Study Tips Before Your Exam:

Published on March 17, 2025

Preparing for Tests

  • Attend all classes:
    • Being present in class, paying full attention, and listening to the instructor’s exam expectations and knowing what to prepare for is the first rule of successful test-taking. You cannot perform your best if you miss key information or hear it second-hand. If you must miss a lecture session, make sure to reach out to your instructor as soon as possible to stay up to date on what you will be missing out on.
  • Start studying early:
    • Don’t wait until your exam is announced, begin studying for your exams from the first day of class. Review your notes daily and look for potential test questions in your notes, quizzes, textbooks, and homework assignments.
  • Plan a regular study schedule:
    • Create a daily or weekly study schedule that includes your consistent and major review sessions.
    • Study with a purpose, free from distractions, in a place that you have designated as your private study area. Equip this space with the tools and materials that you need to study successfully.
    • If you keep up with your regular study routine, then your pre-exam study session will simply be a review of what you already know.
    • Study with focus for about 30-50 minutes followed by 5–10-minute breaks in between.
    • Study actively, move around, stretch, and read out loud.
    • If possible, study with a group.
  • Ask your instructor what to expect:
    • What types of questions will be on the exam? Will it be mostly objective questions (ex. multiple choice, true or false, fill in the blank) or essay? What chapters should you focus on? What can you skip studying?

The Study Cycle

  • Preview
    • Before class, skim through material. Get a big picture of the lecture you are about to attend. Develop a question.
  • Attend
    • Go to class. Take meaningful notes, be attentive, ask questions, participate in discussions.
  • Review
    • Review notes you took that day. Fill in gaps. Note questions you still have about the material.
  • Study
    • Several “study bouts” per class every week. Review, revisit, review, revisit, etc.
    • Study Bouts: Short, frequent bouts of studying regularly. Set a goal (1-2 min): Decide what you want to accomplish during your study session. Study with focus (30-50 min): Interact with the material – organize, concept map, fill-in notes, re-read, summarize, etc. Reward yourself (10-15 min): Take a break – give your brain time to rest. Review (5 min): Go over what you just studied.
  • Self-Assess
    • Am I using effective study methods? Do I know and understand this well enough to teach it?
  • Creating Good Review Tools
    • Take good notes:
      • Being a good note taker is essential for both your learning and exam preparation. When taking notes in class, leave plenty of room to add details in using the courses material later. Review your notes immediately after class, as well as on a daily and weekly basis, as well as before the exam.
    • Create a study checklist:
      • A study checklist is a list of topics you need to study prior to the exam. It helps you organize your study sessions and ensures that you cover all the necessary topics.
    • Chapter outlines:
      • As you read each chapter, create an outline in your notebook. Identify the main points, key definitions, and other important details, then summarize them in your notes. This method engages both your visual and hands on learning styles. It aids in memory retention and recall by storing the information in multiple areas of your brain.
    • Practice exams:
      • Create a practice exam by using old exams, quizzes, and study guides. Format the practice exam like your upcoming exam (multiple-choice, short answer, etc.)Don’t study during the practice exam, treat it like it’s the real exam. This can also work to alleviate your test anxiety, when the time for the real exam comes. Don’t use study materials while taking the practice exam.
      • Set limits by eliminating distractions like your phone, music, friends, etc. and include time constraints to mimic the real exam.
        • Grade your exam. How confident did you feel while taking it? What areas are you struggling with? Check your textbook or consult your professor/TA for the correct information.

These study tasks will assist you in pulling better grades on your exams. If you need individualized help in mapping out your study habits for exams, please call the Academic Success and Career Center (ASCC) at 509.335.6000 to schedule a one on one appointment with a success coach!

By Alicia Petersen
Alicia Petersen Assistant Director
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