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# How To Fail Your Exam Before It Fails You

(8)
Tuition given in the topic of Miss Loi the Tutor from the desk of at 5:35 pm (Singapore time)

Actually it’s quite easily done.

News have filtered in from the frontline of students suffering panic attacks in exam halls. Though it wasn’t their Maths papers, nonetheless Miss Loi shall now observe a minute’s silence in their memory.

*a minute’s silence* … Ok done.

Now look at this question which frequently appears in your Paper 1 to catch the anxious and the weary:

Two variables x and y are related by an equation, y = kxn, where k and n are constants.

State the value of n if

1. x and y are respectively the radius and volume of a sphere.
2. x and y are respectively the base and height of a triangle with an area of 10 square units.

To many it’s so easy it’s laughable … in the comfort of your cozy Hello Kitty-filled bedroom of course.

All you need, quite simply, is some knowledge of indices, formulae for area of triangle/volume of sphere, AND the ability to comprehend what the question asks.

But in exam conditions, some will always contrive to confuse their answers for k and n, or waste time producing tons of irrelevant workings when the question simply asks you to STATE. Note: ‘State’ ⇒ no workings required!

### Anxiety Leads To Fear. Fear Leads To Panic

In all likelihood, this mess probably occurs when you’re already having trouble with the previous three (or two? or one?) questions in the same paper.

Die lah all dunno … if this simple one cannot do, then later those difficult ones how? … must make sure I get this one right first … \$%&# still stuck! … why those I study never come out? … die lah! … ‘Cher will hate me! … Miss Loi will hate me! … I have failed my entire ancestral line! … ok don’t panic I can do this … how come stare at this question for 15 mins still cannot do?!

* … another minute’s silence observed *

A real pity. In theory, if you’ve routinely done what Miss Loi told you here (in red), you shouldn’t really have anything to worry about.

But we are different in our own ways. That’s why talks, discussions and articles on handling exam stress abound.

Different we may be, but Miss Loi would like you to know that everyone suffers from some form of anxiety before and during exams.

Yes even that straight-faced top student in your class. *Even that smug friend of yours who always claim to have finished study everything. And even that foreign cyborg (he’s still 50% human afterall).

You’re not alone. They’re all with you.

So don’t let it grow into something more sinister. The idea is to make sure you walk out of that hall with no regret, no matter what happens.

It’s nigh impossible to get everything right. Even Miss Loi makes careless mistakes at times (though she’s really good at covering-up). There’s no regret in doing your best and having shown all your workings. But you will regret that panic attack for years to come, should that happen.

While the thought of Miss Loi’s radiant glowing face (thanks to her range of cosmetics) may serve as your source of inspiration in times of need, ultimately it’s your exam.

Not your teacher’s, not Miss Loi’s, not your parents’, and certainly not your ancestors’. To hell with them.

So let no one intimidate your mind during the exam. Answer to no one but yourself. And there’re only two words in this answer: NO REGRETS.

Good luck!

### Revision Exercise

To show that you have understood what Miss Loi just taught you from the centre, you must:

Comments & Reactions

### 8 Comments

1. Cris commented in tuition class

2007
Aug
28
Tue
7:27pm

1

You know what Miss Loi?! When I entered my lecture hall for exams, i have the feeling of failing already. I didnt even memorize the important chapters. But i manage to complete with some constructive words like "see textbook"

2. Miss Loi Friend Miss Loi on Facebook @MissLoi commented in tuition class

2007
Aug
28
Tue
11:16pm

2

Well Miss Loi is sure you didn't regret writing the words ... so all should be well 🙂

In any case, to counter the 'feeling of failure' always go in with the thinking that the marker is trying to give you marks, rather than taking them away from you.

This way (assuming you do possess the relevant knowledge) there'll be less tendency for you to give up and leave blank answers - especially important for the so-called 'killer' papers.

3. kiroii commented in tuition class

2007
Aug
29
Wed
12:01am

3

er is n = 2 for de first question?
v= pie x r^2 h
considering that pie and h are constants and r is x so after comparison n = 2

as for question 2.. n =-1?
area of triangle = 1/2 x base x height
height = [2 x area of triangle (which is 10)] / b
since x is base hence n = -1 whereas k is 20

4. Miss Loi Friend Miss Loi on Facebook @MissLoi commented in tuition class

2007
Aug
29
Wed
6:03pm

4

Kiroii, take a deep breath ...

πr2h is the volume of a cylinder. What volume did the question say in part 1???

As for part 2 ... *confetti* *fireworks* yay!

5. 123` commented in tuition class

2007
Aug
29
Wed
9:13pm

5

Hi, im new here....since vol of sphere is 4/3 pie r^3....... so ans is 3?

6. Miss Loi Friend Miss Loi on Facebook @MissLoi commented in tuition class

2007
Aug
30
Thu
2:52pm

6

Yes volume of sphere = so n = 3.

*more confetti* *more fireworks* more yays to 123`!

Oh it's so embarrassingly simple isn' it? But you'll be embarrassed by the answers students produce when they panic in the exam hall.

7. Cris commented in tuition class

2007
Aug
30
Thu
5:44pm

7

"Oh it's so embarrassingly simple isn't it? But you'll be embarrassed by the answers students produce when they panic in the exam hall."

Why you always want to suan me?

Just now during business process management paper, they ask why use flat structure, i got no more time and i reply because flat is thinner than hierarchical structure.

LOL

8. Miss Loi Friend Miss Loi on Facebook @MissLoi commented in tuition class

2007
Aug
30
Thu
5:55pm

8

Not suaning you at all Cris. In fact, Miss Loi loves you innovative answers and would even award you marks if she were the examiner!

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• ### About Miss Loi

Miss Loi is a full-time private tutor in Singapore specializing in O-Level Maths tuition. Her life's calling is to eradicate the terrifying LMBFH Syndrome off the face of this planet. For over 31 years she has been a savior to countless students ... [read more]
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