Which type of test was your favorite in school?

[Cow Poke]

Four hour oral exams in front of a committee with a board behind me to show my proofs.

PROOFS, you say!

(I just watched The Man Who Knew Infinity)

[Juvenal]

PROOFS, you say!

(I just watched The Man Who Knew Infinity)

Haven't seen it, but the noise is it's better than Good Will Hunting. I studied number theory with another of Hardy's students, who was also a veteran of the Bletchley Park crew.

[rogue06]

Four hour oral exams in front of a committee with a board behind me to show my proofs.

You have always impressed me as someone who at the mere mention of the word "test" gets a, in the words of Chris Matthews, "thrill going up [your] leg." All with perfect hair of course.























You were the guy who, not only blew the curve for everyone, but really enjoyed doing it, weren't you?

[Cow Poke]

Haven't seen it, but the noise is it's better than Good Will Hunting. I studied number theory with another of Hardy's students, who was also a veteran of the Bletchley Park crew.

It was actually pretty interesting, and made me want to know more about maths.

[Juvenal]

All with perfect hair of course.

Of course.

You were the guy who, not only blew the curve for everyone, but really enjoyed doing it, weren't you?

Competition can be fierce in grad school. Ten students in a grad course, and all of them are competing with you for one of the extremely limited summer term teaching assistantships.

Until you're the only one walking out with an A.

It wasn't enjoyable. It was necessary.

Blowing out the curve as an undergrad was a lot more satisfying.

[KingsGambit]

Essays were my chance to shine, but even more so research papers.

[rogue06]

Essays were my chance to shine, but even more so research papers.

Research papers were my favorite. Sitting at the kitchen table with both Colliers and Britannica along with several library books.

[Cow Poke]

Research papers were my favorite. Sitting at the kitchen table with both Colliers and Britannica along with several library books.

You knew them both personally?

[One Bad Pig]

Research papers were my favorite. Sitting at the kitchen table with both Colliers and Britannica along with several library books.

I once had to write a research paper while underway on a submarine (was taking a distance writing course). That was an interesting challenge.

[Juvenal]

I once had to write a research paper while underway on a submarine (was taking a distance writing course). That was an interesting challenge.

It's not the writing, it's the submission. Nothing makes them sit up and take notice like pinning your paper on an ICBM.

[Cow Poke]

Research papers were my favorite. Sitting at the kitchen table with both Colliers and Britannica along with several library books.

This is where homeschooling really paid off for my youngest daughter. During High School, she was required to do research papers, and properly source them, format, and all that good stuff that I used to know how to do. She actually used the local Junior College library as her prep room. So, when she started college, it was 'business as usual' to turn out quality research papers - no sweat!

I remember in my case, first day of college.... "so, THIS is the library.... ", and a significant learning curve on just how to utilize it.

[rogue06]

This is where homeschooling really paid off for my youngest daughter. During High School, she was required to do research papers, and properly source them, format, and all that good stuff that I used to know how to do. She actually used the local Junior College library as her prep room. So, when she started college, it was 'business as usual' to turn out quality research papers - no sweat!

I remember in my case, first day of college.... "so, THIS is the library.... ", and a significant learning curve on just how to utilize it.

Probably cause when you went to college the only library was in Alexandria so it's understandable you were familiar with 'em.

[37818]

Algebra test, where you solve the problem and show how you solved it.

[One Bad Pig]

Algebra test, where you solve the problem and show how you solved it.

My astrophysics tests, which were word problems. Pull out the salient facts, derive the requisite equations, and provide a numerical response, using trigonometry and calculus as necessary - no calculators allowed.

[Juvenal]

When I first saw this thread, I was hoping it was about cricket.