Test scores

[sjam]

Hi Powerscore,

I took the December 2015 practice test before starting the course just to see where I was at. After doing so, I haven't taken the first practice exam after the course, but I decided to take it yesterday after 5 lessons so that I could see if I am improving. After taking the first exam October 2012, I realized my score had yet to improve but only decreased two points. I changed my strategy for reading comprehension before taking the exam, which could probably be why my score got lowered, (I think I might have gone way to fast). But I also noticed that in the other sections my score did not improve significantly. Should I be very concerned? The instructor hasn't told us yet when to take the next practice exam (exam 2), however, I worry that if I take it soon I won't be ready. What should I do? Thanks for your advice.

Sasha

[Adam Tyson]

Don't worry, Sasha - what you have described is not only normal, but natural and expected. In my experience, most students do experience a drop in their score after they have taken a few lessons in our course, and there is a good reason for that.

When you took the December 2015 exam, you were almost certainly going on intuition and your natural abilities to analyze the questions and answer choices. You had no new, specialized tools to apply to the task at hand, so you went with what you had.

Once you started the course, you began to see the questions in a new light. Ooh, conditional reasoning! I have a strategy now! Hey, that's causal - my teacher said something about alternate causes and data attacks that I might be able to use! This looks like one of those basic linear games we just learned - I hope I can remember how to diagram that rule!

In other words, at this stage of the game, your intuition has been sidelined - it's out of commission, or at least it's taking a back seat. You're flexing new muscles, trying new things. You're also seeing questions that don't fit at all into the framework of what you have learned in class so far, but you are trying desperately to make it fit. Everything starts to look conditional, and you want to diagram it all! A Grouping/Linear Combination game is unfamiliar territory, and when you apply just your linear skills you are missing half the picture. You are working more slowly, typically, because you are very aware of everything you are doing and how you are doing it. You end up answering fewer questions and getting more of them wrong, as often as not.

For now, keep on focusing on learning new skills and techniques and concepts, and adding them to your toolbox. As you continue to practice, you will find that your intuition and your new skills begin to work in sync with each other, until they become seamless. You will choose answers that are obvious to you, without even realizing that you mentally applied the Assumption Negation Technique or spotted a Mistaken Reversal. Timing will improve and scores will go up and things will click. Not yet, maybe, but they will. I wouldn't worry too much about Test 2 - things probably won't be much better there, honestly. Use it as another opportunity to apply your new skills and increase your familiarity and comfort with the test. There are still many lessons ahead, much more to learn, and more ground to cover before you get your intuition and skills working seamlessly side by side on the field. Be ready to trust your gut, but to check it with your new tools often.

Oh, and there's no need to be "ready" for a practice test. It doesn't count! It's just practice! Just use it to your advantage. There is no pressure - no grade is riding on it, no scholarship depends on it, nobody puts any stock in it (and you shouldn't either). Just take it when the time comes and think about how you can use it to gain a better understanding of the material and your approach to it.

Carry on, and be not afraid!