Friends' Exam Aftermath: Bolivia's Argumentative Culture

The phrase when you hear your friends arguing after the exam, Bolivia refers to a meme that pokes fun at the anxiety-inducing experience of uncertainty over exam answers. The joke revolves around the absurdity of a student's answer, Bolivia, to a question with a numerical answer, such as 14 or 14.5, 16 or 16.5, or 35 or 70. This meme has spawned various iterations, with some commenting on its overuse and others sharing relatable stories of exam mishaps.

Exam stress

Signs of Exam Stress:

• Physical symptoms: Fast heartbeat, tense muscles, headaches, sweating, upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, difficulty sleeping, etc.
• Behavioral changes: Fidgeting, nail-biting, increased smoking, drinking, or eating.
• Mental and emotional struggles: Difficulty concentrating, racing thoughts, feeling confused or "blank," worry, fear, dread, or helplessness.

Causes of Exam Stress:

• Stimulant use: Excessive caffeine or energy drink consumption.
• Lack of exercise and unhealthy eating habits.
• Poor time management: Not scheduling available time effectively or prioritizing commitments.
• Insufficient preparation: Lack of exam-taking strategies, academic information, or effective study techniques.
• Psychological factors: Negative thinking, self-criticism, irrational beliefs and demands on yourself.

Strategies to Manage Exam Stress:

• Improve study skills and exam techniques: Develop effective preparation strategies beyond just reading and note-taking. Concordia's Student Learning Services is a great resource for skill-building workshops and counseling.
• Change negative thinking patterns: Exams should not be seen as a threat. Switch to a positive frame of mind and practice cognitive restructuring techniques.
• Practice relaxation techniques: Deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, yoga, and Tai-chi can help reduce tension and stress.
• Seek professional help: Speak to a mental health professional if you need support identifying the root of your stress or managing it effectively.
• Engage in healthy behaviors: Maintain a well-balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoid unhealthy substances. Prioritize self-care and healthy habits to buffer against stress.
• Connect with others: Reach out to friends, family, or a support system. Chances are, they are going through similar stressors and can provide encouragement and perspective.
• Organize your study space and time: Create a clean, quiet workspace and break down your tasks into manageable chunks. Make a study plan and stick to it to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
• Take breaks and reward yourself: Short breaks and rewarding yourself for achieving study goals can help you stay motivated and refreshed.
• Stay focused and avoid distractions: Minimize distractions and stay focused on your studies. Avoid comparing yourself to others, as everyone has different study habits and pressures.

Misunderstanding the question

The viral meme, "When you hear your friends arguing after the exam whether the answer was 14 or 14.5 but your answer was Bolivia", is a humorous take on the anxiety-inducing experience of uncertainty about exam answers. While the meme is intended to be funny, it can also serve as a relatable reminder of the stress and self-doubt that often accompany exams.

In the context of the meme, "misunderstanding the question" could manifest in several ways:

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Confusing the Question: In the heat of the moment, it is not uncommon for exam-takers to misread or misinterpret questions. For instance, they might confuse a request for a specific number ("14 or 14.5") with a country name ("Bolivia"). This misunderstanding could arise from factors such as nervousness, time pressure, or simply not reading the question carefully enough.

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Overthinking the Question: Sometimes, exam questions can be ambiguous or open to interpretation. In such cases, students might overthink the question, leading to confusion. For example, they may fixate on a particular word or phrase, causing them to deviate from the intended meaning. This could result in unexpected answers that seem bizarre to other students, like "Bolivia" in the meme.

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Differing Interpretations: Different people can interpret the same question in various ways, especially if the question is subjective or involves higher-level thinking. In the context of the meme, one student's interpretation of the question might lead them to answer "14," while another's interpretation might result in "14.5." This discrepancy could spark intense discussions or arguments, leaving those with vastly different answers, like "Bolivia", feeling confused and uncertain.

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Unfamiliar Context or Terminology: Exam questions that involve unfamiliar contexts or specialized terminology can be challenging to understand. Misunderstanding key concepts or terms might lead students to answer questions incorrectly or from a completely different perspective. For instance, if the exam question referenced a specific event or concept related to Bolivia, a student unfamiliar with the context might mistakenly answer "Bolivia" instead of the expected numerical response.

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Cognitive Load and Memory Recall: High-stakes exams can induce stress and cognitive load, affecting memory recall. In some cases, students might remember concepts or facts related to the exam topic but fail to retrieve the specific information needed to answer the question accurately. As a result, they might provide an answer that seems tangentially related, like "Bolivia", even though it doesn't directly answer the question.

While the meme is meant to be lighthearted, it captures the feeling of uncertainty and self-doubt that many students experience after exams. "Misunderstanding the question" can manifest in various ways, from misreading to overthinking, differing interpretations, unfamiliarity with the material, or memory recall issues. Ultimately, the meme serves as a relatable reminder of the unique challenges and anxieties associated with exam-taking.

Different answers

The meme "When you hear your friends arguing after the exam..." is a popular one, with many variations. The joke hinges on the fact that the answer to a question on an exam is a number, and the students are arguing over whether the answer is a specific number or that number multiplied by 10. However, you are left confused as your answer to the question was completely different and unrelated to the numbers in question.

• A different number: Your friends could be arguing over whether the answer was 12 or 120, but your answer was 24. This variation plays on the idea that you multiplied the numbers they are arguing over by two, but still arrived at a different answer.
• A letter: Your friends are arguing over numerical values, but your answer was a letter, such as "D". This could add a layer of humour, as it introduces a completely different type of answer.
• A word: Similarly, your answer could be a word that has nothing to do with numbers, such as "elephant" or "tree". This could be funny as it shows how vastly different your answer was from your friends'.
• A country: As seen in the Bolivia meme, your answer could be a country. This could be especially humorous if the exam has nothing to do with geography or countries, leaving your friends even more confused as to how you arrived at that answer.
• A ridiculous answer: Your answer could be something completely absurd and unrelated to the exam, such as "the sky is green" or "I am a banana". This could add a layer of humour through its sheer absurdity.

Arguing over marks

When you hear your friends arguing over marks after an exam, it can be a tricky situation to navigate. On the one hand, you may want to join the discussion to understand your own performance better. On the other hand, you might worry that your answer is completely different from theirs, as in the case of the meme "when you hear your friends arguing after the exam whether the answer was 14 or 14.5 but your answer was Bolivia". This meme captures the feeling of uncertainty and self-doubt that arises when you realize your answer differs significantly from those of your peers.

In such situations, it is essential to remember that everyone's exam experience is unique, and there may be valid reasons for discrepancies in answers. For example, one of your friends might have accidentally skipped a page, leading to different answers for the same question. Alternatively, different versions of the exam paper with scrambled question orders could have been distributed, so your friends might be arguing over answers to different questions without realizing it.

To make a constructive contribution to the discussion, you could suggest that everyone share their reasoning for their answers. This approach would help identify any miscalculations or misinterpretations of the questions. It is also important to consider the broader context of the exam. For instance, if the exam was particularly challenging, it is understandable that there could be a wide range of answers, reflecting varying levels of understanding among your friends.

While it is natural to feel anxious or uncertain when your answer differs from those of your peers, it is crucial to trust your own knowledge and problem-solving skills. There may be instances where your unique perspective led you to a correct answer that differs from the majority. Therefore, rather than getting discouraged, use these discussions as opportunities to learn from each other and improve your critical thinking abilities.

Meme inspiration

The "When you hear your friends arguing after the exam, Bolivia" meme is based on a familiar scenario: you've just finished a test and are waiting for the results, when you overhear your classmates debating the correct answer to a particular question. However, their discussion reveals that they were on a completely different page, literally and metaphorically, as they were discussing a question number that you didn't even see on your paper! This meme captures the feeling of confusion and self-doubt that arises in such a situation, leaving you wondering if you missed something crucial.

The Bolivia reference adds a layer of humour, as it's an unexpected response to the debate. The meme usually involves a numerical answer, such as 14, 14.5, 16, or 165, being debated, while the listener's answer was "Bolivia," a country in South America. This contrast between a numerical value and a country name creates comedic value and a sense of absurdity.

The meme is relatable for students, bringing back memories of exam stress and the uncertainty that comes with it. It also invites people to share their own stories of misinterpreting questions or feeling lost during exams.

For meme inspiration, here are some ideas to build on this concept:

• Visuals: Create a comic strip showing students arguing about the answer, with one student in the background looking confused, realising they might have missed something.
• Variations: Experiment with different exam subjects and question types. For example, "When your friends are debating calculus formulas, but you're still trying to find the derivative."
• Relatable humour: Highlight the absurdity of the situation by showing a student's internal monologue, such as "Wait, did I take the wrong exam?"
• Country twist: Explore other country names as unexpected answers, creating a series of memes with different countries, each with its own twist.
• Self-deprecating humour: Focus on the student who answered "Bolivia," portraying their realisation that they might have misinterpreted the question.
• Expansion: Broaden the concept to other scenarios beyond exams, such as "When your friends are discussing the latest fashion trends, but you're still figuring out how to dress like a functional adult."

Frequently asked questions