Physics exam preparation: A comparison of three methods

In this clinical study on helping students prepare for an exam, we compared three different treatments. All students were asked to take a practice exam. One group was then given worked-out solutions for that exam, another group was given the solutions and targeted exercises to do as homework based on the result of their practice exam, and the third group was given the solutions, homework, and also an hour of one-on-one tutoring. Participants from all three conditions significantly outperformed the control group on the midterm exam. However, participants that had one-on-one tutoring did not outperform the other two participant groups.

Figure 1

Experiment setting. The sequence of the activities of each group flowed from top to bottom. Participants in each group received one type of treatment throughout the experiment.

Figure 2

(a) Number of participants for each group. Participants who missed the previous session were not allowed to participate in the rest of the experiment. (b) Initial score on the first midterm (incomplete participants included).

Figure 3

(a) Practice exam scores. (b) Practice exam score changes between the first and third sessions.

Figure 4

(a) First and second midterm exam scores (before and after the treatment) from paticipants who completed three treatment sessions along with the control group. (b) First and second midterm from three treated groups.

Figure 5

Performance on the second midterm categorized by similarity to the practice exam.

Figure 6

Performance on related midterm problems.

Figure 7

Performance on later practice problems if previously incorrect.

Figure 8

Self-report on time spent between the first and third sessions.