Comments on: Monday Master Class: Use Focused Question Clusters to Study for Multiple Choice Tests http://calnewport.com/blog/2007/09/24/monday-master-class-use-focused-question-clusters-to-study-for-multiple-choice-tests/ Decoding Patterns of Success Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:27:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bryan Jones http://calnewport.com/blog/2007/09/24/monday-master-class-use-focused-question-clusters-to-study-for-multiple-choice-tests/#comment-18021 Bryan Jones Wed, 27 Oct 2010 21:20:29 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=103#comment-18021 I have to say that this piece of advice would work very well for a variety of test formats, such as: MC Fill-In-The-Blank Matching Identification Quotations (Literature classes only) I am lost though as to how to apply it for essays, since all of my history tests have essay components. Also, is there any way this could be applied to foreign language courses? I have to say that this piece of advice would work very well for a variety of test formats, such as:

MC
Fill-In-The-Blank
Matching
Identification
Quotations (Literature classes only)

I am lost though as to how to apply it for essays, since all of my history tests have essay components.

Also, is there any way this could be applied to foreign language courses?

]]> By: Study Hacks http://calnewport.com/blog/2007/09/24/monday-master-class-use-focused-question-clusters-to-study-for-multiple-choice-tests/#comment-13611 Study Hacks Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:23:24 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=103#comment-13611 <blockquote>Hey Cal, I’m a bit of a fix with Biology right now and I’m not sure if I am doing the focused clusters correctly or not but for some reason I’m still dying on my bio exams</blockquote> See my somewhat more recent post on studying for non-technical science classes. I would give this same advice to @Brandon. You might also check out my article on studying for Orgo -- which is probably relevant as well.

Hey Cal, I’m a bit of a fix with Biology right now and I’m not sure if I am doing the focused clusters correctly or not but for some reason I’m still dying on my bio exams

See my somewhat more recent post on studying for non-technical science classes. I would give this same advice to @Brandon. You might also check out my article on studying for Orgo — which is probably relevant as well.

]]> By: Brandon http://calnewport.com/blog/2007/09/24/monday-master-class-use-focused-question-clusters-to-study-for-multiple-choice-tests/#comment-13588 Brandon Sat, 24 Apr 2010 01:52:23 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=103#comment-13588 Cal, I've been employing the cluster technique for the last 2 Biology exams which of course have tons of material on them. I keep getting low B type grades, and unfortunately it is to late to get an A with only the final to go. It seems as though when I finish the test I know so much more material that wasn't even tested, and there were a handful of questions that were on the test that seemed to slip my mind. However, I have 2 more semesters of Bio. exams that will be in this long MC format are there any tweaks you think may help? Seems as if some of my classmates just simply re-read the book with flash cards and score 90's I'm at a loss... Cal, I’ve been employing the cluster technique for the last 2 Biology exams which of course have tons of material on them. I keep getting low B type grades, and unfortunately it is to late to get an A with only the final to go. It seems as though when I finish the test I know so much more material that wasn’t even tested, and there were a handful of questions that were on the test that seemed to slip my mind. However, I have 2 more semesters of Bio. exams that will be in this long MC format are there any tweaks you think may help? Seems as if some of my classmates just simply re-read the book with flash cards and score 90′s I’m at a loss…

]]> By: Mike http://calnewport.com/blog/2007/09/24/monday-master-class-use-focused-question-clusters-to-study-for-multiple-choice-tests/#comment-12983 Mike Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:48:18 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=103#comment-12983 Hey Cal, I'm a bit of a fix with Biology right now and I'm not sure if I am doing the focused clusters correctly or not but for some reason I'm still dying on my bio exams (could you provide an example of this technique? sample notes perhaps?) thanks. Hey Cal, I’m a bit of a fix with Biology right now and I’m not sure if I am doing the focused clusters correctly or not but for some reason I’m still dying on my bio exams (could you provide an example of this technique? sample notes perhaps?)
thanks.

]]> By: Phedre http://calnewport.com/blog/2007/09/24/monday-master-class-use-focused-question-clusters-to-study-for-multiple-choice-tests/#comment-12870 Phedre Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:46:47 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=103#comment-12870 Heidi - You sound like a very visual-based/auditory learner. I bet you have a great memory, too. But every one learns differently, and many students do not have eidetic memory. They need the verbal/written connect-this-to-brain method to "cement" the knowledge. Other people, like me, need to read things aloud to really learn them, or try to explain it to another person, because we have crap memories and aren't visual learners. ;) Heidi – You sound like a very visual-based/auditory learner. I bet you have a great memory, too. But every one learns differently, and many students do not have eidetic memory. They need the verbal/written connect-this-to-brain method to “cement” the knowledge. Other people, like me, need to read things aloud to really learn them, or try to explain it to another person, because we have crap memories and aren’t visual learners. ;)

]]> By: heidi http://calnewport.com/blog/2007/09/24/monday-master-class-use-focused-question-clusters-to-study-for-multiple-choice-tests/#comment-12836 heidi Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:26:18 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=103#comment-12836 How is writing rapid fire questions helpful if I do not know how to answer those? I am sorry but I think that what makes you answer more rapidly is to build a clear mind map with clear connections in your brain. This is probably the most essential and once this is done you can probably secure 95% of the exam (assuming you have solid understanding). I do agree this method would help getting the 5% and achieve the perfectly inhumane 100% mark. How is writing rapid fire questions helpful if I do not know how to answer those? I am sorry but I think that what makes you answer more rapidly is to build a clear mind map with clear connections in your brain. This is probably the most essential and once this is done you can probably secure 95% of the exam (assuming you have solid understanding). I do agree this method would help getting the 5% and achieve the perfectly inhumane 100% mark.

]]> By: Chris http://calnewport.com/blog/2007/09/24/monday-master-class-use-focused-question-clusters-to-study-for-multiple-choice-tests/#comment-11548 Chris Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:53:25 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=103#comment-11548 I too would like some specific examples of the Focused Question Clusters. I have been using Q/E/C, however wanted to also try this out to. I too would like some specific examples of the Focused Question Clusters. I have been using Q/E/C, however wanted to also try this out to.

]]> By: Allan http://calnewport.com/blog/2007/09/24/monday-master-class-use-focused-question-clusters-to-study-for-multiple-choice-tests/#comment-10281 Allan Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:42:19 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=103#comment-10281 This is the BEST way to study for med school classes. Anatomy and histology exams become much more manageable when you've answered the questions to yourself first. I made 3x5 flashcards where each card dealt with a subtopic, and had 4-5 Q's on each card. Thanks for clearly spelling this method out! This is the BEST way to study for med school classes. Anatomy and histology exams become much more manageable when you’ve answered the questions to yourself first. I made 3×5 flashcards where each card dealt with a subtopic, and had 4-5 Q’s on each card. Thanks for clearly spelling this method out!

]]> By: Study Hacks » Blog Archive » How to Study for Non-Technical Science Courses http://calnewport.com/blog/2007/09/24/monday-master-class-use-focused-question-clusters-to-study-for-multiple-choice-tests/#comment-10120 Study Hacks » Blog Archive » How to Study for Non-Technical Science Courses Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:32:47 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=103#comment-10120 [...] non-technical science courses, I recommend using the focused question cluster format for your notes. This strategy has you pull out the important ideas and capture them in clusters of [...]

[...] non-technical science courses, I recommend using the focused question cluster format for your notes. This strategy has you pull out the important ideas and capture them in clusters of [...]

]]> By: John Smith http://calnewport.com/blog/2007/09/24/monday-master-class-use-focused-question-clusters-to-study-for-multiple-choice-tests/#comment-10043 John Smith Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:14:53 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/?p=103#comment-10043 <blockquote>Can you give an example of this? like the stories you wrote in your book. when the plan was put into action. and the type of questions?</blockquote> Yes, I would also like an example of the focused question. I've read it so many times but I still don't understand how it's formated properly. I need this for patho!

Can you give an example of this? like the stories you wrote in your book. when the plan was put into action. and the type of questions?

Yes, I would also like an example of the focused question. I’ve read it so many times but I still don’t understand how it’s formated properly. I need this for patho!

]]>