The Real Thing

I received some flak today in World from some of my classmates on a test. On the recent test, our teacher said that all of the questions will be related to study guides that she makes for us every chapter (I lost all my study guides, that's why I read all the chapters again, some 5 times). Apparently, a big chunk of the questions did not come out of the study guides. Our teacher allowed us to go through the questions and find the ones that weren't on it so we could tell her. Through out the period, I was yapping a bit too much but I think I had the right to complain.

First and foremost, the real thing won't let you get your grade back! I think some of the people in my class think that you can go through the actual exam in April and correct the questions they got wrong. That'll be nice, but it will never happen. If we were going to prepare for the test, we might as well have minimal recovery, much like the 50(?) points essay we had to write, from tests as it might develop into a habit. After all, the World teacher is quite realistic and reasonable...

The whole point of an AP class is to make you think, not memorize. Today on my car back from tennis, my little brother finally proved that he can add one's to any number. Instead of rote memorization like I suspected that he was doing, he "showed" in that he counted to the number and counted one further. That's understanding. Though history is some memorization, if you understand the concepts, you understand what you memorize. In one of the arguments, glitchmaster (?) questioned the question (no pun intended) about the Richard Kipling's White Man's Burden. Thought I do agree that it is not on the study guides, a thorough examination of the choices will result in the Philippines as the only sensible choice if you think through it. I suspect people think that 70 questions are too much and just rush through them and not think about the choices.

If understanding is the key, then the thought process will get the question correct. Maybe I executed it wrong, but I was trying to help people by letting them know of how I derive the answer. Much like math where understanding how to manipulate equations and how to derive the equation is much better than just memorizing equations. Understanding the thought process will better guarantee a higher score as the material are going to be different the next time, but the same process remains. I guess the lesson of the day for me is not to yell and be more patient...

The last thing is that study guides are exactly what it's name imply, they're guides! The book contains much more information presented in a much better format due to the fact that our study guides are Q and A. Again going back to the topic of the real thing, the AP test will incorporate the whole book into it, including the minute details that may escape from study guides and those AP Prep books. Hopefully, on the next test, people will actually read the book and only use the study guides as a utility for cramming.

I guess I was being a schmo, but for a better cause.

-runiteking1

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