How to Prepare and Study for Exams

As simple as it sounds, the best ways to prepare for exams are those which you are taught to do from day one: go to class regularly, pay attention, take notes, and read the assigned books and outside materials.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Teachers and professors are not out to trick you; if they find something important enough to spend significant amounts of class time on it, keep in mind that you are likely to see it on an exam later. This especially applies if a professor mentions the same thing on multiple occasions. When your professor assigns reading, and it does not deal with something you went over in class, do your best to familiarize yourself with it. If you feel that you are a slow reader or that your reading is inefficient, many campuses offer speed reading programs at the beginning of the year that show you how to pick out important concepts in texts.

2. You will also want to pay attention to each professor's trends. In classes with multiple exams, think about what types of questions your professor asked on your first exam. It may provide clues as to what they will ask in subsequent exams. If possible, speak with other students who have previously taken classes with your professor. Their insight may tell you what kind of performance your professor expects and what styles he or she might use. Also, take advantage of your professor's office hours. Most major universities require all professors to hold weekly office hours; they will generally be willing to answer whatever questions you may have (within reason).

3. Make the most of the benefits of modern technology. Many professors today keep either an instructor website or individual pages for each class that they teach. Often, you will be able to access lecture notes, PowerPoint slides, and outside materials that should possess a good deal of valuable information.

4. When it comes down to crunch time and you have to decide between a few extra hours of studying or a full night of sleep, it is generally best to go with the extra studying. If you feel that you are fully prepared and know everything that you need to know about the subject, enjoy your slumber. But, if you are still shaky up until the night before the exam, steal some extra time and get in that last bit of preparation. As long as you are not chronically depriving yourself of sleep, it is quite alright to reallocate your time on occasion.

5. Finally, one of the greatest study tips I have ever received is to create a "cheat sheet" before an exam. This is not to use on the exam, but just to get yourself in the habit of looking for what is important, writing it down, and committing it to memory in multiple ways. By not only reading and seeing the information, but also writing it, it becomes much easier to remember the material when the time comes to take the exam. Additionally, try reading the exam review or cheat sheet out loud. Go over the information as many times as you think you need. The more times you review and the more ways you are exposed to the material, the more likely it is that you will be able to recall it later. When you think you are finished studying, give yourself a practice test on the material to gauge how much you know. If you are not satisfied with your performance, repetition is key - continue to review, read, write, say, and test yourself until you feel that you are ready for your exam.