Tell me what to do (finals)

timosyy

Golden Member
Dec 19, 2003
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So... I have a final in 1 hour for one of my classes. I need a 95 for an A in the course, a 91 for an A-, a 87 for a B+, or I can just not take it and wind up with a B.

Previous exam scores:
Exam 1 : 74%
Exam 2: 83%

I don't know the material, and would have (a little less than) an hour to study for it. Should I study? Skip it and get breakfast instead? Take it, throw answers on the scantron, and see what it comes up with?

... Sleep? tbh I'm lucky enough to have a B in the class as it is.

Update: Well I didn't take the final, choosing instead to study for my linear algebra final. Ironically, I misread the time for that final and wasn't allowed to take it. 94% --> 74% (final is worth 20%). Pretty big punch in the gut.. rather devastated at the moment. Was raging (at myself) earlier but I've sort of moved past that into numb acceptance. Even farther from that initial 4.0 goal now, guess I should have taken the final in the OP and tried to get an A. Funny how these things work out...

Also, trust me, the grading (for missing the final in the OP and getting a B) works out. Embarrassed to explain cause its such a ridiculous curve system.
 

CatchPhrase

Senior member
Jan 3, 2008
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depends what class it is. Listen to your heart.
I have 2 finals today and have not slept in 2 days.
Not to mention hw.
 

timosyy

Golden Member
Dec 19, 2003
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Sleeping, getting breakfast, studying for another final, not taking an exam :p

@ CatchPhrase, yeah, I have 5 in the next 3 days. Expecting A's in all my other classes, this would be the lone B. Which sucks, but then I shouldnt've sucked it up so hard on the first two exams so can't really complain.
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,085
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I voted don't take it. The world needs McDonald's workers too.
 

timosyy

Golden Member
Dec 19, 2003
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Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I voted don't take it. The world needs McDonald's workers too.

Tch, nothing so dramatic. Just means I won't have a 4.0 this semester :p
 

JJChicken

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2007
6,165
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Originally posted by: timosyy
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I voted don't take it. The world needs McDonald's workers too.

Tch, nothing so dramatic. Just means I won't have a 4.0 this semester :p

Those McRibs aren't going to cook themselves!
 

Paladin3

Diamond Member
Mar 5, 2004
4,933
878
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If you have less than an hour and don't know the material then I'd say you've already made the decision to fail the test, or get a low passing grade at best. Weather you go through with the test or head back to bed is irrelevant.

But who am I to say, I spent much of my short college career watching movies and napping in the student lounge.
 

timosyy

Golden Member
Dec 19, 2003
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Mmm. See now I want breakfast even more. I feel like the final would be worth taking if I could get a 87 (bump it up to a B+), but on roughly 30 minutes of study on the last month or so of material, honest self-evaluation says that's not happening. I am sorely tempted to just mark random answers though... how often do you get to do that on a final and have no repercussions?
 

JJChicken

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2007
6,165
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Originally posted by: timosyy
Mmm. See now I want breakfast even more. I feel like the final would be worth taking if I could get a 87 (bump it up to a B+), but on roughly 30 minutes of study on the last month or so of material, honest self-evaluation says that's not happening. I am sorely tempted to just mark random answers though... how often do you get to do that on a final and have no repercussions?

Dude get off ATOT and study :p
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,245
13,513
146
It sounds like you really have nothing to lose by taking the final...go for it. Hell, you might surprise yourself and do better than you think...

NOT getting a 4.0 for the semester would piss me off...especially if I was >---< this close.
 

TecHNooB

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2005
7,458
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What course? And yes, take the exam. Always boost your grade if given the opportunity.
 

dlx22

Golden Member
Apr 19, 2006
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so you got a C on you first exam and B on the second...how can you not take the exam and get a B?
 

TheoPetro

Banned
Nov 30, 2004
3,499
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Originally posted by: dlx22
so you got a C on you first exam and B on the second...how can you not take the exam and get a B?

This

Unless the exams are each 1% of the grade and homework or attendance is like 97%
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
Originally posted by: TheoPetro
Originally posted by: dlx22
so you got a C on you first exam and B on the second...how can you not take the exam and get a B?

This

Unless the exams are each 1% of the grade and homework or attendance is like 97%

Yeah, I've never seen a class where any exam was worth that small of a chunk, let alone the final.

Best show up and take it, because it sounds like your math is the fail.
 

slsmnaz

Diamond Member
Mar 13, 2005
4,016
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I'd still be asleep if that was the case but you seem more studious than I was. You haven't studied and your previous tests show you really won't know the material well enough to get any higher. What do you have to gain by taking the exam?
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,234
1,722
126
When it came to school I always put in the bare minimum. Was enough to get me through high school with honor roll and 15 AP credits. In College, I applied the same strategy, and found myself on acedemic probation.

Anyhow, I would skip as much class and finals as I could. I am doing OK without a degree, but it took hard work to get here ... would have been much easier with a degree though ...
 

blue703

Member
Oct 27, 2008
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Originally posted by: Paladin3
If you have less than an hour and don't know the material then I'd say you've already made the decision to fail the test, or get a low passing grade at best. Weather you go through with the test or head back to bed is irrelevant.

But who am I to say, I spent much of my short college career watching movies and napping in the student lounge.

I can tell. :)
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
When it came to school I always put in the bare minimum. Was enough to get me through high school with honor roll and 15 AP credits. In College, I applied the same strategy, and found myself on acedemic probation.

Anyhow, I would skip as much class and finals as I could. I am doing OK without a degree, but it took hard work to get here ... would have been much easier with a degree though ...

I was similar, and ended up with a 1.4 GPA in college the first go around. This time I'm taking it a bit more serious. With 100% effort I'd have a 4.0 but am happy with the 3.6 so far and 75% effort.

For the most part showing up and doing the assignments has been enough.
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,234
1,722
126
Originally posted by: TallBill
Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
When it came to school I always put in the bare minimum. Was enough to get me through high school with honor roll and 15 AP credits. In College, I applied the same strategy, and found myself on acedemic probation.

Anyhow, I would skip as much class and finals as I could. I am doing OK without a degree, but it took hard work to get here ... would have been much easier with a degree though ...

I was similar, and ended up with a 1.4 GPA in college the first go around. This time I'm taking it a bit more serious. With 100% effort I'd have a 4.0 but am happy with the 3.6 so far and 75% effort.

For the most part showing up and doing the assignments has been enough.

Grats on your return. 3.6 is highly respectable. I had a 1.8 when I left, after 2 years... Unlike you, my goal is to never go back. I HATE classrooms and schools. I can't learn in that kind of environment.
 

timosyy

Golden Member
Dec 19, 2003
1,822
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Update: Well I didn't take the final, choosing instead to study for my linear algebra final. Ironically, I misread the time for that final and wasn't allowed to take it. 94% --> 74% (final is worth 20%). Pretty big punch in the gut.. rather devastated at the moment. Was raging (at myself) earlier but I've sort of moved past that into numb acceptance. Even farther from that initial 4.0 goal now, guess I should have taken the final in the OP and tried to get an A. Funny how these things work out...

Also, trust me, the grading (for missing the final in the OP and getting a B) works out. Embarrassed to explain cause its such a ridiculous curve system.