I know that this gets asked a lot, but I haven't been able to get the answer I'm looking for. People talk about the differences in lifestyle, the need for a solid work ethic and time management skills, the larger workload etc., but I can't find a lot of information purely on the difficulty of the exams. How does an exam question in university compare to one in high school? I'm just worried about the type of brutal questions that I won't be able to answer, prepared or not.

edit: asking more about science courses

How you'll find university will depend on how well your HS prepared you for university. Students who went to high schools that gave them 90s for doing very little will find it harder to transition to university. On the other hand, students who went to high schools that made them work for their 90s usually have no problems in year-1 university.

With respect to exam questions, the questions you'll find on university-level exams will require you to think, for the most part. Depending on your HS, you may or may not be used to this. Some high schools will hand out "review problems" prior to an exam, but the actual exam will contain virtually the same questions (different numbers, etc.). Some HS exams are based on the regurgitation of facts. Whereas, university exams will test your ability to solve problems, think critically, and apply the learned facts and concepts. Students who study superficially and purely by memorization will have a tough time on most university exams.

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UWO Chemistry 2047

for one, thinking is required.

i'd say 20% drop easy. then again, i had 4 spares in gr. 12

i didn't find the courses difficult as much as overwhelming. i could do all the stuff if i put in the required time, but it was working for endless hours everyweek that was very difficult/frustrating.

what you had 4 spares in grade 12?? what other courses did you even take?
and don't you get lazy having mostly free time? i'd kill to have 4 spares! i could just chill and relax the entire semester!

100% true. Many of the questions on exams in university will be unlike problems you solved in class or on assignments - profs want to see if you can take the knowledge you've learned and apply it to a new problem. So unlike high school, where the questions were ones you had already done, just with new numbers/scenarios/whatever or questions that required pure memorization (ie. for biology, having to remember the entire photosynthesis chain), at university, you will likely encounter questions that require true problem solving and the ability to use what you have learned in new situations.

Of course, there are still plenty of exams with pure memorization questions (especially in courses like organic chemistry or biochemistry) but you'll also need to problem solve, and the problems may not be similar to ones you've encountered before.

Beyond that, in first year, it's not so much that the material is difficult but that the pace of things is so much faster than in high school. You go through material at a much quicker pace, and it is very easy to fall behind if you don't keep on top of things. Don't be afraid to ask your TAs or go to your prof's office hours if you find you are having difficulties. You don't want to wait until the day before the exam and realize that you don't understand some important concepts.

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B.Sc.(Eng) Biological Engineering, U of Guelph - Graduated with distinction, PEO Gold Medal
Currently attending U of Alberta - Scholastic Distinction Scholarship Recipient

doens't matter how your high schools was. easy 90s, hard 90s, whatever
it depends on YOU. if you have common sense, you will realize that uni is harder than high school so you should invest more time in your studies. if you do that, you will get high marks.

The "i study for 30 minutes a week" thing was an exaggeration. My point is that people still come here and trivialize how much effort needs to be put in during university (and high school, yes).

Ya, I have never heard anyone say that.

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Accepted: Waterloo Engineering, UofT Engineering (track one), Queens Engineering, Schulich iBBA , Queens commerce.

Still though, half an hour a week of studying in High School is still like impossible.

That means you do zero outside of class except for a grand total of half an hour on a sunday night to cover all your courses.

That's not even enough time to do homework or assignments.