Thanks to referring to your course outline, you know that you have an exam coming up. Trying to cram all your studying into a 24 hour period isn't the best approach; instead, planning ahead for what you need to know will have better results.
- Review your notes on a regular basis, combine your textbook notes and lecture notes, and identify what you need help with – well before the exam
- Identify as many details about the exam as you can: its worth, length, content topics, its format.
- Make a study guide! Print or gather up lecture notes, organize into topic piles, label the piles and possibly condense your notes again by topic.
- In problem-solving courses, gather up all the problems from your lecture notes, textbook and labs. Copy sample questions onto blank sheets and practice solving the problems on your own.
- Make an outline of the course as a great study tool. Focus on broad subjects and key issues so that everything fits on 1-2 pages.
- Find a good time and place to study that is free of distractions. Break up your studying into 30-60 minute chunks with 5-10 minute breaks in between.
- When you study, don't just read your notes again and again. Instead, explain the material out loud, teach the material to a friend, do a practice quiz, and solve problems.
- Join or create a study group for an exam.
- To help you study, draw diagrams and concept maps to visually represent the content and show relationships.
- Visit your professor after the exam has been marked. Ask to view the exam to see where you made mistakes and correct them the next time.
(Source: University of Guelph, Learning How to Study)
Also:
- Study in a quiet, comfortable (but not too comfortable!) location where distractions and interruptions are minimal.
- Be organized. Make a study schedule by breaking down what you have to do. Have all your materials with you.
- Gather information about the test from the instructor (e.g. will the test be multiple choice, short answer, essay, or a combination of these)
(Source: Roberta Mason, RRU)
