How to Study for Exams

It helps to rewrite your class notes at home for clarification.

To do well on your exams, you'll need to manage your time effectively to make the most of what you learned in class. From taking notes in class and discussing questions with your professor to doing your homework and spending blocks of time reviewing the information without distraction -- studying effectively for exams is a long process that needs to start well in advance of test time.

Things You'll Need

• notebooks
• textbooks
• quiet study space

Instructions

1. In class, take good notes that are legible. Highlight anything the professor says more than once. If you miss class, make sure you get copies of another classmate's notes as long as that person is a good note-taker.

2. To start studying, review your notes. First skim over the major ideas, then go over them repeatedly until you know all the main points. If there are any ideas you aren't clear on, contact the professor or look it up in the textbook.

3. Be sure to read the textbook. Professors might intentionally test on material from the book that was not discussed in class. This is to check who has done the readings.

4. Study with someone else. There may be ideas you think you understand perfectly, but if you are wrong, a study buddy can tell you. Don't rely solely on this person, though, because he won't be able to help you during the exam.

5. Finally, once you're in the exam, relax. You've studied hard, you know the material. Keep reminding yourself of this.

Tips & Warnings

• Study your hardest subjects first to give you more time to absorb the information. Quiz yourself before the test.

• Be sure to start studying several days ahead of time. Cramming causes panic and stress.

• During the exam, don't sit near distracting people.

References

• State University of New York at Buffalo: How to Study: A Brief Guide