Hi all- I am in a class that I love. The teacher is great, the info is interesting and relatable to my current job. I can read and participate in the disscusions about the chapter without a problem. The problem is when I have to take a test or quiz. I know the information cause i just held a convo on it during the class. I bombed the first quiz. I told the prof that i can't do tests/quizes. He said ok, are u going to make it through this class? Well I siad, do I have much choice? And i left it at that.

I have not filed any paperwork with the school about my ADD/LD, nor do I want to. I think I should tell him, but what do I ask for? Him to let me write papers instead or do projects or what???

There might be someone at your school who can help you learn how to study and how to take tests. If there's a centre for students with disabilities they can probably direct you to them. If you do register for accomodations they will ussually allow for things like extra time on tests or let you write the tests in another room. It's not too likely that they will let you not write the tests at all.

I had a professor as a non diagnosed undergraduate who allowed me addition testing time for my exams. You may ask your professor if he/she is willing to do this for you. It alleviated a lot of my anxiety.

I wondered what type of exam questions are you struggling to answer? Is the test made up of short answer essay, multiple choice but application of theory, or what? There are strategies for answering multiple choice questions when you have more than one answer that seems correct. I don't have the booklet here (where I am at the moment) with this information in it, but will try to locate it/post it here when I do.

I don't think you should count on the papers in lieu of tests thing, because it's highly unlikely most of your professors will accomodate this. The worst than can happen is you ask, and they say no. I would aim for more realistic modifications, but remember: without a diagnosis, they don't have to accomodate you. Some will, some will not.

I once had a professor who gave us (over 30 students) an exam that was multiple choice application of theory. The majority of the class failed. He knew this was "off," because he had several of us in previous classes. He threw out the first exam grade, and retested us using a different form of the exam: short answer essay. This increased his workload, as far as assessing them, but the majority of the class PASSED for the rest of the quarter. By the way, this was a methods of teaching class (kind of ironic if most of us would have kept failing, you know?)

I agree with the suggestion to gets some help or tutoring on how to take tests. There are a lot of people without ADHD that know the material but stink at taking tests.

There is a lot of great advice out there on test taking. There even some good books on how to take tests.


Oh yeah, Go Pack! :D

I believe the first thing your going to be asked is "why"

Is it distractions from other students, atmosphere, the time limit, etc?

Sometimes, a professor will work with you instead of making you go thru all the channels. My first Anatomy and Physiology test I would have bombed had my instructor not noticed that I paid more attention to classmates turning pages, the guys cell phone vibrating off his desk behind me, the lights, etc then I did my test. She came up and asked if I had a problem and I told her point blank there are too many distractions for this OLD ADHD broad. She had me move to the front of the classroom to a table facing the white walls, which helped a little but the projection screen is lined with black material and that black agains the white walls kept drawing my attention, she must have noticed because next thing I know the projection screen is being relocated back into the ceiling. lol After that I was able to complete my test and scored a 100%.

My advice see what you can come up with first on your own. Is it where you sit, etc. Then speak to the prof. then follow chain of command if they are unwilling to help you. I'm not sure but if its just normal test anxiety you may have to learn to live with it.

I think some of my prob is the other students and the class that is in the next room over. I can hear everything going on over there. I sit right by the door, so I hear people going up hte stairs all the time amound the humming of the projector machine thingie!

I do have test anxitety, I am a very impulsive test taker, I know that. But what kills me is that i know the info but cant find it on the test. Our first quiz was T or F. I don't like those. The only tests i do ok on are essay tests.

I think I am going to ask if I can take the test in another room and if at all possible have the teach read the test to me as I follow along on my copy. That seemed to work ok for me in HS.

Will let u all know what happens, think I am going to talk to him today.....

And if all else fails you could ask for a test that must be answered in essay form.

I personally prefer T and F at least there I have a 50/50 chance at the right answer. Essay questions have to be extremely well thought out and informative plus you have to know your stuff---your instructor may go for that.

I wish I had a problem with tests, tests are much easier to get accomodations for. Papers? Forget about it. No accomodations.

See if you college offers a course in test taking if you goto the counsling office they sometimes have days where you could learn tips on test taking. They may have a course on how to learn to study and take tests it helped me.

I have the same promblem i could answer a question verbally but on a test forget it that's part of the promblem in my field to get certifedi have to keep taking test that cost in the hundreds.

Look up test aniexty in google not sure if that is you or not but it might help.