NYTimes: More reasons to take practice tests. Forum

[jkay]

As if TLS'ers needed them.

To Really Learn, Quit Studying and Take a Test

“The struggle helps you learn, but it makes you feel like you’re not learning,” said Nate Kornell, a psychologist at Williams College. “You feel like: ‘I don’t know it that well. This is hard and I’m having trouble coming up with this information.’ ”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/scien ... ml?_r=1&hp

The one change I am making next semester: more fully written, timed practice tests, and earlier.

[gbpackerbacker]

As if TLS'ers needed them.

To Really Learn, Quit Studying and Take a Test

“The struggle helps you learn, but it makes you feel like you’re not learning,” said Nate Kornell, a psychologist at Williams College. “You feel like: ‘I don’t know it that well. This is hard and I’m having trouble coming up with this information.’ ”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/scien ... ml?_r=1&hp

The one change I am making next semester: more fully written, timed practice tests, and earlier.

Yes, but is law school a losing game?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/business/09law.html

[forza]

There is absolutely no substitute for taking loads of timed practice exams and then reviewing them against a model answer.

[duckmoney]

As if TLS'ers needed them.

To Really Learn, Quit Studying and Take a Test

“The struggle helps you learn, but it makes you feel like you’re not learning,” said Nate Kornell, a psychologist at Williams College. “You feel like: ‘I don’t know it that well. This is hard and I’m having trouble coming up with this information.’ ”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/scien ... ml?_r=1&hp

The one change I am making next semester: more fully written, timed practice tests, and earlier.

Yes, but is law school a losing game?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/business/09law.html

I c wut u did ther

[random5483]

There is absolutely no substitute for taking loads of timed practice exams and then reviewing them against a model answer.

Agreed.

Just make sure you take some untimed practice tests with an outline to help you out initially. As the exams approach though, all your practice tests should be timed and possibly closed book (I take them closed book, but arguments can be made for either way).

[keg411]

There is absolutely no substitute for taking loads of timed practice exams and then reviewing them against a model answer.

Agreed.

Just make sure you take some untimed practice tests with an outline to help you out initially. As the exams approach though, all your practice tests should be timed and possibly closed book (I take them closed book, but arguments can be made for either way).

I think you should only take PT's closed book if your exam is closed book. If your outline is good, you can use it during the exam and there is seriously no need to memorize.

However taking PT's with your outline is extremely smart. I was able to tweak my outlines to the needs to the class because of it (i.e. add certain policy arguments, emphasize points, etc.)

[Eco]

The guy on that NYT article is from Thomas Jefferson Law School. The article isn't very accurate.

[megadeth317]

This makes me feel better about doing well this semester (and really stupid for not making time to do it last semester). I started practice tests the day before the exam. Stupid.

[CanadianWolf]

Seems as if the Williams College study suggests that quarter and trimester systems might be better for learning than semester systems due to more frequent testing.