Jan is an awesome teacher. I really enjoyed the class. He is super helpful, made outlines for all the info that will be on the test. Highly recomend taking.

He's easy. All you do is to take notes and study for the test. But I'm not interested in enviroment so I didn't understand what he was lecturing. And I did not study for test and get a C. :/ A big big mistake that I have made.

best class ever, he made things really interesting... really cares about the environment. i highly recommend this class.

This class is fairly easy. Prof G does a good job of explaining things when you're lost. Make sure you study your notes thoroughly before exams. He includes statistics in his exams too. Make sure you are in class on time or he will make you stay outside while the roll sheet is passed around and you don't get credit for being there.

Mr. G is enthusiastic and helpful, but he always plays by the book - so be there and be on time. Otherwise, he conveys the material well and is certainly worth taking.

I didn't realize he was hot until I went up to him (talk about a nice surprise). Anyways, this class was really easy. The professor is cool. If you want an easy A take this class. It also makes you more conscious of the environment. CONSERVE!

This teacher is soo incredibly nice, and is very helpful.will answer any question,goes straight by lectures,which are also online.study for 1 hour for each exam,easy A.3exams,lowest dropped,points for just showing up!class may seem slow sometimes,but just bring your laptop or other hw,but it helps to listen to lectures so when studying its easier.

best class ive ever taken, all the information is so interesting, you have to go to class, and you have to keep up and study your notes... but its worth the knowledge you have when the class is over.

This was the best class I've taken, I don't know what the person below me is even thinking. You must take notes and show up, and tests are straight forward and out of the lectures. You won't need the book don't buy it. Lots of extra credit opportunities and you will learn a lot. I loved this class.

thank you jan! this class was amasing! learn really cool stuff and 4 tests and thats it. easy just pay attetion to his ppts and you will do fine! and don't fall asleep or he will mess with you.. and keep your cell on vibrate unless you want him dancing all around you when it goes off.. thanks again jan! this class was AWESOME!

I don't think he was condescending at all, he asked for his student's respect which is what all teachers should do. This class isn't easy but he never gives HW and you learn alot. The best way to succeed in this class is to have perfect attendance. Don't buy the book, you NEVER use it.

He's a good teacher. Those who think his tests are hard are usually those who dont study. If you study you'll do just fine

jan honestly changed my outlook on a lot of things. yes it wasnt an easy class but if your interested it will be easy.. and hes not too bad to look at

He's a great professor and great person but he's definitely NOT hot!!

are no essays but just tests in the class. no quizzes and just need to take notes in class. i would buy the textbook (it is needed and helpful for the materials covered in class) on Craigslist.com and save money since it is on the expensive side

Easy class. All multiple choice exams. Sometimes asks tricky test questions, but it shouldn't be a problem if you studied. Dr. Jan gets the information across, but class overall is not anything spectacular. Can be a little bit petulant, and snarky at times which can be irritating. Doesn't get in the way of his teaching the material, however.

His lectures were clear and informative, I actually got into the class, but what he teaches and what's on the test are not always related. He gave extra credit, but never recorded mine on blackboard and I think I told him four times!!

Dr. Jan's class would have been less stressful if I had done the 40 points of extra credit. There's a current event paper, which isn't hard if you don't plagiarize like many did. He sometimes inserts his politics into his lessons but I don't believe he would let that influence grades. Ecology is not my subject; though, I still got an A with ease.

Teacher is fair. Goes over what will be on the exam and exam consists of stuff he reviews. Cares too much about ecology and tries to force us to like it by picking on random students to answer his questions. Strict when it comes to phones & lecture is very boring. Study hw & powerpoints & you'll do fine.

Very interesting class. He uses power point for his lectures, although they could be boring sometimes, if you just listen to his lectures you'll do fine. Questions on the test come from Mastering, so pay attention to the assignments. You don't need the text. He gives extra credit.

Difficult class, but I found it really interesting and informative, and ecology is not my thing. Basically if you do the online quizzes and pay attention to EVERYTHING he says in class, you'll get an A. He's super nice, and the class can be fun if you just go prepared to actually pay attention:)

Dr. Jan is one of my favorite professors. He's wonderfully charismatic, interesting and his lectures are always filled with good stuff. The homework is straight out of the book. If you're interested in environmental science whatsoever, this class is an easy A.

Dr. Jan's class is unbelievably interesting. He makes his powerpoints informative without being needlessly information heavy. There are only three exams which means that a lot of information is stuffed into each exam but if you study and do the mastering you should get an A with ease. Sometimes he is political, but to each their own.

I am just finishing up lab with him, and wished I had his lecture. This guy is awesome, loves biology, and his students. Took us to the Newport Wildlife Reserve and found out he has been bird watching for 20 years. This is one teacher who lives and breathes biology and has a very positive attitude. TAKE THIS TEACHER and enjoy your semester :)

I am in his lab currently, one week left. He is a really good teacher. Very helpful and definitely knows the subject that he is teaching.

I had him for fall semester, he is a great teacher! His lectures are really interesting, he knows a lot about biology. I thought he had an awesome sense of humor too. Take this teacher if you want to learn a lot, and simply enjoy your class.

He is a really nice guy & is really passionate about Biology which made the class enjoyable. His tests are very straightforward. I got a B but that is only because I had 4 other classes. If you get an A in lab and homework but a D in lecture, you will end up with a high B like myself. I took Knauer for lab (easy) I highly recommend him!

Really nice guy! very helpful and passionate about Bio which makes going to his class nice. Book isn't too important. Easy homework too done online. Exams are straight forward. If you do well in Lab and on homework but terrible on tests, you can still get a B like I did.

He is a really nice professor. His class can be boring, but if you go to the lecture and study the power point of the lecture, take some notes, you dont really need the book. Do the hw and study hw for exams, and you will be fine. Nice guy and easy grader.

Loved him! He is a great professor and wants his students to do well. His tests were based strictly on the powerpoints. And he offers extra credit after every test. Totally fair professor. If anyone says anything bad about him, they were just too lazy to put in the time. If you study and work for it, you should have no problem getting an A.

Jan is knows a lot about Bio. His class is fast but you will learn a lot. He focus' on just getting his students to know an overview of bio. Take advantage of his journals, basically 10 points added to every test if you do it right. Online hw is important so make it a priority!

best teacher hands down. extremely helpful. very funny and sarcastic in the best way. passionate about his job and teaching. IF YOU ARE TAKING BIO TAKE THIS TEACHER YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT. He is literally my favorite teacher out of any teachers ive ever had

Dr. Jan is the best!!! I had him for both lab and lecture, I hardly attended lecture although I should have but still managed to get an A because of his handy dandy study guides. He is SUPER helpful and gives you time to ask questions before exams. He really tries to help students understand the material so don't be afraid to ask questions!

Dr. Jan is the most amazing person ever!i used to hate bio and after taking it with jan for lab and lecture its been amazing.his lab class is very fun and easy.lecture is boring but fun if u like bio.u never use the book unless u want to study.hw is mandatory.most of the questions on hw r on the test.u will love him cuz i no i did. hes GREAT!

Attendance isn't really mandatory for most people, but it was for me. If you do your hmwk and at least skim through the book, you should be able to do well. If not, you can always go to his office hours cause he's very nice and helpful. 4 tests, drops lowest score, and one final

Awesome teacher! Coming to lecture isnt mandatory, but it helps. For exams, STUDY. The book has everything you need and he gives you a study guide. You also offers 30 EXTRA CREDIT POINTS. You'd have to seriously slack off to get below a B. Getting an A is not hard at all. However, he does pick favorites in his lectures and can get a bit mean too.

Dr. Jan is the BEST prof for bio! hes really boring in lecture but is sometimes funny.his lab class is very fun. do the hw and study that! i love d him and i wish i can take more classes with him but he only teaches bio. you gotta love that guy. he made my days

Lectures can get boring, i fell asleep everytime which was awesome cause the seats are so comfortable. The 4 tests are somewhat difficult if you dont study. I never studied, only did the online hw and extracredit journals(30points) and i think im gonna get like a C-, lab points are a must to pass tho. if you commit to studying alot you can get an A

Dr. Jan does a great job fitting a lot of information into a short time period. I wouldn't say that coming to class is mandatory, but going to lab definitely is. A lot of the reviewers say you don't need the book, which is true if you're shooting for a B, but to get an A, I'd say you need it. Great professor! Be prepared to study!

I absolutely loved taking Bio with Dr. Jan! He is amazing! I actually learned in his class and he offers a lot of help. He keeps the class entertaining and will answer all your questions. It is difficult to fail his class. Just attend lectures and do the mastering biology assignments and you will pass with no problem!

Bio 100: I am terrified of science classes and Dr. Jan is the reason I now love them. He is passionate about this stuff, he's extremely helpful and doesn't want you to fail. Yes, he's a bit sarcastic and can be harsh, but he tells you what he expects, you just have to put in the work. Great professor, I have a lot of respect for him.

Honestly everyone should get at least a C, bc Dr. Jan is clear in what he expect and usually only held you liable for what he lectures. Especially with the homework it covers at least 70% of test so no need to go lecture if u want. For his lab it is straight forward just answer Q's properly u get full credit and quizzes are easy. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND

AWESOME PROF! His lectures were tedious at times but they got the job done and i learned alot. He offers 30 pts extra credit which everyone should do ( i missed one 10 pt EC assignment and was 10 pts away from an A in the class!!) I had him for lab too, he was awesome and he made it fun. Definitely recommend but dont expect it to be easy.

Recently changed his attendance policy to 4 absences for a drop. Overall, I enjoyed this class as much as I could enjoy Bio 100 He's super straight-forward and makes it easy to pass.

If you are taking Biology you must take it with Jan! His lectures are sometimes long but everything you need to know for the tests are in his lectures and on the mastering biology online assignments. He's very helpful, cares about his students and doesn't just read a PowerPoint slide he actually teaches and has some interesting stories!

He is a great professor, especially for those who are majoring in Bio. His lecture were somewhat confusing for me. You have to prepare for the class by reading at home in order for you to understand his lectures. If you do so, you should get an A. 3 or 4 test, and a final, drop the lowest. 30 extra credit option. little homework, but you must read.

His lectures are actually very interesting and he tries to keep you awake if it is a boring topic. But overall I think he is awesome. There were 4 tests and if you studied you would do good. With his extra credit journals and relatively easy online assignments if you work a little you will definitely get an A.

Study everyday and READ THE BOOK! He loves when students show up to office hours so take advantage of that; it will save your grade! He gives 30pts extra credit and drops one exam (not including the final). I had to skip the first exam due to a family emergency and I still got a 'B' (including my grade in lab). Go to his office hours!!!

Dr. Jan is my favorite professor by far. I definitely recommend taking his class. He genuinely cares about his students. The class is easy if you show up and are attentive. He loves class participation and makes his lectures as interesting as possible.

Lab and lecture were so much fun with Jan! I was actually sad when the semester was over. Show up and come on time! He calls you out if you're late. He offers extra credit and let's you drop your lowest exam score. He likes students that participate. And don't buy the book--save your money! But you must buy the lab manual

Jan is an AMAZING professor. Lectures are so interesting and he really knows what he is talking about. He goes beyond just teaching; he breaks down every topic into easy ways to understand, and always elaborates rather than just giving you what you need to know. Hes become one of my fav professors at OCC and ill miss that class. Highly recommend!

Also, anyone who doesn't like Jan probably didn't put effort into the class and got a bad grade, or is most likely sensitive to his sarcasm, which is hilarious if you have any sense of humor. Don't get too thrown off by negative comments, I would say its safe to say they are bias.

Jan is an amazing professor. He interacts with his students if they ask questions and tries his best to make concepts understandable. he is really sarcastic and funny and keeps his class entertaining. I had him for lab as well and he expects you to do your best in the class. 4 exams, 1 gets dropped, 100 points homework, 270 points for lab, 1 final.

I took Dr. Jan's lab & lecture class and without a doubt he has been my favorite teacher at OCC so far. I am a horrible student when it comes to science but Jan made sure to help me whenever I had asked. He genuinely cares about his students and if you are willing to work hard and put forth the effort he's also willing work with you!

took him my first semester of college.. got a C but now going into my 2nd year & learning how to study/time management i see now how easy he was.. lecture is always fun and interesting. drops one of basically everything and homework is basically a bunch of free points. total gpa booster. highly recommend

Overall he is an alright teacher. His lecture is pretty boring because he just keeps talking. It is hard to understand the concept if You don't read the textbook beforehand. Tests are easy, and some questions are exactly from the textbook. Because the lecture is boring I would not take him again.

cool teacher, tries to make lectures fun/engaging. only has exams no quizzes, has study guides and CH outlines so note taking is easy. lots of questions on tests are on his assignments that get posted after a CH. is finished. Drops lowest exam score. he makes sure your engaged. don't really need book but it definitely helps.

Has a strong grasp of all the material and is very passionate about biology. Also one of the funniesy professors I've had. As for work load READ the chapters and take notes in class. Powerpoints are posted online as well. Tests are difficult if you don't read.

Flies through the chapters. If you want to get an A: Read ahead, do online assignments as they will be on the exam, study his power points and use youtube as another way of studying. He's funny, makes lectures interesting. 4 exams and final. drops one exam. offers extra credit. Don't mistake his coolness for weakness.

He's a really great teacher and a funny guy, but come into class ready for a lot of information to be thrown at you. It can be a bit overwhelming if bio is a hard subject for you so I recommend reading the chapter you're doing in class before going to lecture so it's easier to follow because he moves very quickly through topics.

Dr. Jan is an amazing bio professor. He made the course content easy to understand and laces his lectures with plenty of examples. Lectures are rushed as they cover a lot of material but he is accessible outside of class if you need extra help. Test q's come from the textbook reading & online hw. Straightforward and understandable.

Prof. Jan is fun and his lectures are very interesting. He likes if you come to his office hours when you have any questions. He gives very good study guides for the exams; if you cover everything, it's an easy A. There are opportunities for extra credit and the homework online too. He drops the lowest test. Can be a bit intimidating at first.

Professor Jan was one of the best professors i have had at OCC. He is a very knowledgable guy, knows the material and he makes lecture interesting. Lecture was pretty dense, so going to class is important. His tests are mainly made up from the Chapter questions and the online HW. Lab was very fun as well, he makes you laugh all day. Does give E.C.

He is hilarious, makes a lot of sarcastic jokes at a few of his students. Always has some wild story about his vacations in Costa Rica. Lectures have a TON of information so you cannot miss class. Tests are 95% questions word-for-word from the homework. Homework is sometimes a lot of questions but there aren't many assignments. Good class overall!

This is college people. Jan expects you to understand that. Come to every class, ask questions, be a student, participate in your education. Jan works hard to connect with students and teach biology. He expects his students to be prepared to learn. Read ahead, do HW, do EC, and go to office hours if you don't understand.

4 exams(drops the lowest) and 1 undroppable final exam, chapter homework assignments, extra credit assignments. He takes a lot of the exam ?'s from the homework assignments. He's a great professor who really knows the subject and helps you in any way he can including office hours. This class is hard work but a good grade is definitely attainable.

Such a great and enjoyable lab experience. The 3 hours truly flies by with Dr. Jan. He's engaged and interactive with us in lab. You need to buy the lab manual book, which you use every week for your 10 point homework assignment. There is also a 10 point quiz each week along with a 15 point field trip. I'm not a bio major, but I loved his class.

Nice guy and funny too. He's very clear of what to expect from you. Has 4 exams and a final. He drops the lowest score, but you can't drop the final. Do all of the HW, labs, and readings (trust me, you'll need to). Study guides aren't great, so do the HW and textbook questions to prepare for exams. There's E.C. that can also help boost your grade.

Cool as a person but on the stricter side as a prof in that he has expectations (not at all unreasonable). Definitely need to work for grade bc it's bio, but help is always available. Course wasn't SUPER ezpz given nature of subject, but I was able to get an A with effort. I feel like the bitter reviews are just from ppl who didn't try hard enough.

He's a really personable professor. Knows a lot of biology. Sometimes a weird guy? But always a nice guy. Tests are kind of difficult just because bio is a difficult class. But he's definitely there to help you and answer questions. Participate and show up to class!! Study the mastering biology questions!!

He excels when it comes to engaging his students during lectures. Any questions will be answered with the intent of helping you understand. His lectures however, are the normal power points, and being engaged is key if you want to understand of the information. Homework is boring but easy points and exams are the standard college exams.

Dr. Jan was one of my favorite professors, he is really into biology and makes sure that you understand everything that is given to you. Make sure to attend all lab and lecture meetings! 4 tests (lowest one dropped) & 1 final (cannot drop), do all homework assignments, a lot of those questions will be on the test! Overall great & would take again!

By far one of my favorite teachers at OCC. He explains things in an engaging and funny way which makes difficult concepts easier to understand. Hes a super nice guy but doesnt tolerate students who dont put in the effort and tends to joke around a lot, which I liked. He was always open to help and re-explain things for anyone who needed it.

Jan rules! His lectures are long and often boring, but forcing yourself to pay attention will undoubtedly give you better test scores. Your grade mostly relies on MasteringBiology (online) and tests. Completing his study guides and reviewing MB will make the tests a breeze. Interesting and nice guy, highly recommend!

Great guy, his class made me want to change my major to biology. He makes you feel involved in class.

Prof. G is an amazing & caring Biology teacher, made topic clear, answered questions, gave a reasonable amount of homework, gave test review questions, fair tests, available during office hours & after class, used life experiences, knowledgable, difficult class for weak science students - make sure you do HW, get help from him & ask questions

Overall a very nice guy whose lectures are engaging and easy to understand. His study guides are super helpful for the tests. He has my respect for turning a horrible class into something at least tolerable.

Dr. Jan is my absolute favorite teacher at OCC! He's so nice & fun! His class is so interesting to me (but I love bio) & engaging. His tests are kinda difficult, but just pay attention and you should be ok. Stay awake & off your phone or he will call you out. You need the access code for homework, but can get away without the book.

Great Professor, Jan's bio 100 and lab class were very interesting, he makes the lectures something that most students actually wanted to attend, very insightful and intelligent guy. Access code needed for homework on mastering biology, tests are based on mastering biology and lectures. Labs were fun and he tries to get everyone involved. Take Jan!

I really liked his class. Hilarious lectures. Tough class though. Study, and do the extra credit.

Jan is a great professor in my opinion, but not for everybody perhaps. He does go quite fast in fact I heard from other Bio professors he is the fastest but he really does answer your questions and tries to make things interesting along the way. For the tests I studied the online HW and his lecture outlines and got an A on every test.

Prof Jan is very funny and great at explaining, but may go a bit fast. Tests are really easy if you do the online HW, which he would use many of those HW questions on the tests themselves. Drops the lowest exam score. Offers extra credit opportunities!

I've never liked a science course till I took lecture&lab with Jan! Really funny guy, and answers questions well. If I were a bio major, I'd take as many courses with him. Makes things easy to understand. Attendance isn't mandatory but he does check every class. Just show up, sit, listen, take a few notes and you should pass with at least a B.

I really enjoyed his class, good at explaining. We had I think 3 exams, he drops the lowest grade, and then just a final. Basically if you attend lecture, take a few notes,you'll get at least a C. This was taught through zoom but not bad. You need a code for mastering (hw), buy that, comes with e book. Don't waste money on the school bundle.

i took professor Jan my freshman year of college in Fall 2019. The lectures are long but he is a fun teacher. He goes by the chapters fairly quickly, which can be difficult if you're a slow student but its not a difficult class. The material is highschool bio but with more info. He's very caring towards his students so I recommend him :)

AWEOME BIO PROFESSOR, SARCASTIC YET LIKEABLE GUY. CLASS IS FAIRLY EASY AND THE ONLINE HOMEWORK IS EASY. STUDY AND YOU CAN GET AN EASY A FOR THE LECTURE PART. DEDICATED TO BIRDS AND BIO.

I have never really been a fan of science but he did make me appreciate it a little more! He was a fun teacher but he did want to get all of the learning material in first. He did care for his students and it showed.

BEST NON-MAJOR FRIENDLY BIO PROFESSOR! Jan is great at conveying the material in a digestible manner if you hate bio (me). He makes the material engaging and fun. Just show up, pay attention, DO THE HW, and you'll at least pass. Pros: E.C, drops lowest exam, gives study guides. Cons: goes way too fast in lecture and walks barefoot in class

Easy enough class: have to show up for labs (obvi), lecture attendance isn't graded but you're gonna miss a lot if you don't show up. Online homework is multiple choice and pretty forgiving, lab reports are easy if you pay attention and participate in the experiments, test questions are mostly from online homework. The barefootness was kinda weird.

I absolutely loved Professor Jan Goerrissen! Motivational and fun. The tests are hard. Extra credit he offers can bump your score up an entire grade for each test. Be there on time listen to him in class (he tells you what will be on the test if you pay attention), take good notes, interact and ask questions in class and you will learn a lot.

loved this class! use the hw as a study guide bc they are the exact same on the test!! up to 3 extra credit opportunities. super easy class if u put in the effort. i went from a D from the start of the semester to an A!

He's definitely an odd ball. He walks around the class barefoot which can get some getting used to. But overall he's a good professor and he does lecture extremely fast. The hw and the tests are very similar but the study guides are just as helpful. It's important to show up every day or you will miss tons of info.

Jans class is straight forward. Tests that are comparable to the homework questions. Go to lecture and pay attention for the most part. Reading ahead is encouraged by Jan but not necessary. He has entertaining and engaging lectures.

Quirky guy, but not a difficult class. You need to buy the textbook for homework and the lab manual. Lots of extra credit opportunities (I believe I got 40 points of EC?). Participate in his class and he will love you. Good class for nonmajors, but you do have to study a decent amount. Lab portion was easy.

Tests are difficult. Take the lab with this course!! You need to take a lab anyway, the lab points averaged in will help your grade a lot. Many EC opportunities. Listen to lectures, do the homework, actually do it, not AI because it is all on tests and AI sucks for biology anyway, you will do it better on your own, the answers are in the book.

It's one of those classes where you get what you put in. Do the extra credit (it's about 40 free pts, which really helps in the end). The class mostly consists of 4 tests (lowest grade gets dropped) + a final (based on the final 4 chapters), + connect homework online. Show up, don't go on your phone, take notes, and all will be well!

Im convinced everyone who has rated Jan badly is because they got humiliated by him LOL. I feel like he is very valid in what he expects for his class: show up (on time) and pay attention. Not that hard to respect those things.

Im convinced everyone who has rated Jan well is because they think getting humiliated by a professor in class is normal LOL. I feel like he is very valid in what he expects for his class: show up (on time) and pay attention, otherwise he'll pause class (for the students who are paying attention) to humiliate you! Not that hard to respect those thi

He reminds me of your typical high school science teacher---strict on attendance, yaps, and is fun. Lots of extra credit given that will boost your grade immensely. Exams aren't too hard, just follow the study guide and you'll do fine.

If you wanna be good at this class, you have to spend time to study a lot for exams. The class has 4 exams (the lowest is drop), 1 final, 100 pts for each. about 40 pts extra credit homeworks, 100 pts chapter homeworks, and 270 pts in lab class. totally 770 pts for 100%. He has study guide for each exam and final. Study hard and you will be good

I LOVED Jan. Lectures are boring and he finds a way to make it fun and interesting by adding tricks to remember and personal experiences. I honestly failed every exam and still passed with a B. Do the extra credit. Its easy and really boosts up your grade. He will call you out on sleeping or being on your phone, but he just wants everyone engaged.

Jan is definitely a character and can act unnecessarily towards little things but he was still a good professor. He is energetic which makes his lectures lively as well as offering extra credit for every chapter in which I did and it saved my grade. Doing every EC was quite a bit of work outside class but worth it. Study guides were also provided.

Great bio professor—tough but fair. He expects independence in lab, which shortens lab time. Offers 30 points extra credit. You'll need two McGraw-Hill textbooks and a lab manual. Go to lectures and office hours! He remembers names, gives hints, and matches your effort to help you succeed. Highly recommend!

Dr. Jan is the best! His lectures are great & his exams are tailored to what we cover in class, there are never any trick questions. If you show up, this class is very manageable. He explains everything in great detail & is more than happy to help if you reach out. If he is available, I highly recommend taking his class. One of my favs at OCC!!

There are tons of negative comments/ratings, but he only wants to be respected. He calls people out bc he wants students to focus during lectures. If you put in the work, he'll help you out. DO THE EXTRA CREDITS! They give you a big boost in your grade if you complete them all. He gives out a lot of hints during the lecture, and he loves teaching.

I loved this class! The professor is very funny, but he will hold people accountable, so make sure you are paying attention in class. Also make sure to do the extra credit because it boosts your grade so much.

Honestly one of the best professors I have had, yes he is hard on students he cares and pushes you to do better. I was never a science person but he made lectures interesting and fun, do the extra credit and homework bumped my grade so much, and go to his office hours very helpful, the study guides are direct and prepare you for the test.