Why do top students refuse to be acknowledged?

[GerrySly]

"Are you ready for the exam?" is something you'd say to someone you dont know very well.

So true, I know exactly how my mates are gonna go so depending who it is the question varies

[crappy]

I like this way.

Most of my pre-exams convos go something like this.

Person A: We're fucked!
Person B: No shit.

lol

Even when you talk to people you know are aiming high/will do well, I find that something along those lines are more common. Or something like, "you ready to fail?", or like a sarcastic "i'm gonna get 100%, no worries ;P"

Most of my pre-exams convos go something like this.

Person A: We're fucked!
Person B: No shit.

lol

These are the things I always say to friends before an exam. lol iirc everyone in my year level use to say that to eachother.

[QuantumJG]

Person A: We're fucked!
Person B: No shit.

I am repulsed by interactions like that, that is just mutual discouragement. I don't remember what my pre-exam interactions were like, but they weren't like that =/

Quantum: Again, I have been blind to other perceptions of my behaviour such as "people are not good enough to hear the truth." For me it's just a habit.

Me and my mates would always do stuff like this. It's joking with eachother to lower your nerves before an exam. For me this is just a habbit.

[Ilovemathsmeth]

I try and remain inconspicuous before an exam. I don't like people asking me if "I'm ready for the exam" and how many "practice exams I've done". The thing is, I'm NEVER ready for an exam, even if I've done every single practice exam available, there could be something else I've missed. I don't like (and often mislead people) telling people how many practice exams I've done because a) if it's a big number and I get a low score, people will talk and b) if it's not enough, and I compare with someone else I'll just feel bad.

[Akirus]

In regards to exams: "Cool as a cucumber."

[QuantumJG]

I try and remain inconspicuous before an exam. I don't like people asking me if "I'm ready for the exam" and how many "practice exams I've done". The thing is, I'm NEVER ready for an exam, even if I've done every single practice exam available, there could be something else I've missed. I don't like (and often mislead people) telling people how many practice exams I've done because a) if it's a big number and I get a low score, people will talk and b) if it's not enough, and I compare with someone else I'll just feel bad.

This probably varies for 'who you talk to'. In high school me and my friends weren't exactly that competitive with eachother, so doing this basically got rid of some of the nerves (the scariest part of the exam is walking through the door).

At uni though it's a different story where a lot of people are competitive and only a couple of my friends will do this as a joke and others may seem to try and psychologically break you (I have a friend who is very passionate with his physics, but is very serious and 'doesn't' joke.

[NE2000]

I try and remain inconspicuous before an exam. I don't like people asking me if "I'm ready for the exam" and how many "practice exams I've done". The thing is, I'm NEVER ready for an exam, even if I've done every single practice exam available, there could be something else I've missed. I don't like (and often mislead people) telling people how many practice exams I've done because a) if it's a big number and I get a low score, people will talk and b) if it's not enough, and I compare with someone else I'll just feel bad.

b) is valid but I don't really think a) is partiocularly valid. Surely the people that ask you how many exams you have done know you well enough not to judge you on exams. And in reality, few people remember the number of practice exams othersr did when results come out (a month to two months later). That said, the inconspicuous approach is ok. I basically spent my pre-exam time just randomly talking to friends, reading the paper or something coompletely unrelated to exams. Once I tried to read my 'error log' but that just began discouraging me lol so I stopped.

[Gloamglozer]

I basically spent my pre-exam time just randomly talking to friends, reading the paper or something coompletely unrelated to exams.

That's what I did as well.  I spent the little time I had left to talk to my friends, when they were still sober.  Basically, I reckon it's pretty pointless to ask someone how many exams they've done either just before and exam or after the exam.  Before the exam, even if you've done 50 papers, you've had enough exam exposure and whatever happens in the exam, happens.  There's not much you can do about it - you can't blame yourself since you've done your best.  It's just the luck of the draw, I guess.

After exam, it's futile too because you've done the exam and there is absolutely no way you can change what happened.  Once again, whatever has happened has already occurred and exam postmortems don't help either.

[NE2000]

After exam, it's futile too because you've done the exam and there is absolutely no way you can change what happened.  Once again, whatever has happened has already occurred and exam postmortems don't help either.

Haha, yes I utterly failed on the part....

Before the exam I tried to relax, because not doing so could impact exam performance. After the exam I got stressed out, completely overanalyzing the answers I remembered, because then there was no motivation to stop myself from stressing as the exam was over and stressing out wouldn't impact my exam performance

[akira88]

I can relate to the last one. It's very easy to become alienated if you're always the one giving the responses, and there are even instances where teachers refuse to call on certain students to give others a go.

That's why I often keep quiet. To allow others a chance to think and come to it themselves, rather than getting it rammed down their throat before they get a chance to engage with the question.

Right. Putting your hand up every time for every question defies the point of why the teacher asks the question: so that the class can think about it.


Also, you don't need to be answering all the questions in class to show that you know your stuff, rather your marks and work and the help you can provide your peers when they ask for it is enough for people to know that you know your stuff.

Agree, agree and agree And it might also get irritating to others in your class as well, as i know with a few people in my classes haha

[akira88]

In regards to receiving awards and so on, some people, myself included, just don't feel the need for validation from peers and society.

I agree! it is also worse when you go to a school where many of your peers stereotype people for being smart >.<

[*ryan777*]

In regards to receiving awards and so on, some people, myself included, just don't feel the need for validation from peers and society.

I agree! it is also worse when you go to a school where many of your peers stereotype people for being smart >.<

id rather just be happy knowing ive got an award (and keeping to myself) etc then showing it off to everyone
just knowing, personaly that im capable is enough validation for me

[akira88]

In regards to receiving awards and so on, some people, myself included, just don't feel the need for validation from peers and society.

I agree! it is also worse when you go to a school where many of your peers stereotype people for being smart >.<

id rather just be happy knowing ive got an award (and keeping to myself) etc then showing it off to everyone
just knowing, personaly that im capable is enough validation for me

Yeah same here