many people find it hard to look over their essay before turning it in, fearing that they might change good and correct phrases into bad ones. You should by all means look it over before you hand it in, but try to do so by searching for the mistakes you tend to make (look at list you wrote down at the beginning of the exam). You should certainly not spend time rewriting the answer to improve the handwriting. This is a language test, not a calligraphy test.
      
  • Get hold of a good native friend
    Also when you talk you will benefit from having someone able and frank to point out your mistakes now and then. Otherwise it will take much longer (possibly never) before you get rid of your mistakes. A good friend with the language as her mothertongue might be just what you need.

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Comments
  • Comment #1 (Posted by tater03)
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    I found the suggestion to write down your most common mistakes very helpful. That is a great idea that I will have to try. Thanks
     
  • Comment #2 (Posted by FourBear)
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    I find these suggestions especially helpful, as I find myself constantly making the same mistakes when speaking Spanish. I've already identified my weaknesses, and I plan to ask my native-speaking friends for more help with this.
     
  • Comment #3 (Posted by destiny_star2006)
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    Thanks for them great tips on exams i will be following some of your tips on a french exam i have coming up on friday and i will let you know how i get on hopefully you will have helped me pass.
     
  • Comment #4 (Posted by tater03)
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    I have a real bad problem with going totally blank when it is time to take a test. The sad thing is I have noticed this in my son also. I know it is probably just nerves but it drives me nuts. Anyone have any suggestions for help on this?
     
  • Comment #5 (Posted by Lyricb)
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    tater, you should try some breathing exercises before heading in to take the test. Visualization exercises are supposed to help too.
     
  • Comment #6 (Posted by an unknown user)
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    Thank you for the suggestions. I have tried the breathing exercises and it does seem to relax me some. But I don't know a whole lot when it comes to the visualization exercises? Thanks again for the suggestions.
     
  • Comment #7 (Posted by tater03)
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    Sorry I was the one that posted the above comment. I forgot to put in my name.
     
  • Comment #8 (Posted by tater03)
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    My brother told me one time that he was told by a professor to read over your essay backward to find any mistakes. I have never tried this, but I never really understood how it would help you to find your mistakes? Has anyone else ever heard of this?
     
  • Comment #9 (Posted by FourBear)
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    In response to your question, tater, I think that it helps you find your mistakes by forcing you to actively read what you've written. The words don't make any sense backwards, so you actually have to read over each and every word and think about it's position in the sentence. When you read normally, you tend to just skim and miss errors.
     
  • Comment #10 (Posted by LyricB)
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    I think that's true. You get it in your mind that something is written as you intended and you don't catch all the mistakes.
     
  • Comment #11 (Posted by starlily)
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    Appreciated the suggestion to write down my common mistakes at the beginning of an exam--I believe that would be a great help in focussing...
     
  • Comment #12 (Posted by papia)
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    Yes, i really faced this problem many times. Thanks for giving the tips.
     
  • Comment #13 (Posted by felice206)
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    I found this quite helpful thank you. I too find I make a lot of the same errors. I'm going to try utilise some of these tips and see what happens - cheers
     
  • Comment #14 (Posted by tater03)
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    I guess what you say about reading what you wrote backwards would help with finding your mistakes. I just find it hard to do. Maybe if I did it for awhile it wouldn't feel so odd to me.
     
  • Comment #15 (Posted by mtatum4496)
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    This is excellent common-sense advise. I frequently find myself making the same errors when writing. Making the list of my "favorites" really does make proofing my work so much easier.
     
  • Comment #16 (Posted by FourBear)
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    Another test-taking tip could be to ask the instructor about the format of the exam, and inquire if it is possible to obtain a sample test or worksheets to help with concepts that will be tested. That way, when you see these things on an exam, you won't be shocked into forgetting things you know.
     
  • Comment #17 (Posted by Paula62)
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    Reading backwards for error checking is because your brain fills in things to make them appear as you expect them to appear. Ever seen the little puzzle where people are asked to read a phrase that has a double "the" in it, and they never see the second "the."
     
  • Comment #18 (Posted by felice206)
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    Really depends on your instructor however. There are some that won't help you out whatsoever when it comes to exams, least I've run into my fair share of them
     
  • Comment #19 (Posted by tater03)
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    You are right about some of the instructors. I know when I was taking a class and had some questions he actually acted like I was bothering him. I was never so glad to see that class end.
     
  • Comment #20 (Posted by mtatum4496)
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    You know, I never realized that about reading backwards for error checking. But I just tried it on a piece I am writing today and you are right on the money!
     
  • Comment #21 (Posted by FourBear)
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    I just recently tried the backwards-reading method on one of my Spanish compositions, and I got it back error-free! I think that's a first, I usually miss something somewhere.
     
  • Comment #22 (Posted by emmy_b)
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    Love the idea of error glasses, I could really do with some of these sometimes! Will try your idea Paula of reading backwards - hopefully it will help get rid of some silly mistakes!
     
  • Comment #23 (Posted by emmy_b)
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    Actually just read your remark about that tutor tater, I had something similar where a teacher actually used to tut and sigh whenever asked for extra paper or additional pencils in an exam!
     
  • Comment #24 (Posted by tater03)
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    Glad to see that tip of reading backwards helped some of you. I recently tried it myself and it does seem to work. Takes some getting used to though.
     
  • Comment #25 (Posted by felice206)
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    The reading backwards is a great tip, I would never have thought about trying that but it does seem to work!
     
  • Comment #26 (Posted by Paula62)
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    I tried to explain the backward reading technique to my 12 and 10 year old daughters. They were so confused. When they finally agreed to try it, we wound up with new errors inserted, and one paragraph that turned into nearly a mirror image of the original.
    Maybe they're too young.
     
  • Comment #27 (Posted by tater03)
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    I would agree that young kids might have a hard time with this. I know I am an adult and it is hard to actully do the reading backwards. I get caught up in the fact that what I am reading doesn't make sense. But as you do it more it does get easir and it does help find those mistakes you might ordinarilly miss.
     
  • Comment #28 (Posted by FourBear)
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    It sounds like your kids were still trying to think forwards, Paula. I think it's very difficult to sort of forget everything you've learned, in terms of editing. When I was 12, it was hard enough to edit going forwards!
     
  • Comment #29 (Posted by felice206)
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    Not really backwards reading, but Pimsleur language tapes will dissect the word backwards then forwards if you wanted to introduce the basic concept to your kids - might be the way to go
     
  • Comment #30 (Posted by emmy_b)
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    lol fourbear - I agree, think I had enough difficulty trying to keep my spelling and grammar up to scratch when I was twelve (and even now lol!).
     
  • Comment #31 (Posted by emmy_b)
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    What are the Pimsleur tapes felice? They sound really good - would they be suitable for my nephews (they're six years old)?
     
  • Comment #32 (Posted by Paula62)
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    I've been told by several differnt people that the pimsleur program is really good, but i've never checked into it. Has anyone used it?
     
  • Comment #33 (Posted by FourBear)
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    I haven't used it. What are the Pimsleur tapes, and where can you find them? They sound interesting.
     
  • Comment #34 (Posted by felice206)
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    Pimsleur's site is http://www.pimsleurapproach.com/

    I actually sampled by downloading from a P2P site before buying to make sure it was right for me as it is a little pricy. You might check with the library as well.

    Some children that young might be able to learn with it. However it is geared more for teens/adults.
     
  • Comment #35 (Posted by riskey58)
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    I wish I would have had these tips when I was in school. I used to have a hard time retaining and remembering things for tests. I found this article very informative.
     
  • Comment #36 (Posted by riskey58)
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    I thought your article was very interesting. When it comes time for me to take an exam I freeze. I hope some of the ideas in the article will help.I am willing to try them and see.Thanks.
     
  • Comment #37 (Posted by shahid pakistan)
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    f off
     
  • Comment #38 (Posted by madar chod)
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    maa ki chut hat
     
  • Comment #39 (Posted by tater03)
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    I had never heard of the Pimsleur method. Thank you, I will have to look at the link you provided.
     
  • Comment #40 (Posted by riskey58)
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    I found that writing my mistakes down has helped alot.While doing this I found that you have a habit of making the same mistakes. Without writting them down I might not have noticed as fast. Thank you.
     
  • Comment #41 (Posted by tater03)
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    Yes, I would agree that if you are trying to learn something that writing it down helps. Like words and definitions for example. I seem to retain more if I write them down a number of times.
     
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