exam failure

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lawrenceots

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My first course in engineering at OU, just got the course result - a fail:'( Got 26% for the exam, but continous assessment got 76%. Too bad they don't do the result on CA. Will be resitting the exam in about a month. Anyone on here done the OU course T173 and have any tips?
 
Sorry to here about the results. I can't help you but I failed lots of exams and I'm still doing a PhD! :D Its not the end of the world and its never as big a setback as you originally thought.

Hope that helps.
 
tks, yeah I'm trying to convince myself the same really....this is just the tip of the iceberg! What are you doing your PhD on?
 
I work in the department of engineering and study optics in biology. I look at how the microscopes and imaging systems used behave. What there limits are and if there are any novel ways to push those limits.

Dorky I know!

My undergrad degree is in Neuroscience I started out studying Computer science and physiology while failing Mathematics and I'm dyslexic so there is a fair amount of failing just because of my written work. Two years into it I released that I could not continue doing both and the women where much prettier in Biology. So biology it was!

If you got 76% in the course work its obvious that you understand your subject and its most likely that you have miss interpreted the questions or have not provided enough detail. I found that if you ever walked out thinking that the exam was easy while others where grumbling then you where in trouble!

Stuart
 
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I did some OU courses (M101 T140) years ago, the CAs counted towards your final mark then, it's the only reason I passed the maths foundation course, my exam results were pathetic.
 
lawrenceots said:
My first course in engineering at OU, just got the course result - a fail:'( Got 26% for the exam, but continous assessment got 76%. Too bad they don't do the result on CA. Will be resitting the exam in about a month. Anyone on here done the OU course T173 and have any tips?
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Whenever I've done OU exams I've always downloaded loads of past papers (available from the OUSA http://www2.open.ac.uk/ousa/p10_2.shtml ).

Whilst the questions are different (naturally) they tend to follow the same general format. You can generally get an idea of where to pick up a few easy marks.

Also a tip that's always helped me and MAY work for you...

I always read right through the exam paper before I start doing it. It helps you pick up on the esaier questions, and it allows your mind to be processing the questions.

If you run out of time write bullet points. The markers give you marks rather than deducting them. Give them the opportunity to give you as many points as possible. Avoid fluff and BS.

Good luck!
 
Can't help much with T173 but I've also done several OU exams and would suggest as said above get previous papers and then sit them under the same conditions as the exam i.e. time, alone and no distractions such as TV, IT radio etc and see how you get on :cool: I also noticed that some of the questions were actually the same but worded differently ... HTH

Steve (The Prat)
 
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Where do you feel you went wrong in the exam?

Was it lack of knowledge of the subject?
Did you misunderstand the questions?
Did your mind go blank?
Did you answer all the required questions?
Did you run out of time?

If you can determine what you need to improve you will get better advice.
 
stu_the_flat said:
If you got 76% in the course work its obvious that you understand your subject and its most likely that you have miss interpreted the questions or have not provided enough detail. ....

Stuart
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I have done about 8 years of OU exams (business school then an MSc), finished now thank goodness.

A rule of thumb in the OU is that students will drop 10 to 20% points from the course work to the exam. If you had an average of 76% continuous assesment you should have achieved a pass (40% ??) in the exam. Get some exam technique practice in and do not panic.

I have a lot of time for those people who study distance learning, I have studied to degree level full time at Uni and by distance learning and the later is far harder - but you also gain many skills full time students do not accrue.

Good luck... :thumbs:
 
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Thankyou all :) I wasn't doing that bad in the assignments...I guess one thing that is that the tutor had told us all that it was extremely likelt that a certain area would come up in the exam, and study hard on that. However, the actual exam paper was the opposite! It had a lot of stuf that I had covered in the 1st/2nd assignment, however, being me, once that assignment was over I went straight into the current area, so byt the time the exam came round, some 7 mths later, I had forgotten most of it! I'm hoping to do better this time and doing lot extra revising. Tks again for all your help/advice, much appreciated :)
 
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