Engineering is a subject which stands midway between scientific and mathematical theory on one side, and directly-applicable techniques (such as taught in trades schools) on the other. So usually, in an engineering course, students will be expected to have some theoretical knowledge (say, differential equations), but the focus is on being able to apply such knowledge correctly to problems which may be commonly encountered (e.g. heat conduction). Therefore, many professors will allow students to have a reference of some type during an exam – what is being tested is not the ability of a student to recall an equation or basic principle in the absence of any resources, but the ability of a student to solve a problem given the appropriate resources.
Assuming that allowing an entire textbook as a reference is not desired, professors choose one of two models: a) a prof-created reference sheet, which contains a number of equations, generally without explanation, supplied to every student at an exam, or b) entitle every student to bring one reference sheet of their own making. It is my belief that a student-made reference sheet is more favourable to the student trying to get a good mark.
A professor-created reference sheet, I will not deny, has several benefits. First of all, you just have to show up at the exam and voila! There it is. You need not waste time trying to craft a reference sheet, and can focus exclusively on practice problems if you wish. Second, unless you have a sadistic professor, you will have all the formulas you need for the exam. Third, there will not be any errors, and if there does happen to be an error, then one of the proctors at the exam will normally write a correction on the chalkboard.
However, I believe these are outweighed by the benefits of being able to make and bring your own reference sheet. Every student learns differently. Perhaps you’re strong at optics, but a dynamics problem will leave you scratching your head. Meanwhile, your friend Jane is great at anything with moving parts and forces, but if you give her an optics problem she’ll just stare at the exam paper as though it were the mirror described in the problem. If you can make your own reference sheet, you get to tailor it to your own strengths and weaknesses, using more space on the equations and concepts from the topics you need help on.
Also, prof-supplied reference sheets often don’t explain what all the funky symbols mean in their formulas. Many a student has duly written the appropriate formula down, only to blow the question because the “d” they thought was a diameter of an orifice was actually the distance between two orifices. And who isn’t intimidated by an equation with eight symbols, five of them Greek? With a reference sheet you make yourself, you are entitled to write, not only the equations, but also explanations for any confusing symbols to assuage your worries.
To the objection that making a reference sheet is a waste of time, I would say that it is actually a great study method. During the process of making a reference sheet, you need to look through all the topics being covered and extract the most important information. By doing so, you will become at least passingly familiar with all the content you need to know. Perhaps you’ll end up writing down too much – equations and concepts you don’t end up having to use. But the same is true for a prof-supplied reference sheet: they often have extraneous equations scattered between the ones you actually have to use. Anecdotally, I’ve even made “reference sheets” for courses which didn’t allow one, just to familiarize myself with all the important information for the course.
Now some students might not have much confidence in their abilities to create a reference sheet. Not to worry, though. Your entire class is making reference sheets, and you can help each other out with less familiar topics. Unlike on a real exam, it’s not an offence to get ideas from other people and use them on your own reference sheet.
Now prof-supplied reference sheets can be very useful, and I don’t mean to discourage anyone currently studying for a midterm which uses one. And they might even be better if you have a large number of exams crunched together, not leaving you enough time to make a good reference sheet (usually Waterloo Engineering is pretty good with spacing them out though). But given enough time, I would definitely prefer making and bringing my own reference sheet. I know what I need help with the most, and I can tailor my sheet accordingly, and as a bonus it’s a great motivation to get studying.
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