Recommended steps:

1. Form a small study group to review notes, discuss course material, and formulate study questions.
2. Make a study schedule for reviewing lecture and reading material at least three times at spaced intervals.
3. Start reviewing three (3) days before the test.  Avoid cramming (reviewing the night before the test); it is too stressful and not effective.
4. Attend the professor’s office hours or help sessions to review material or have questions answered.
5. Review at least three times:

Review #1:

•  For lecture material: Reread all your notes; highlight main points and major supporting points.
• For reading material: Reread all highlighted material and the margin annotations; reread any separate notes that you took.
•  Anticipate questions that the professor may ask on the test you are preparing for.

Review #2:

•  Read/study all highlighted material.
• Write study questions in the margin about the content of the notes.  Anticipate questions that the professor may ask on the test you are preparing for.

Review #3:

• Cover up the notes and read the study questions only.
• Answer the study questions in verbal form.
• Compare your answers with the notes.
• Mark questions that you had trouble answering correctly and review them again.

Review #4 (optional):

•  Just before the test, review your study questions and answers one last time to be sure everything is stored in memory.

Best wishes for a successful test!

copyright © 2005: Christine Bauer-Ramazani; last updated: September 02, 2019