The University-type Exams

    I got the shock of my life on post U.T.M.E day in O.A.U. having scored well above 200 in my UTME , I thought post UTME in OAU would be an easy task , but I was disappointed when on that day I saw thousands of Jambites ( I later got to know we were 20,000 and above). At that moment I thought to myself, what are my chances of getting selected for admission even if I pass? I never really enjoyed chemistry like other subjects, so I decided I was going to solve chemistry questions when I was done solving other parts. At about 5 minutes to the end of the exam I was on question 4 in the chemistry part, the letters were so tiny I had to squint to read them, I had no other option than to do the regular -`BABA ADE BABA’ .I prayed at the end of the exam and miraculously I passed.

     I was among the 5,000 students who were admitted that year. Feeling myself so much I came into OAU (Oba Awon University) with high hopes, I was one of the best students in my secondary school and I was ready to take on the flag. In my first week of resumption even before lectures started people were already reading, some even read over night. Arrghhh I asked myself –what are they reading when lectures have not even started-hypocrisy I said. I read the same way I used to in secondary school for my first semester exams, and when the results came out all I had were C’s and E’s .I was so disappointed in myself and I vowed not to repeat the same mistake then it dawned on me that those who read even before lectures started were well informed.

     I read like `MAAARRRD’ for second semester exams, there was this course I read so much, I read the note more than four times, read materials and even read online but There was this note I didn’t read too well and it was because the class was too crowdy that day so I had to skip a lot of lines, and hearing the lecturer seemed totally impossible that day. On exam day, we were asked to answer 3 questions out of four, I almost fainted when I found out the questions were all selected from that particular topic I didn’t read too well ,I gazed at the ceiling for several minutes, ate my pen before I decided to put something’s down, who knows, I could get lucky. I was ready to retake the course until when the results came out, and again miraculously I had a C.

     In plight of all these experiences I came up with some facts and points about exams in OAU

1—In OAU every lecturer is unique, for you to really understand what he/she wants as answers you have to understand their individuality, some want you to research and write stories in the exams, while some just want their notes back word for word ,not even a comma extra.

2—some lecturers, especially professors are just too busy to set new questions so they just repeat the old ones, so it’s better taking the pain to solve past questions.  You do these and just as my friend would say `C don dey sure’

3—Class attendance is very essential. Most of the lecturers often ask their exam questions in class, so if you hear him ask a question more than once, take note.

4—The lecturers are human beings no matter how religious or cultured they are they hate being challenged. A student who knows too much and acts it is a threat to them and they in turn mark the faces of such students, and God help you if they know your matric number. Always sound unsure when you are asking questions so that they can feel respected, and please don’t be the one always answering all the questions in class.

5—relate with everybody in your class, don’t be a loner. I will analyse some facts for you about the classes of students.

S.U’s—they are mostly brilliant and average students. They have the most accurate information about classes, tests and assignments, and you will get a deal of materials to read from them.

Social peeps—they are very close to the lecturers, and sometimes they even know areas where questions will be asked. They don’t read too well so they always rely on information from the lecturers. Don’t join them just tap from them.

Quiet peeps—they know more because they talk less, they have few friends, so they hardly gist. These set of people can teach you endurance when reading, they read for long.

Talkative—they say things before they know it. They are the perfect kind of people for revisions, take note of what they say it’s like adding to what you’ve known already. Discuss topics with them, it will surely help.

Executives—they are always in the lecturer’s office. They see and hear stuffs more than others, make friends with them they will help with projects and assignments.

And that’s my little bit, after all EDUCATION IS FUN.

Tunde Allenshira, OAU.