The 80% Theory.

Jake...

Active member
The 80% Theory.

I have come up with the ultimate way to study for exams and midterms, basically any testing format that covers multiple material. This is for the fellas who leave things to the end like myself, check out this system i have going, based on learning from my mistakes.

For easy math, lets say your test

is out of 100 marks, and lets say it covers 5 chapters of material. Last year, the night before I would read the 5 chapters, then go into the test, and remember half of it, if i was lucky. I averaged between 50 and 60% on my tests that were anywhere from 20 to 45% of my final mark.

This year I switched up my studying. For easy math, lets say your test is out of 100 marks, and lets say it covers 5 chapters of material. I have come up with if you study 80% of the material, (4 of 5 chapters), and the time you would spend on learning chapter 5 on reviewing chapter 4 (never even looking at chapter 5) that you can remember 80% of the work. So thats 80% OF 80% of the 100 marks.

Simple math shows that gives you already 64/100.

80%/100 = 80

80%/80 = 64

now, you are left with what you dont know, the other 36 marks. Most of it should be multiple choice (the way my tests always work are like 20 MC and then 80 for problems and that stuff, i always study the problems they are worth way more on the tests, regardless though let me go on and this works for most examples), so there is still 36% of the test left that you have failed to complete so far. Based on probability, assuming these are MC questions, lets say even there are 5 possible answers. (some classes are 4, some are 5), you automatically have a 20% chance of getting it right. (1 of 5, and 25% if 1 of 4). Using your common knowlege, one should be able to give themselves a minimal 35% chance in getting the question right. If its not MC, you will get effort marks on short answer/problems or can bullshit answers depending on the question for an equivalent percent.

Math:

35%.36 = 13%

And that gives you 77%. With any luck you could get yourself a 80.

So far its worked for me on midterms. Thought I would share to see if it helps any of you out.

 
I'll test this out real soon, I have a history test later this week and when we got the study guide it was bad haha
 
aren't you operating under the assumption that all material will be covered equally?

i've had plenty of test where the latest material (ch. 4 &5 ) have a significantly higher presence of questions.
 
not only this, but why would skipping chapters lead to better memorization of the chapters you did study? because you spent more time on them? how limited was your time anyways?

here's a better idea. do not ever put anything off til the last night. you can put it off til the second to last night, but not the last. trust me, it makes a world of difference. also, after class go ask your prof what's on the exam. he may blow you off, but sometimes you find out exactly what you need to study.
 
that's sort of how i studied for math and chem tests in high school, but my aim was closer to 60%. and i didn't have to study for any other tests to do good.
 
did you not study until like 5 minutes before the test? I know it sucks and I rarely do it, but if you just started studying the day before you normally would you'd probably get an A.
 
Why dont just start studying earlier for each test so that you can learn all the chapters?

Say you have 5 chapters to study. Why dont you start studying 5 days earlier and study just one chapter a day?

 
i've done this a few times but i prefer not to..... it's really only a good idea if you get sideswiped by a test that you didn't see coming
 
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