Why do I consistently receive low marks in basic science quizzes?

[DifferentialGalois]

Greetings, I am a twelve year old currently attending an academically selective school, intrigued by theoretical astrophysics and working on laying the ground for my mathematical intuition (which I am lacking greatly). At the succession of each science unit, we must undertake an assessment of 25 questions. Unfortunately, I have a tendency to score atrociously in such tests, and I'm flummoxed as to why this is the case. The questions are basic (relating to dichotomous key reading and taxonomic classification), but I regularly tend to make careless errors, which arguably partially accounts for it. How can I avoid making such careless errors, and what is a topic/strand of science that I ought to work relentlessly on so as to enhance my knowledge? I'm dubious as to whether six months of mastery of integral calculus, conceptual basics of QM, appreciation for the theoretical physics community and effort to become better at mathematical thinking had any fruit to it. My classmates generally remark that I am an intellectual, but I beg to differ. How could I be classified as intelligent - having any ability to acquire knowledge - when I have invested the majority of my time into pseudorandom, SEEMINGLY FRUITLESS topics? I aspire to become a theoretical physicist; howbeit, I wish to steer clear from the hope of embarking on an intellectual journey of any sort, because I simply do not have the intellect. Please assist me, sagacious autodidacts. I'm currently facing a major dilemma, in which I am skeptical as to what I shall do next - what I ought to learn next. (For all those who were wondering, my mark for the biology quiz was a pathetic 76 percent).

 

[TeethWhitener]

six months of mastery

Six months is not long enough to master anything. Six years is barely long enough to master anything.

First, cut the self-pity. As long as you work hard and seek quality guidance, you'll be fine. Second, what makes you think learning QM will help you on a middle school biology quiz?

 

[Choppy]

1. Don't be afraid to be twelve years old. It's great that you aspire to become a physicist. But you don't have to be a physicist now. Read up on the science that you're interested in in your spare time, but not at the expense of the time you need to master the subjects that you're currently covering in school.
2. If you're not performing as well as you would like, ask your teachers for guidance. They are the ones most familiar with your particular circumstances, and they are the best ones to know which learning strategies tend to be most successful for students in your position. There is no shame is asking for help.
3. Consider how much time you're putting into directly preparing for your quizzes. Does your performance improve if you put more time in?
4. Think about your quiz-taking approach or strategy. Are you pressed for time? Do you try to be the first person done? Do you check over your work before you hand it in? There are strategies for maximizing your performance on tests... reading the whole quiz over before answering any questions, determining a time budget, etc. Again this is where your teachers can offer guidance.
5. Take good care of yourself. Life is all about balance. Make sure you're eating well, getting enough sleep and exercise. Take time to socialize and allow yourself some down time. Taking care of the "non-studying" aspects of your life will help you focus and make your study time more efficient.

 

[symbolipoint]

After reading post #1, I agree with Choppy in post #3.

 

[DifferentialGalois]

The results I received for the most recent math competition were quite disappointing, and I have recently found that I greatly lack the ability to solve mathematical problems in an effective and creative manner, particularly in a timed context. As for the timed context, I am conscious of the fact that research mathematics is not a race against others to display superiority (the superiority is questionable, in addition). Howbeit, it does require high order thinking and spurs of creativity, which I do not possess. My mind is essentially analogous to that of a robot. I am able to solve ordinary differential equations, understand concepts such as divergence and curl, yet am unable to solve simplistic mathematical problems, let alone more complex ones. How can I boost my mathematical problem solving proficiency? Note that I am 12 years old, and I desperately require assistance when it comes to preparing for olympiads.

 

[fresh_42]

Those things are usually a matter of practice, yet not alone. Some people are simply more talented than others when it comes to very specific qualities, and solving mathematical riddles under pressure is a specific quality. Nevertheless you can improve by training. E.g. you could participate in our monthly math challenges, and / or solve the old problems you will find here:
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/solution-manuals-for-the-math-challenges.977057/Just tackle those you think you have the knowledge for, or can get the knowledge fast by reading a Wikipedia page.

Of course you can also search the internet for examples, but it is hard to find suitable ones. We have websites with old olympiad problems (partly with solutions), and I assume similar in your country. That's another source for practice.

 

[Vanadium 50]

You've asked this before. Twice. It is unlikely that you will get any better answers this time, and indeed, it sounds like you are not planning on following the advice you got last time. Some people might even interpret these messages as humblebragging.

My mind is essentially analogous to that of a robot.

This does not sound good to me. You should probably discuss these feelings with your parents and not strangers on the internet.

 

[symbolipoint]

Note that I am 12 years old, and I desperately require assistance when it comes to preparing for olympiads.

Why are you worried?

 

[PeterDonis]

Howbeit, it does require high order thinking and spurs of creativity, which I do not possess.

How do you know? You're only 12 years old. You have a lot still to learn and a lot of time still to learn it in. It's way too early to pass judgment like this on yourself.

 

[mathwonk]

Relax. I am a retired professional mathematician with a long list of research publications, yet, when I was 12, I was mostly trying to perfect my ability to do arithmetic problems like 9x7 = whatever. If you care about my own assessment of my creative abilities, (which I am actually proud of), I always thought my enjoyment of comic books (Donald Duck, Count of Monte Cristo), was helpful! You will be just fine. The more fun you have the more creative you will probably be. Give yourself some slack, or rather a lot of slack. Forget contests and find a topic you enjoy, and then,,,well,..enjoy it! good luck.

If on the other hand you are really interested in doing well in competitions, in my experience that is associated with practicing on similar competitive tests in preparation for the actual test. I.e. very few people can solve a new creative problem in a short amount of time on a test, under pressure, so the winners are usually those who have spent the most time practicing in advance, so that the problems they see on the test are ones they have already solved before. I myself spent a lot of such practice time and thus did fairly well on such tests, and won a lot of trophies for my school. What I did not realize was how little this had to do with actual mathematical ability, or creativity, or research potential, which i had to learn later.

I.e. math contests are fun for some, and some math stars excel at them, but they may have little to do with actual research potential for many of us.

 

[Ygggdrasil]

I listen to a podcast by author Malcolm Gladwell called Revisionist History, and in a pair of episodes, he makes a very compelling argument that timed tests (he focuses on the LSAT for law school admissions) overvalue certain types of intelligence over others, and often timed tests end up rewarding the wrong types of skills needed for many fields. You may find it to be an interesting listen:

http://revisionisthistory.com/episodes/31-puzzle-rushhttp://revisionisthistory.com/episodes/32-the-tortoise-and-the-hare

 

[DifferentialGalois]

I have attained a credit in science for three semesters at high school in a row, which is unacceptable considering how much passion I have for the damn subject. I always somehow manage to mess up in the tests, which may be due to time management or test anxiety, but it’s probably to a greater extent due to my lack of ability. This is somewhat of a contradictory note however, because if I would have an affinity, I should score considerably better. What would be a likely cause for muni poor grades in science? I’m really freaking stressing out about it now, because I hope to pursue a Physics career in future, and yet, my grades have suggested that I am just a low-life cretin. Please assist, for context, I’m an eighth grader.

 

[member 587159]

I have attained a credit in science for three semesters at high school in a row, which is unacceptable considering how much passion I have for the damn subject. I always somehow manage to mess up in the tests, which may be due to time management or test anxiety, but it’s probably to a greater extent due to my lack of ability. This is somewhat of a contradictory note however, because if I would have an affinity, I should score considerably better. What would be a likely cause for muni poor grades in science? I’m really freaking stressing out about it now, because I hope to pursue a Physics career in future, and yet, my grades have suggested that I am just a low-life cretin. Please assist, for context, I’m an eighth grader.

Can you give a little more detail where you lose marks on tests? This is the first thing you should identify. If there are conceptual problems, you have a real problem. If you make a lot of mistakes while doing calculations, my guess would be that you do too much calculations in your heads to try to skip steps. Write down all intermediate steps on paper!

 

[DifferentialGalois]

Can you give a little more detail where you lose marks on tests? This is the first thing you should identify. If there are conceptual problems, you have a real problem. If you make a lot of mistakes while doing calculations, my guess would be that you do too much calculations in your heads to try to skip steps. Write down all intermediate steps on paper!

Damned conceptual problems. But I don’t know, I always seem to have obtained sufficient knowledge after revising. When it comes to a test though, I seem to get a lot of questions wrong. :/

 

[DifferentialGalois]

Can you give a little more detail where you lose marks on tests? This is the first thing you should identify. If there are conceptual problems, you have a real problem. If you make a lot of mistakes while doing calculations, my guess would be that you do too much calculations in your heads to try to skip steps. Write down all intermediate steps on paper!

I lose marks practically everywhere, even multiple choice questions. Yep, and because I have a damned loophole in my concept knowledge, I’m bound to err unless I work 12 hours a day.

 

[gleem]

I have attained a credit in science for three semesters at high school in a row, which is unacceptable considering how much passion I have for the damn subject. . . . . . , I’m an eighth grader.

Could you please explain this?

 

[hmmm27]

Could you please explain this?

And, while you're at it, how your posts read as written by somebody older than either.

Anyways, while affinity doesn't equal aptitude, it sounds like the problem stated has more to do with structuring the learning process.

(IIRC) most schoolbooks have exercises at the back of each chapter : some easy ones, some more difficult, and maybe a couple that require thinking outside the box. Don't go straight to the latter. Do the relatively simple ones first, concentrating more on form than solution.

Try to get to the point where you can do entire medium-difficulty problems in exactly the prescribed manner with all the steps neatly written down in order, all in one take.

That way, even if your higher brain functions go on vacation during a test, you can still slog through at ground level.

 

[Vanadium 50]

You've asked this before. Not just twice, but https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/atrocious-at-contest-math.978017/. It is unlikely that you will get any better answers this time, and indeed, it sounds like you are not planning on following the advice you got last time. Or the time before that. Or the time before that. Some people might even interpret these messages as humblebragging.

 

[Adesh]

I’m an eighth grader.

That actaully tells us nothing if you don’t tell us about your country (no intention of getting personal informations), because what an 8th Grader means vary from country to country. For example in my country we even didn’t have “Cell’s structure” in 8th Grade (cellulat structure in biology is a very elementary topic for some country, terms like mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, nucleus etc.)

I would very much like to discuss with you your problem.

 

[symbolipoint]

I have attained a credit in science for three semesters at high school in a row, which is unacceptable considering how much passion I have for the damn subject. I always somehow manage to mess up in the tests, which may be due to time management or test anxiety, but it’s probably to a greater extent due to my lack of ability. This is somewhat of a contradictory note however, because if I would have an affinity, I should score considerably better. What would be a likely cause for muni poor grades in science? I’m really freaking stressing out about it now, because I hope to pursue a Physics career in future, and yet, my grades have suggested that I am just a low-life cretin. Please assist, for context, I’m an eighth grader.

Eighth-grade is in most places not yet high-school. Some further development along with guidance and stronger self-discipline for academic study will bring you to better results IN HIGH-SCHOOL.

 

[Dale]

You've asked this before. Not just twice, but https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/atrocious-at-contest-math.978017/.

@DifferentialGalois we have merged all of your threads on this topic. Please do not start additional threads, but build on this one.

 

[DifferentialGalois]

That actaully tells us nothing if you don’t tell us about your country (no intention of getting personal informations), because what an 8th Grader means vary from country to country. For example in my country we even didn’t have “Cell’s structure” in 8th Grade (cellulat structure in biology is a very elementary topic for some country, terms like mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, nucleus etc.)

I would very much like to discuss with you your problem.

Eighth grade in Australia; some topics we cover as of the present are chemical reactions (exothermic, endothermic), acids and bases, metals and non metals (we typically analyse them as per their chemical properties) and atomic structure.

 

[DifferentialGalois]

Eighth-grade is in most places not yet high-school. Some further development along with guidance and stronger self-discipline for academic study will bring you to better results IN HIGH-SCHOOL.

Well, I don't think it's that I don't have the self discipline to study (causing my poor marks), and also, for reference I'm in Australia. Eighth grade in Australia is indeed the second year of high school.
I do dedicate some time to self study, and listen and build from the content I'm taught in class, but I can never seem to convert that into a half decent grade. Maybe it's because I'm getting too bogged down in the theory of specific topics, as opposed to focusing from the bare bones. I don't know though.

 

[symbolipoint]

Well, I don't think it's that I don't have the self discipline to study (causing my poor marks), and also, for reference I'm in Australia. Eighth grade in Australia is indeed the second year of high school.
I do dedicate some time to self study, and listen and build from the content I'm taught in class, but I can never seem to convert that into a half decent grade. Maybe it's because I'm getting too bogged down in the theory of specific topics, as opposed to focusing from the bare bones. I don't know though.

I myself can only somewhat understand you. Either counseling will help or you will figure out how to handle your academic struggle. If "eighth grade" is what I believe it is, then you still have four more years to go at high school. Plenty of time to change and improve. Many members could give what each believes is standard advice. My suggestion is get academic guidance WHERE YOU ARE, locally.

 

[DifferentialGalois]

I myself can only somewhat understand you. Either counseling will help or you will figure out how to handle your academic struggle. If "eighth grade" is what I believe it is, then you still have four more years to go at high school. Plenty of time to change and improve. Many members could give what each believes is standard advice. My suggestion is get academic guidance WHERE YOU ARE, locally.

I didn't think I was all too bad at science up until recently. Academic guidance isn't really feasible, since they have practically nothing catering for that service in our school. But I will try to self improve, probably relearn a lot of the concepts. I will steer clear away from my interest in non classical physics, because it's scarcely improving my science knowledge. Even if it does, I thoroughly doubt it will be any utility to me unless I plan to be a theoretical physicist (formerly my aspiration, no longer plausible due to my inability), or someone specialising in one of the subfields. I will take my aspirations to a lower level, and build up my way from there. Thanks for the suggestion, however.

 

[DifferentialGalois]

1. Don't be afraid to be twelve years old. It's great that you aspire to become a physicist. But you don't have to be a physicist now. Read up on the science that you're interested in in your spare time, but not at the expense of the time you need to master the subjects that you're currently covering in school.
2. If you're not performing as well as you would like, ask your teachers for guidance. They are the ones most familiar with your particular circumstances, and they are the best ones to know which learning strategies tend to be most successful for students in your position. There is no shame is asking for help.
3. Consider how much time you're putting into directly preparing for your quizzes. Does your performance improve if you put more time in?
4. Think about your quiz-taking approach or strategy. Are you pressed for time? Do you try to be the first person done? Do you check over your work before you hand it in? There are strategies for maximizing your performance on tests... reading the whole quiz over before answering any questions, determining a time budget, etc. Again this is where your teachers can offer guidance.
5. Take good care of yourself. Life is all about balance. Make sure you're eating well, getting enough sleep and exercise. Take time to socialize and allow yourself some down time. Taking care of the "non-studying" aspects of your life will help you focus and make your study time more efficient.

I don't think reading up on my points of interest in my spare time is really feasible anymore. Essentially, it'll be fruitless knowledge if I can't attain a high distinction or even a distinction for science, the subject I have an earnest verve and zeal for.

 

[symbolipoint]

About post #25, DifferentialGalois,
Your school or district MUST have people for guidance & counseling. Whatever is or is not provided there, you still hopefully, have a family, socially close relatives maybe with education and jobs in sciences or engineering; some of them should be able to advise.

 

[Phys12]

I don't think reading up on my points of interest in my spare time is really feasible anymore. Essentially, it'll be fruitless knowledge if I can't attain a high distinction or even a distinction for science, the subject I have an earnest verve and zeal for.

That's not the only point that @Choppy mentioned. I'd recommend actually doing all the points and see if that improves your performance.

Also, what do you mean by high distinction? As in your school? Sometimes, the anxiety to perform can actually hinder your performance. People, in my experience, who do really well in Science are the ones who do it because they are really interested in it and because of that, they devote a lot of time in doing it, which makes them better. Reading up on your points of interest (without a need to do really well for grades and such) might make you more interested in your course material, which can help you focus better. It's easier to focus when you find what you're reading fascinating

 

[DifferentialGalois]

That's not the only point that @Choppy mentioned. I'd recommend actually doing all the points and see if that improves your performance.

Also, what do you mean by high distinction? As in your school? Sometimes, the anxiety to perform can actually hinder your performance. People, in my experience, who do really well in Science are the ones who do it because they are really interested in it and because of that, they devote a lot of time in doing it, which makes them better. Reading up on your points of interest (without a need to do really well for grades and such) might make you more interested in your course material, which can help you focus better. It's easier to focus when you find what you're reading fascinating

The grading system’s a little idiosyncratic at our school; a high distinction corresponds to percentile rank namely the top 20 percent among peers in eighth grade. I do appreciate science, especially physics, but we never zone in on many intriguing aspects of physics in science during the year.
But I don’t really have a passion for biology, chemistry or geology. I don’t mind chemistry interlaced with physics (like he quantum nature of orbitals), yet chemistry on its own, not so.
If I were to make a judgement myself, I would venture to say my poor grades are caused by a lack of interest in studying the topics at school in depth, and perhaps anxiety to perform. Thanks for that suggestion, I will take heed of Choppy’s other points too.

 

[DifferentialGalois]

About post #25, DifferentialGalois,
Your school or district MUST have people for guidance & counseling. Whatever is or is not provided there, you still hopefully, have a family, socially close relatives maybe with education and jobs in sciences or engineering; some of them should be able to advise.

I don’t feel I really need the counselling, because I’m fairly sure that the issue can be absolved more easily. But I will care to inquire about these matters with my family members. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Delta2]

Maybe it is something in the learning process for you that isn't compatible with your learning needs. Maybe you need to get private tutors if you can afford them. But anyway don't get too disappointed by your not so good performing in tests. Einstein had poor to medium marks throughout his school and university studies but eventually he became a great scientist. Newton and Maxwell did not start as child prodigies either.

My overall advice for you would be just love yourself (try to subside this self pity attitude), love others AND love science and study hard. If you love science you will become good at it even if it takes 20-30 years.

 

[Vanadium 50]

"Grade 8" and "High School" are confusing people, I think. As far as I can tell, the OP is 12 (maybe 13 by now) and is in the class where most people his age are. In the US we would call it "Junior High".

 

[Adesh]

Can you let us know what do you want to achieve for this academic session? Do you want/desire good marks in your tests or do you want to become a physicist this year? You shouldn’t crave for the latter.

 

[Vanadium 50]

It seems like you don't want to change what you are doing, at least no more than minimally, but you want a different outcome. This is unlikely to work out that way.

 

[gleem]

If you're not performing as well as you would like, ask your teachers for guidance. They are the ones most familiar with your particular circumstances, and they are the best ones to know which learning strategies tend to be most successful for students in your position. There is no shame is asking for help.

I agree with Choppy. Have you gone into any in-depth discussions with your teacher? How you answered questions on tests should give some clues as to any problems that you are having or if you are missing key concepts especially if you talk through your thought process with him/her.

On another note, I'll be blunt. You probably do not know or understand as much as you think you do.