I’m sure we have all experienced the feeling of walking into class on the day of an exam completely unprepared. Whether you forgot there was a test that day, didn’t study enough or at all, or tried to cram at the last minute, there are easy ways to ensure that you will be adequately prepared for your next test.
BEFORE YOU START STUDYING, it is crucial you know: *Never review by source, review by topic!*
With that said, it is time to start preparing for your test.
There are three steps in order to prepare for tests: Organizing, Studying, and Evaluating.
Organizing:
1. Make a Source Outline
- Outline of all sources for your class that contain the information that you will be tested on
2. Make a Topic Outline
- Look at sources and group by topic
- Reorganize source outline by topic
3. Study Schedule
- Plan when to study each topic
- Using a calendar will be helpful
*Both the Topic and Source Outlines can be found in the syllabus!*
In my NSD 225 class, I have a test coming up on Thursday. My professor provides students with a weekly schedule, and the topics that will be covered in each class. This allows me to see which topics are going to be on the exam.
For example:
Now, students need to make a Source Outline. For this type of outline, it is easiest to display information by the type of source. For example, A) Textbook, then list the chapters you need to study (a. Chapter 1, b. Chapter 2...)
Here is my source outline for NSD 225:
After making a source outline, students need to make a schedule to plan when they will study for their test. I decided it would be beneficial to resort back to the Fritter Finder we made for class to see when I have time to study.
My study schedule:
Monday:
4 - 5 and 8 - 9:30
Tuesday:
2 - 3:15 and 5 - 6
Wednesday:
4 - 5 and 8 - 9:30
Thursday:
2 - 3:15
Plan:
I planned to begin with reading Chapter 4 in the textbook, and then review the corresponding lecture notes for that chapter. Therefore, I studied two different types of sources that cover the same topic.
Studying:
***It is important for students to make study aids!***
Examples of study aids are: Flash cards, outlines, graphic organizers, study group, review sheets.
Personally, I often make flash cards because it helps me memorize terms and learn information when I repeatedly review them.
Test Questions:
Students should anticipate questions that could possibly appear on the exam.
**Students can find or derive questions from: Syllabus, previous exams, class discussion, study aids, professors questions in class**
Evaluating:
The final step for exam prep is to answer the questions you had previously anticipated.
REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!!
Final Outcome:
A happy, well prepared student.
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