It is well to have scratch paper handy and make outlines for your answers to long questions.  It is a good plan, also, when dealing with long questions, to watch the time carefully, for there is danger that you will spend too much time upon some question to the detriment of others equally important, though shorter.

One error which students often commit in taking examinations is to waste time in dreaming.  As they come upon a difficult question they sit back and wait for the answer to come to them.  This is the wrong plan.  The secret of freedom of ideas lies in activity.  Therefore, at such times, keep active, so that the associative processes will operate freely.  Stimulate brain activity by the method suggested in Chapter X, namely, by means of muscular activity.  Instead of idly waiting for flashes of inspiration, begin to write.  You may not be able to write directly upon the point at issue, but you can write something about it, and as you begin to explore and to express your meagre fund of knowledge, one idea will call up another and soon the correct answer will appear.

After you have prepared yourself to the extent of your ability, you should maintain toward the examination an attitude of confidence.  Believe firmly that you will pass the examination.  Make strong suggestions to yourself, affirming positively that you have the requisite amount of information and the ability to express it coherently and forcefully.  Fortified by the consciousness of faithful application throughout the work of a course, reinforced by a thorough, well-planned review, and with a firm conviction in the strength of your own powers, you may approach your examinations with comparative ease and with good chances of passing them creditably.

READINGS AND EXERCISE

Readings: 

Adams (1) Chapter X.

Dearborn (2) Chapter II.

Exercise I. Make a schedule of your examinations for the next examination week.  Show exactly what preparatory steps you will take (a) before coming to the examination room, (6) after entering it.

CHAPTER XV

BODILY CONDITIONS FOR EFFECTIVE STUDY

It is a truism to say that mental ability is affected by bodily conditions.  A common complaint of students is that they cannot study because of a headache, or they fail in class because of loss of sleep.  So patent is the interrelation between bodily condition and study that we cannot consider our discussion of study problems complete without recognition of the topic.  We shall group our discussions about three of the most important physical activities, eating, sleeping and exercising.  These make up the greater part of our daily activities and if they are properly regulated our study is likely to be effective.

FOOD.—­It is generally agreed that the main function of food is to repair the tissues of the body.  Other effects are present, such as pleasure and sociability, but its chief benefit is reparative, so we may well regard the subject from a strictly utilitarian standpoint and inquire how we may produce the highest efficiency from our eating.  Some of the important questions about eating are, how much to eat, what kind of food to eat, when to eat, what are the most favorable conditions for eating?