Study methods
How to prepare for an exam
Good exam preparation is mostly a matter of starting early and testing yourself often. The plan below works backwards from the exam date, so the last days are for review and a mock test, not for reading the material for the first time.
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Why it works
- Starting early lets spaced reviews do the work
- Testing yourself shows what to spend the remaining time on
- A mock test under exam conditions removes the surprises
- Sleep before the exam helps more than one more evening of reading
How to do it
Three weeks out: gather and make notes
Collect every lecture, handout and chapter the exam covers and turn each into a note in Memo. Exam prep in Memo takes the exam's date and the notes it covers and lays out a path for every day until then.
Two weeks out: learn and test
Work through the notes, and do the flashcards and quiz of each one. Mark the topics with the lowest scores.
One week out: focus on the weak topics
Spend most of the time on the topics you marked. Review the rest with short rounds of flashcards.
The last days: a mock test
Write a practice test under exam conditions, read the marking, fix what it shows, and sleep properly the night before.
The study modes that fit best
Practice test
A mock exam with marking and a grade.
Quiz
To find the weak topics across all notes.
Flashcards
For short daily reviews.
Notes
To learn each topic in the first place.
Questions
How early should I start preparing for an exam?
For a big exam, two to three weeks of short daily sessions works far better than a few long days at the end. For a class test, a week is usually enough.
What should I do the day before the exam?
A light review of flashcards and the topics you found weakest, no new material, and a full night's sleep.
Try it on your own material.
Upload a lecture, a PDF or your slides and get notes, flashcards and a quiz in a few minutes.
Try it for €03 days free · you only pay if you carry on