It’s the week after Spring Break and my students are coming back sunburned and sleepy only to face the sad results of their midterms. One of my students needs to perform a post-mortem on a Criminal Justice midterm exam.

How exactly do you do a post-mortem on a midterm exam and why even bother? Let’s answer why first.

Like Ducky, the Navy’s Medical Examiner from my husband’s favorite TV show, NCIS, we want to find out the cause of death or in this case why you earned the grade you earned. We are looking for hard evidence which points to the cause of death i.e. the grade you earned. (Please don’t get turned off with the connection of death and your grade. Play along with me. It’s just a metaphor.) It’s hard to look at your exam especially if you just failed it or maybe you got a low grade-something you are not proud of.

But like Mr. Palmer, Ducky’s autopsy assistant, we want to keep a positive attitude in the face of death. The dead body on the table does not measure Ducky’s or Mr. Palmer’s worth or value as medical doctors. Try to look at your test grade as simply a learning experience. Don’t listen to those voices in your head saying: “You just suck at test-taking.” “The professor doesn’t like you.” “No matter how hard you study you still make a D.” Instead think this: “There is a reason I earned this grade and I am going to find that reason.” Remember Ducky and Mr. Palmer. They work on the corpse until they find the cause of death and keep looking for clues that would help Gibbs find the murderer.

Keep reading for four steps to a great post-mortem on your last exam.

What do I mean when I say “let’s perform a post-mortem on your last exam?” Find quantifiable data to explain the grade. Like a scientist: ask questions, use a tool to measure and write down your observations.

 

Four Steps for a Midterm Post-Mortem: In other words, four steps to get ready for finals.

 

Step one: Wait 24 hours before you see your professor.

Eat a good meal. Go for a run. Get a good night’s rest. You can think better if you are not agitated.

Step two: Look at your midterm exam questions.

If your professor keeps the exams, you will have to do this in his or her office. This might require an appointment and more than one visit. This is the uncomfortable zone. It is uncomfortable to look at your “failure.” (Remember: don’t listen to those voices). It’s uncomfortable to admit a weakness or that maybe you dropped the ball (Remember Mr. Palmer who smiles at the face of death). Keep your cool like Ducky. Someone has to do this dirty job i.e. an autopsy.

Step three: Create a checklist with questions to ask the professor or ask yourself about the questions you missed.

Here is one to get you started.

• Why is this answer the correct answer?
• Why did I think this was the correct answer? (the one you got wrong)
• Where was the information for this answer found? The Lecture or the Book.
• What level of thinking is required for this question? Knowledge, Comprehension, Application.

Step four: Create a study plan for the next exam or finals based on the data you gathered from the post-mortem.

• What will you do differently in studying for the next exam than the previous exam?
• How many weeks until the next exam?
• Which chapters will be on the next exam?

If you want different results in your next exam, then change how you studied for mid-terms.