Quiz: Do you know what to expect?

Try the quiz below to see how much you really know about what it's like to study here.

For each question, choose the best answer.

If you prefer you can save or print the Quiz (Word doc)and then check your answers with the Quiz with answers (Word doc).

 

1. What do you think is the main aim of post-graduate study?

a) to give you a lot of information about the subject

b) to inform you about the opinions of experts in the field

c) to train you to judge whether information and opinions on the subject are valid

Check your answer to question 1.

2. Who is mainly responsible for your learning?

a) your lecturers -- i.e. your lecturers will basically make sure that you learn what you need to learn in order to pass the course

b) 50% the lecturers / 50% you the student

c) you, the student

Check your answer to question 2.

 

3. How easy do you think it will be to contact your lecturers when you have a question or problem?

a) very easy -- you can speak to your lecturers face-to-face any time you have a question or problem
 
b) easier if you are organised -- it is a good idea to make an appointment via email or to go during the lecturers' advertised office hours

c) very difficult -- lecturers just lecture, they don't have one-to-one contact with students

Check your answer to question 3.

4. How should you address your lecturer? i.e. if you are speaking to a lecturer called Dr Susan Smith, what should you say?

a) Dr Susan

b) Dr Smith

c) madam

Check your answer to question 4.

5. How many hours per week do you expect to spend in class on average?

a) 4 - 8 hours

b) 9 - 18 hours

c) 19 - 38 hours

Check your answer to question 5.

6. When you are in class, what sort of class will you be attending?

a) lectures

b) tutorials (sometimes called seminars), i.e. discussion groups

c) both lectures and tutorials

Check your answer to question 6.

7. What do you think is the main purpose of a lecture?

a) to give you the information that you need to memorise for your exams and assignments

b) to give you an overview of the main issues and guide your reading on the subject

c) to give you the opportunity to ask the lecturer questions

Check your answer to question 7.

8. What is the main purpose of a tutorial or seminar?

a) for the teacher to check that you've memorised all the information given in that week's lecture

b) for the teacher to give you more detailed information about the topic

c) for the students to discuss the issues and ask questions

Check your answer to question 8.

 

9. How many hours on average should you expect to spend on course-related reading outside of class?

a) 3 - 5 hours per week 

b) 6 - 12 hours per week

c) 13 - 24 hours per week

Check your answer to question 9.

 

10. What will you spend most of your time reading?

a) one main textbook
  
b) books, journal articles, and other materials you have to buy or get yourself from the library

c) photocopies given to you by the lecturer

Check your answer to question 10.

11. For most courses, you will be given a list of books, articles and documents to read. When planning what to read from the list, what should you do?

a) aim to read everything on the reading list
  
b) concentrate on reading the texts by the writers you like

c) identify what is essential to read and try to explore different points of view

Check your answer to question 11.

12. While reading for your course, what should you do?

a) take notes selectively, i.e. only when you think it is strictly necessary

b) take as many notes as you can -- you might need them later when you're preparing for exams

c) try to memorise as much of the information as possible

Check your answer to question 12.

13. Many course descriptions emphasise 'critical thinking'. What do you think 'critical thinking' means?

a) criticising other people's ideas

b) coming up with your own original ideas

c) carefully evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of both your own and other people's points of view

Check your answer to question 13.

 

14. What will determine whether you pass your course?

a) your exam results

b) your marks on written assignments (essays, reports, or case studies)

c) both your exam results and assignment marks

Check your answer to question 14.

15. What do you need to do to get a good mark on your assignment?

a) basically repeat what the lecturer said about the topic.

b) critically evaluate different points of view on the subject

c) strongly and clearly state your personal opinion on the topic -- the more original your opinion the higher your mark

Check your answer to question 15.

 

16. What format do exams usually take?

a) multiple choice questions (like this quiz!)

b) questions requiring short answers, i.e. a sentence or paragraph

c) a selection of essay questions

Check your answer to question 16.

 

17. How will lecturers mark your assignments and exams?

a) each lecturer will mark them in his/her own way

b) the lecturer will base his/her marks on a list of criteria (i.e. a list of skills which might include things like your ability to use sources, to organise your answer logically, to support your opinions with evidence etc.)

c) for each assignment or exam question there is one correct 'model' answer -- the lecturers will compare your answer to the model and mark it accordingl

Check your answer to question 17.

18. Is it appropriate to give lecturers gifts?

a) generally no, lecturers do not expect to receive gifts from their students

b) generally yes, as long as the gift is inexpensive

c) yes, though your lecturer may be offended if the gift is not expensive

Check your answer to question 18.

Find out more in preparing for study.