AP European History exam

[Towelie]

I am taking it tommorow.... I have not studied enough yet. Hopefully I pass :-/. On the practice multiple choice tests, I got a 20% on the first (I left WAY too many blank) and a 40% on the 2nd one. But the 40% one came out to around 20 points.... and you need 75 to pass (with essays in it). Hopefully I do about 35points on the multiple choice, and get 3s and 4s on the essays.

[dark_drake]

Isn't it better to leave an answer blank if you don't know which choice is correct?  Wrong answers get 1/4 of a point subtracted, I think.  Whereas, blank answers don't do anything to your score.

[Towelie]

so basically, if I can eliminate one I go for it :P. I figure, 1/5 chance to get it right if you guess completely and -1/4th of a point, but if you can eliminate 1, it evens the odds

[Sidoh]

Using probability theory Blaise Pascal developed hundereds of years ago:

Perform some action Iff ( Gain > Loss ), or if you're more daring: ( Gain >= Loss ).

In this case, the possible gain is "1."  The possible loss is "1/4."  The chance to get the question right is "1/4."  The chance to get the question wrong is "3/4."

(1)(1/4)    = 1/4
(1/4)(3/4) = 3/16

(1/4) > (3/16); go for it.

Similarly:

(1)(1/5)    = 1/5
(1/4)(4/5) = 1/5

(1/5) = (1/5)

It really doesn't help much if you can only eliminate one answer.  I'd still guess, but only if I could use intuition instead of relying on some arbitrary event to choose for me.

[d&q]

Well, technically, won't it only reach that expected value if you answered many questions with eliminating only one question?

[Sidoh]

Well, technically, won't it only reach that expected value if you answered many questions with eliminating only one question?

No.  This is a simple analysis of one question.

[Towelie]

Using probability theory Blaise Pascal developed hundereds of years ago:

Perform some action Iff ( Gain > Loss ), or if you're more daring: ( Gain >= Loss ).

In this case, the possible gain is "1."  The possible loss is "1/4."  The chance to get the question right is "1/4."  The chance to get the question wrong is "3/4."

(1)(1/4)    = 1/4
(1/4)(3/4) = 3/16

(1/4) > (3/16); go for it.

Similarly:

(1)(1/5)    = 1/5
(1/4)(4/5) = 1/5

(1/5) = (1/5)

It really doesn't help much if you can only eliminate one answer.  I'd still guess, but only if I could use intuition instead of relying on some arbitrary event to choose for me.

I do not mean guess by eliminating one, and ramdomly choose. I go by whatever one I think fits it the best... duh! :) Oh, and there are 5 answeres per question... so eliminating one gives you a 1/4 chance to get it correct, and only 1/4th point penalty if wrong. If you cant eliminate its a 1/5 trying to guess, and a 1/4th penalty for the loss.... which I wouldnt do anything for. But obviously, I will try to get it down to 2 if I can :D

[Sidoh]

x86] link=topic=5781.msg68067#msg68067 date=1146847958]
Oh, and there are 5 answeres per question... so eliminating one gives you a 1/4 chance to get it correct, and only 1/4th point penalty if wrong. If you cant eliminate its a 1/5 trying to guess, and a 1/4th penalty for the loss.... which I wouldnt do anything for. But obviously, I will try to get it down to 2 if I can :D

... I clearly demonstrate my consciousness of this fact by my useage of pascal probability theory.

[Towelie]

Well, that test sucked. I mean, it REALLY sucked. I got there at 11am, it started at 12, got out at 4:20, and then I went straight to my swim meet.... which I just got backat 7:30 from.

[dark_drake]

Swimming and big tests don't always mix :(

[Quik]

x86] link=topic=5781.msg68137#msg68137 date=1146882446]
Well, that test sucked. I mean, it REALLY sucked. I got there at 11am, it started at 12, got out at 4:20, and then I went straight to my swim meet.... which I just got backat 7:30 from.

Damn, that sucks. My AP tests all started at 8 and ended around 12, that way I could go to lunch then be at work by like 4. That really takes your whole day man, that blows.

[Newby]

x86] link=topic=5781.msg68137#msg68137 date=1146882446]
Well, that test sucked. I mean, it REALLY sucked. I got there at 11am, it started at 12, got out at 4:20, and then I went straight to my swim meet.... which I just got backat 7:30 from.

Damn, that sucks. My AP tests all started at 8 and ended around 12, that way I could go to lunch then be at work by like 4. That really takes your whole day man, that blows.

I got at my test about 11:30, it ended about 4:30. :P

[d&q]

I got at my test about 11:30, it ended about 4:30. :P

Exact same time for me also.

[Towelie]

x86] link=topic=5781.msg68137#msg68137 date=1146882446]
Well, that test sucked. I mean, it REALLY sucked. I got there at 11am, it started at 12, got out at 4:20, and then I went straight to my swim meet.... which I just got backat 7:30 from.

Damn, that sucks. My AP tests all started at 8 and ended around 12, that way I could go to lunch then be at work by like 4. That really takes your whole day man, that blows.

I was so fucking hungry during that test, I ate at 9am.... couldnt eat before I left :P. So, when I got out I went to my car, got my swim bag, and ate my sandwitch while walking to the pool. You have no idea how good that  was :)