Social Anxiety Support

xerwb2 · 10-27-2009, 03:31 AM

I have the exam for a unit (a pure mathematics one) that I despise in a couple of days. I don't understand half of the material and it's really frustrating me because I don't understand why it seems so hard.

Anyway, the exam is worth 70% of the course but they only have one previous exam with solutions (there are more without answers, but I don't really see much point in doing them if I don't know whether I'm right), the notes are terrible, and I've heard the textbook is even worse. I've tried looking online for practice questions but most explanations I find are pretty bad.

I can't seem to focus, either, and this is making me really depressed. Advice will be appreciated.

00Athena00 · 10-28-2009, 07:48 PM

I had the exact same problem with organic chemistry. You need to get some outside help. Either a tutor, study group, or maybe see if the professor will meet with you. When someone sits down with you one on one, it's so much easier to understand. I also highly recommend going through the practice tests and previous exams. You would be surprised how often teachers recycle the questions.

It's frustrating, tedious, and awful but it will be over soon. Bust your butt studying for the next few days and you should at least pass. Good luck!!

marenubium87 · 10-29-2009, 11:40 AM

What's the subject material? I may be able to help.

Btw, nice (xkcd) avatar.

farleyknight · 10-29-2009, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xerwb2

I have the exam for a unit (a pure mathematics one) that I despise in a couple of days. I don't understand half of the material and it's really frustrating me because I don't understand why it seems so hard.

Anyway, the exam is worth 70% of the course but they only have one previous exam with solutions (there are more without answers, but I don't really see much point in doing them if I don't know whether I'm right), the notes are terrible, and I've heard the textbook is even worse. I've tried looking online for practice questions but most explanations I find are pretty bad.

I can't seem to focus, either, and this is making me really depressed. Advice will be appreciated.

What type of pure math? If you're a math major, you should be able to pull it off, unless the teacher is deliberately giving you a minimal amount of info.. The only advice in that case is just to know ahead of time the teacher is an *** and master as much of the material on your own time.. but that's probably not an option for you at this point..

And why is the exam worth 70%? I have yet to see that, but perhaps some teachers do that..

Oh yeah, and second ups on the xkcd comic.

xerwb2 · 10-29-2009, 08:24 PM

Hi guys, thanks for responding and for the offers of help. Unfortunately, I didn't see these replies until just now and my exam was nearly 24 hours ago. Fortunately, I'm confident I managed at least to pass.

@farleyknight: I will major in maths in the future, but it'll probably be more applied rather than pure. I think my frustration was partly my own fault for endlessly procrastinating.

I don't know much about how the system works in the US, but here, almost all exams are between 50-70% of the total mark.

njmalibu · 11-01-2009, 01:51 PM

This is a little late, But have you checked out KhanAcademy.org?
Actually, someone from the chatroom here suggested it to me. The guy Sal (creator) really has a good way of explaining things, and how everything is applied. There is alot of information there on various maths, as well as other subjects like chemistry, physics, etc.

10-27-2009, 03:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
xerwb2 Status: The Corrupt Eclectic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia Gender: Male Age: 17 Posts: 50	Subject that I hate, advice? I have the exam for a unit (a pure mathematics one) that I despise in a couple of days. I don't understand half of the material and it's really frustrating me because I don't understand why it seems so hard. Anyway, the exam is worth 70% of the course but they only have one previous exam with solutions (there are more without answers, but I don't really see much point in doing them if I don't know whether I'm right), the notes are terrible, and I've heard the textbook is even worse. I've tried looking online for practice questions but most explanations I find are pretty bad. I can't seem to focus, either, and this is making me really depressed. Advice will be appreciated.

10-28-2009, 07:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
00Athena00 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Iowa Gender: Female Age: 24 Posts: 86	I had the exact same problem with organic chemistry. You need to get some outside help. Either a tutor, study group, or maybe see if the professor will meet with you. When someone sits down with you one on one, it's so much easier to understand. I also highly recommend going through the practice tests and previous exams. You would be surprised how often teachers recycle the questions. It's frustrating, tedious, and awful but it will be over soon. Bust your butt studying for the next few days and you should at least pass. Good luck!!

10-29-2009, 11:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
marenubium87 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CO Gender: Male Age: 22 Posts: 79	What's the subject material? I may be able to help. Btw, nice (xkcd) avatar.

10-29-2009, 08:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
xerwb2 Status: The Corrupt Eclectic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia Gender: Male Age: 17 Posts: 50	Hi guys, thanks for responding and for the offers of help. Unfortunately, I didn't see these replies until just now and my exam was nearly 24 hours ago. Fortunately, I'm confident I managed at least to pass. @farleyknight: I will major in maths in the future, but it'll probably be more applied rather than pure. I think my frustration was partly my own fault for endlessly procrastinating. I don't know much about how the system works in the US, but here, almost all exams are between 50-70% of the total mark.

11-01-2009, 01:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
njmalibu Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 13	This is a little late, But have you checked out KhanAcademy.org? Actually, someone from the chatroom here suggested it to me. The guy Sal (creator) really has a good way of explaining things, and how everything is applied. There is alot of information there on various maths, as well as other subjects like chemistry, physics, etc.