--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was never very good at exams, having a…" description: "\"I was never very good at exams, having a poor memory and finding the examination process rather artificial, and there never seemed to be enough time to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/paul-nurse-22409_artificial_i-was-never-very-good-at-exams-having-a_2888643.png" --- # I was never very good at exams, having a poor memory and… ![“I was never very good at exams, having a poor memory and finding the examination process rather artificial, and there never seemed to be enough time to follow up things that really interested me.” quote by Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/paul-nurse-22409_artificial_i-was-never-very-good-at-exams-having-a_2888643.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/paul-nurse-22409_artificial_i-was-never-very-good-at-exams-having-a_2888643.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/paul-nurse-22409_artificial_i-was-never-very-good-at-exams-having-a_2888643.png) > “I was never very good at exams, having a poor memory and finding the examination process rather artificial, and there never seemed to be enough time to follow up things that really interested me.” [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He struggled with exams due to memory issues and felt the testing system was artificial, limiting time for real interests. **In simple terms:** Exams felt artificial and time‑consuming for him. Key Takeaway Seek learning methods that match personal strengths. Themes education self‑awareness system critique Mood frustrated reflective Type advice personal narrative When to use this quote - academic testing - personal development - career planning - self‑directed study Key Concepts cognitive load memory motivation Questions to Reflect On - How can assessment be redesigned for diverse learners? - What alternative learning paths suit you? A Different Perspective Traditional exams may not reflect true ability or passion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artificial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artificial/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Enough time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough-time/) [Exam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exam/) [Examination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/examination/) [Examination Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/examination-process-2862963/) [Exams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exams/) [Findings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/findings/) [Follow up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-up/) [Good Exams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-exams-3701551/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-memory/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Very good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-good/) ## Related quotes > [There's a common problem: if a kid is not good at exams, they often think they are not skilled. Yet many of them do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steph-mcgovern/there-s-a-common-problem-if-a-kid-is-not-good-at-exams-they-often/) [Steph McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steph-mcgovern/) > [Self-examination is the process of accountability to your soul...It is far better to "become" your truth than to speak your truth. Self-examination is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/self-examination-is-the-process-of-accountability-to-your-soul-it-is/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [Most women don't do regular breast self examinations, mainly because they are either intimidated by what they might find, or they're confused as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/most-women-don-t-do-regular-breast-self-examinations-mainly-because/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [“Education is not merely meant for you to write and pass exams, get a good job and a good spouse, and settle down for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/education-is-not-merely-meant-for-you-to-write-and-pass-exams-get-a/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [What happens in an exam : Tik tok , Mind block , Pen stop , Eye pop , Full shock , Jaw drop , Time up , No Luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky/what-happens-in-an-exam-tik-tok-mind-block-pen-stop-eye-pop-full/) [Becky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky/) > [Exam facts- 1) Sometimes I think to write LOL at the end of every answer in exams ;) 2) During last 5 minutes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/exam-facts-1-sometimes-i-think-to-write-lol-at-the-end-of-every/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know, exams are like war -- the birth rate of ideas goes up. Anything to keep from this dismal regimen, says poor mind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-tiptree-jr/you-know-exams-are-like-war-the-birth-rate-of-ideas-goes-up-anything/) [James Tiptree Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-tiptree-jr/) > [“A large number of students don’t read to understand, they read because an examination is around the corner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/a-large-number-of-students-don-t-read-to-understand-they-read-because/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“They say life is a test and this is a ridiculous idea! There is neither examination nor examinant! You encounter problems in life either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/they-say-life-is-a-test-and-this-is-a-ridiculous-idea-there-is/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [As long as learning is connected with earning, as long as certain jobs can only be reached through exams, so long must we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-long-as-learning-is-connected-with-earning-as-long-as-certain-jobs/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some things are sent to test us. Clearly you must be good at problem solving if you are being set tough exams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-hellriegel/some-things-are-sent-to-test-us-clearly-you-must-be-good-at-problem/) [Jan Hellriegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-hellriegel/) > [Never buy a new pen for an exam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-buy-a-new-pen-for-an-exam/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My usual instruction to students when they are preparing to write their examinations is "think before you answer the questions". I am convinced that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/my-usual-instruction-to-students-when-they-are-preparing-to-write/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [One of the great failings of our education system is that we tend to focus on those who are succeeding in exams, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/one-of-the-great-failings-of-our-education-system-is-that-we-tend-to/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [Still, life carries on. Exams to be examined. Serious things to be thingied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/still-life-carries-on-exams-to-be-examined-serious-things-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Paul Nurse > [During the winter my attention was attracted to the changes in the stars and planets in the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/during-the-winter-my-attention-was-attracted-to-the-changes-in-the/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [Ever since Sir Isaac Newton's times, scientists have worked in the same sort of way: They show a great respect for experiment and observation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/ever-since-sir-isaac-newton-s-times-scientists-have-worked-in-the/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [My 6 years with Murdoch were pivotal for my entire research career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/my-6-years-with-murdoch-were-pivotal-for-my-entire-research-career/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [It was during my time at secondary school that I abandoned religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/it-was-during-my-time-at-secondary-school-that-i-abandoned-religion/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [I decided that the University of Sussex in Brighton was a good place for this work because it had a strong tradition in bacterial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/i-decided-that-the-university-of-sussex-in-brighton-was-a-good-place/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [I am still a keen mountain walker and an enthusiastic glider pilot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/i-am-still-a-keen-mountain-walker-and-an-enthusiastic-glider-pilot/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [I think it was this curiosity about the natural world which awoke my early interest in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/i-think-it-was-this-curiosity-about-the-natural-world-which-awoke-my/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [Therefore, I reasoned that study of the cell cycle responsible for the reproduction of cells was important and might even be illuminating about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/therefore-i-reasoned-that-study-of-the-cell-cycle-responsible-for-the/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [My main efforts focussed on trying to identify the rate controlling steps during the cell cycle. Crucial for this analysis were wee mutants that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/my-main-efforts-focussed-on-trying-to-identify-the-rate-controlling/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [This time at Birmingham turned me into a general biologist, and ever since then I have always tried to take a biological approach to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/this-time-at-birmingham-turned-me-into-a-general-biologist-and-ever/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [After an extensive interview he arranged for my weaknesses in foreign languages to be over-looked and so I started a Biology degree at Birmingham…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/after-an-extensive-interview-he-arranged-for-my-weaknesses-in-foreign/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [I had a great time investigating the pigments of different mutant fruit flies by following experimental protocols published in Scientific American, and I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/i-had-a-great-time-investigating-the-pigments-of-different-mutant/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [I have an idealistic view of science as a liberalising and progressive force for humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/i-have-an-idealistic-view-of-science-as-a-liberalising-and/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [My parents were neither wealthy nor academic, but we lived comfortably and they were always extremely supportive of my academic efforts and aspirations, both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/my-parents-were-neither-wealthy-nor-academic-but-we-lived-comfortably/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [It has been a privilege to pursue knowledge for its own sake and to see how it might help mankind in more practical ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/it-has-been-a-privilege-to-pursue-knowledge-for-its-own-sake-and-to/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) [Explore all 27 Paul Nurse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) ## More Artificial quotes > [One of our big goals in search is to make search that really understands exactly what you want, understands everything in the world. 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I acknowledge that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristina-schroder/conservative-feminism-is-such-an-artificial-term-that-doesn-t-mean/) [Kristina Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristina-schroder/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I think we should be very careful about artificial intelligence. 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