Table 3. Correlations between numbers of online questions answered and scores on different groups of exam 2 questions.

In 2012 through 2014, questions for exam 2 were drawn from three sources. For each exam 2 during those years, 13–15 questions were chosen by the author from the online study questions (=“Study questions”). Each year, an additional 11–13 questions that covered the same course material covered by the online study questions were chosen by the author from questions in the exam question database maintained by the Biology Program at the University of Minnesota (=“Questions on same material”). The final group of 13–16 questions was chosen each year by another faculty member, and covered material taught by that faculty member that was not covered by the online study questions (=“Questions on other material”). “All questions” refers to all of the 40 questions included on each exam 2. For 2013 and 2014, data from both sections taught that year were combined. The numbers of students on which each analysis was based are indicated. r, the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient between the numbers of online questions answered by each student in preparation for exam 2 and the student’s scores on each of the three groups of exam 2 questions. p, the p-value for the indicated r values.

	Study questions		Questions on same material		Questions on other material		All questions
Year	r	p	r	p	r	p	r	p	# of students
2012	0.36	<0.00001	0.22	0.00015	0.11	0.067	0.28	<0.00001	282
2013	0.46	<0.00001	0.25	<0.00001	0.24	<0.00001	0.39	<0.00001	585
2014	0.41	<0.00001	0.31	<0.00001	0.28	<0.00001	0.39	<0.00001	477
2012–2014	0.41	<0.00001	0.27	<0.00001	0.21	<0.00001	0.36	<0.00001	1,344