Where did the time go?! It feels like just yesterday I was bumbling around the airport, confused and lost, not sure how the bus system worked, dreading finding how to grocery shop...and basically living like a fish out of water.
That didn't last long, but I still remember the feeling. Now, Edinburgh feels so comfortable, like a real home. I understand where the important things are, how to get there, and how much is a good price (especially considering the exchange rate is currently battering the dollar to death). I'm going to miss the people here SO much, not to mention the weather, the self-reliance and sufficiency I've learned, and the independence I've had. Really, this experience has given me total freedom, and I found that when faced with it, I still know who I am and how to conduct myself. It's a good feeling.
I took my first two exams on the 26th and 27th. EL2 was very easy, just two essay questions, both broad. The hardest part was fitting ALL my general knowledge into broad essay questions. My HA exam was a little more difficult, but even though I may have missed 11% of the exam, the rest was a piece of cake. My NH exam is May 18, but I'm giving myself a break before I begin studying for that.
The other day, Matt, Kim, Becca, Tara and I climbed Arthur's Seat. After sitting around after so much walking in Europe, I needed exercise, and suggested we all go up while the weather was still in the high 60s. It was so easy! I remember climbing it the first time and being SO winded and tired. This time was cake! Cheesecake, even.
Yesterday, Kim and I met at the foot of Arthur's to read, but the weather here is deceptive. Looking outside, it's sunny without a cloud in the sky. Then, you step out there and it's 50, but still, and by the time you walk to Arthur's you're warm and want to take off your jacket. Then, you sit down...and the wind comes up. Hard. And you're freezing. And so you leave...and on the walk home, get all warm again! So, so very frustrating.
Other than that, not too much is new, but I'll be happy to be home and VERY sad to leave everyone here. Maybe I can set up road trips/camping with some of the Americans I've met here.
4 weeks to go...
-A-
PS: some pics added to the "random" folder on my photobucket site.
Showing posts with label exams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label exams. Show all posts
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Exams
Seeing as it's exam time here in good ol' Scotland, I thought I'd give a breakdown of what these consist of here.
In the States, classes are interrupted for one week of spring break, then resume. Students are given one day off ("reading day") and then exams start, and the period lasts about a week or two. Not so here. Here, we get 4 weeks off for Easter Break, then return and exams begin immediately, spaced out over about 4 or 5 weeks of time, from the end of or mid-April to the very end of May.
In the States, classes and grades consist of attendance policies, papers, midterms, quizzes/tests, and in class participation. Here, our tutorials assign us one to two papers which, while they do factor into our final mark, hardly matter. Same with attendance - it affects our grade, but not by much. The tutorial grade may suffer greatly from just one absence, but the tutorial grade is factored into the overall course grade with the lecture mark. The lecture mark is based 100% on the final exam. Depending how heavily tutorial grades weigh in - which differs from course to course - some exams are worth 90% of a grade, although the usual is about 50-70%.
So basically after having 2 weeks off to travel, I return to realize that I am expected to ace exams which cover the entire semester of lectures and are worth a very, very significant chunk of my overall grade. Eek.
My English Lit. exam is the 26th of April; History of Art is on the 27th. Then I have two or three weeks till my last one, Natural Hazards, on May 18th. Talk about not knowing how to evenly space these things. The only GOOD thing about this is that, while with HA I'm nervous due to my inability to memorize artists and dates specifically for random paintings selected, I am rather good at talking about symbolism, theory, and concept, so both EL and HA should be okay. As far as NH goes, I have an outline of a mock exam from the profs, and basically I can answer all the questions on it, so I feel pretty confidant about it.
The grading scale is different here as well. A 40 is a passing grade. A 50-59 is a C, a 60-69 a B, and a 70-79 an A. 80s and higher are nearly impossible to receive on papers, as this puts them in the "publishable" category, but on exams it is possible to get an 80-100. In NH I need about a 50 overall to pass (I am taking it pass/fail at Stetson's standards) and I'd like between a 60 and 75 in EL and HA, but I'm not holding my breath for anything higher than a 64, which is about an average B.
I figure, next year I will be a senior. I'd be pleased with B+s across the board next year because I've worked hard on my GPA so much, I feel I deserve a LITTLE bit of slack.
Also, my classes and living situation have worked out nicely to my liking for next year, so I am in a good place...I just have to survive finals here first!
And maybe...MAYBE...get to London and/or Paris before I leave for the States in 5 weeks.
This time has flown. It feels like none of it has happened, and also like just yesterday I was dazed about public transportation and heavy Scottish accents. I hope I can actually absorb and remember all I've learned, seen, and the people I've met when I leave here. Luckily some of my favorite people from this trip are American, and now that I'm a savvy traveler, visiting them should be easy! I just can't wait to plump up my bank account...and I wish the dollar would hurry up and get stronger. Geez.
All for now - back to studying.
-A-
In the States, classes are interrupted for one week of spring break, then resume. Students are given one day off ("reading day") and then exams start, and the period lasts about a week or two. Not so here. Here, we get 4 weeks off for Easter Break, then return and exams begin immediately, spaced out over about 4 or 5 weeks of time, from the end of or mid-April to the very end of May.
In the States, classes and grades consist of attendance policies, papers, midterms, quizzes/tests, and in class participation. Here, our tutorials assign us one to two papers which, while they do factor into our final mark, hardly matter. Same with attendance - it affects our grade, but not by much. The tutorial grade may suffer greatly from just one absence, but the tutorial grade is factored into the overall course grade with the lecture mark. The lecture mark is based 100% on the final exam. Depending how heavily tutorial grades weigh in - which differs from course to course - some exams are worth 90% of a grade, although the usual is about 50-70%.
So basically after having 2 weeks off to travel, I return to realize that I am expected to ace exams which cover the entire semester of lectures and are worth a very, very significant chunk of my overall grade. Eek.
My English Lit. exam is the 26th of April; History of Art is on the 27th. Then I have two or three weeks till my last one, Natural Hazards, on May 18th. Talk about not knowing how to evenly space these things. The only GOOD thing about this is that, while with HA I'm nervous due to my inability to memorize artists and dates specifically for random paintings selected, I am rather good at talking about symbolism, theory, and concept, so both EL and HA should be okay. As far as NH goes, I have an outline of a mock exam from the profs, and basically I can answer all the questions on it, so I feel pretty confidant about it.
The grading scale is different here as well. A 40 is a passing grade. A 50-59 is a C, a 60-69 a B, and a 70-79 an A. 80s and higher are nearly impossible to receive on papers, as this puts them in the "publishable" category, but on exams it is possible to get an 80-100. In NH I need about a 50 overall to pass (I am taking it pass/fail at Stetson's standards) and I'd like between a 60 and 75 in EL and HA, but I'm not holding my breath for anything higher than a 64, which is about an average B.
I figure, next year I will be a senior. I'd be pleased with B+s across the board next year because I've worked hard on my GPA so much, I feel I deserve a LITTLE bit of slack.
Also, my classes and living situation have worked out nicely to my liking for next year, so I am in a good place...I just have to survive finals here first!
And maybe...MAYBE...get to London and/or Paris before I leave for the States in 5 weeks.
This time has flown. It feels like none of it has happened, and also like just yesterday I was dazed about public transportation and heavy Scottish accents. I hope I can actually absorb and remember all I've learned, seen, and the people I've met when I leave here. Luckily some of my favorite people from this trip are American, and now that I'm a savvy traveler, visiting them should be easy! I just can't wait to plump up my bank account...and I wish the dollar would hurry up and get stronger. Geez.
All for now - back to studying.
-A-
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Boredom is better in Scotland
I haven't updated much, mostly because no wants to read about my multiple papers/reports I've been working on. Things haven't been very adventurous lately, but in 8 days I'll be in Ireland and then in two more weeks, I'll be in Barcelona. So there will be excitement to come.
This weekend Daniel, John, Matt and I saw "The Number 23" which I really enjoyed. Kim and I baked cakes, and I did homework. Yesterday, I saw a couple split ends in class so Kristin cut my hair and I gave myself new bangs. I really enjoy them. Glad I didn't accidentally butcher my head, though.
I miss watching House but it hasn't been uploaded to my TV sites yet.
I have one more paper and one more oral report to go before my semester is over.
My finals are April 26, 27, and May 18. Between the 27th and 18th I will probably try to get to London and Paris. After the 18th I will do what little traveling I can before I return on the 27th of May.
It's SO odd how quickly this trip is going by. I feel like I haven't even really been here, like I'm not really absorbing it yet! All I want to do for the rest of my life is travel haha.
Expect a fun update sometime after March 18, when I return from Ireland. Till then, nothing too new is happening.
-A-
This weekend Daniel, John, Matt and I saw "The Number 23" which I really enjoyed. Kim and I baked cakes, and I did homework. Yesterday, I saw a couple split ends in class so Kristin cut my hair and I gave myself new bangs. I really enjoy them. Glad I didn't accidentally butcher my head, though.
I miss watching House but it hasn't been uploaded to my TV sites yet.
I have one more paper and one more oral report to go before my semester is over.
My finals are April 26, 27, and May 18. Between the 27th and 18th I will probably try to get to London and Paris. After the 18th I will do what little traveling I can before I return on the 27th of May.
It's SO odd how quickly this trip is going by. I feel like I haven't even really been here, like I'm not really absorbing it yet! All I want to do for the rest of my life is travel haha.
Expect a fun update sometime after March 18, when I return from Ireland. Till then, nothing too new is happening.
-A-
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