Preparing for your exam
The end of the school year is near, and I am sure that most of you are thinking about the annual exam. There are a lot of pressure, and you are worried. Of course, you are studying hard, just like you did in the past, but I would like to offer another way of studying for the exam as I teach my students at Carnegie Mellon.
First, you need to ask yourselves what do you need to review? I use the word “review” as I assume that you already learned the content materials. It should NOT be the first time that you study. You have to be realistic because you do not have the time, and you cannot memorize everything. You need to identify what you need to focus on in your studying. Now is the time that you look at important concepts and identify what you understand and what you do not, and ask which part confuses you then focus on learning these parts to make sure that you understand them.
Second, you need to make a schedule of those studying sessions; each session focuses on a topic, a chapter, or a major concept. By breaking down many topics, chapters, and concepts into smaller parts and studying them in each session, you will learn them better. For each session, you need to study for shorter periods of time to allow your mind to rest and process these materials before continue. When study, do not just reread the materials but make sure that you understand it completely. By re-reading thing, it may feel like you know something because these materials look familiar. However, just because you know these words or a concept does not mean you understand what they mean. You need to go deeper into the concept to make sure that you understand them thoroughly. If not, is there other materials that you can check? Can you talk with someone in the class? And if needed, go ask the teachers to help explain what you do not understand.
When study, do not jump from one topic to another or look at several chapters like you are reading a book then have one “marathon session” a few days before the exam. I know some students are doing that. They cram a lot of materials into their heads a few days before the exam and hope that they remember them all. Cramming is a short-term fix. It only works if the exam questions ask for definitions and facts that you can memorize. When you have to apply the concepts to solve problems or explain that you understand what concepts mean, then cramming does not work.
Third, think about questions. Look at your notes and textbooks, and ask yourself what the test question might be? Write down your question, and develop an answer. During your next study session, write out your answer again, only this time without the aid of your notes or the textbooks. By predicting what the questions might be and have the written answers, you will have a set of questions and answers as part of your study session.
Fourth, you can mix all your questions up and see if you can answer them all. That is how you should review for the exam to see how you are doing? If you are doing well, then you have the confidence and believe that you are ready for the challenge. I will not wish you good luck because doing well on the exam is not about luck. It is the result of preparing, studying hard, and learning.
Sources
- Blogs of Prof. John Vu, Carnegie Mellon University
