3 answers
Elijah
Student
Lexington, South Carolina
1
Question
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What is different about preparing for college test than high school test?
I'm a senior going into college next year. My goal is to major in accounting, but I'm worried about being able to manage my time well.
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3 answers
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1085
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Elijah,
College is not like high-school. College assessments are not like high-school assessments!
When you start college, you'll notice that you are very much responsible for your own learning. The pace will be much faster too. Depending on your major, you'll have a mixture of lectures, tutorials, possibly labs and projects. The professor will explain things, but there is not as much spoon-feeding as there is in high-school. You are expected to study before and after lectures. You have the opportunity to go to office hours to ask questions. There are typically also other resources like a writing center and a tutoring center on campus. Most tutorials and labs are led by teaching assistants, i.e. graduate students in the department, and you can pick their brains as well.
The content of college courses is much different compared to high-school classes too. It's not about memorizing facts or formulas and just re-producing tasks that have been done in class before. College assessments are built to test your understanding of concepts and your ability to apply what you have learned to new scenarios. Look for old test and exam papers to get an idea of scope and question types in your assessments.
Degree programs are designed so that students can manage. So, don't panic! Find a study group. Talk to some older students. And make it a habit to work through new material every week and do the practice problems and homework. You'll get the hang of it!
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
College is not like high-school. College assessments are not like high-school assessments!
When you start college, you'll notice that you are very much responsible for your own learning. The pace will be much faster too. Depending on your major, you'll have a mixture of lectures, tutorials, possibly labs and projects. The professor will explain things, but there is not as much spoon-feeding as there is in high-school. You are expected to study before and after lectures. You have the opportunity to go to office hours to ask questions. There are typically also other resources like a writing center and a tutoring center on campus. Most tutorials and labs are led by teaching assistants, i.e. graduate students in the department, and you can pick their brains as well.
The content of college courses is much different compared to high-school classes too. It's not about memorizing facts or formulas and just re-producing tasks that have been done in class before. College assessments are built to test your understanding of concepts and your ability to apply what you have learned to new scenarios. Look for old test and exam papers to get an idea of scope and question types in your assessments.
Degree programs are designed so that students can manage. So, don't panic! Find a study group. Talk to some older students. And make it a habit to work through new material every week and do the practice problems and homework. You'll get the hang of it!
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Wong Loke Yuen
Head of Programme cum Senior Lecturer
645
Answers
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hi Elijah. Preparing for college tests is different from preparing for high school tests in several important ways. One big difference is independence. In high school, teachers usually guide you closely. They give study guides, reminders, and help you know what to focus on. In college, professors expect you to take charge of your own learning. They might not tell you exactly what will be on the test, so you need to figure out which topics are most important and make your own study plan.
Another difference is the level of difficulty. High school tests often focus on memorizing facts or basic ideas. College tests or exams, especially in a subject like accounting, usually require you to understand the material deeply and apply it to new situations. You might have to solve complex problems or explain your reasoning instead of just giving the right answer. This means you should spend more time practicing problems, reviewing notes, and testing yourself rather than just reading the textbook.
Time management is also much more important in college. In high school, your schedule is mostly set, and teachers remind you of deadlines. In college, you have more freedom, but also more responsibility. You need to plan your study time carefully to make sure you finish assignments and are ready for tests. For accounting, it can help to set aside specific blocks of time to practice problems, review lectures, and study in advance instead of cramming the night before.
Furthermore, college tests often cover a lot more material. High school tests might only cover one chapter, but college tests can include topics from weeks or months ago. To prepare, you need to review regularly, make summaries, and test yourself often. All the best!
Another difference is the level of difficulty. High school tests often focus on memorizing facts or basic ideas. College tests or exams, especially in a subject like accounting, usually require you to understand the material deeply and apply it to new situations. You might have to solve complex problems or explain your reasoning instead of just giving the right answer. This means you should spend more time practicing problems, reviewing notes, and testing yourself rather than just reading the textbook.
Time management is also much more important in college. In high school, your schedule is mostly set, and teachers remind you of deadlines. In college, you have more freedom, but also more responsibility. You need to plan your study time carefully to make sure you finish assignments and are ready for tests. For accounting, it can help to set aside specific blocks of time to practice problems, review lectures, and study in advance instead of cramming the night before.
Furthermore, college tests often cover a lot more material. High school tests might only cover one chapter, but college tests can include topics from weeks or months ago. To prepare, you need to review regularly, make summaries, and test yourself often. All the best!
Yasmin Mohamed Alamin
Clinical Nutrition Student
63
Answers
Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
Updated
Yasmin’s Answer
Hi Elijah 👋🏻...
Preparing for college tests is different from high school tests in a few key ways:
1. Depth over breadth: College tests often focus on understanding concepts deeply, not just memorizing facts. You’ll need to apply knowledge to new situations.
2. Self-directed learning: Professors expect you to learn much of the material on your own. Lectures give guidance, but studying is mostly independent.
3. Time management: College courses move faster, and you’ll have multiple tests, projects, and assignments at the same time. Planning a study schedule ahead is crucial.
4. Resources: You have more resources like office hours, study groups, and tutoring centers... but it’s your responsibility to use them.
For accounting, practice and repetition are key... Start building a habit of reviewing material weekly, rather than cramming before tests This will help you manage your time and reduce stress.
Preparing for college tests is different from high school tests in a few key ways:
1. Depth over breadth: College tests often focus on understanding concepts deeply, not just memorizing facts. You’ll need to apply knowledge to new situations.
2. Self-directed learning: Professors expect you to learn much of the material on your own. Lectures give guidance, but studying is mostly independent.
3. Time management: College courses move faster, and you’ll have multiple tests, projects, and assignments at the same time. Planning a study schedule ahead is crucial.
4. Resources: You have more resources like office hours, study groups, and tutoring centers... but it’s your responsibility to use them.
For accounting, practice and repetition are key... Start building a habit of reviewing material weekly, rather than cramming before tests This will help you manage your time and reduce stress.