College 101: Blog 6 of 8 - Preparing for exams

Major exams should be announced in the syllabus given at the beginning of the semester.  It is not uncommon for an exam to be rescheduled, usually to a later date so the professor can cover the material covered by the exam.   Here are two scenarios for preparing:

#1 – You have been studying and learning throughout the semester.

• Be sure you know what the exam will cover.
• Be sure you have all of the information.   If you missed a class, get the notes from a student you think will earn an ‘A’ in the class.   You will learn better if you rewrite the notes in your own style.  Hopefully when you were absent you left a few blank pages in order to insert these notes where they belong in the sequence of the information.
• Know the format – essay, multiple choice, short answer, etc.?
• One week prior to exam, go over all notes and identify the main topics.
• Make an over view chart
• Take one topic per day and do an in-depth review including self-testing.
• Each subsequent day review the previous information and do next in depth.
• Last day(s) review all
• When available go to tutoring, professor-led review sessions, or study groups. 

#2 – If you have not been learning all along.

• Do the first three items on scenario #1.
• Identify main topics as above and make a review chart.
• Go through notes and identify subtopics under each main heading.  Write them on chart.
• Depending on time, write next level of material on chart.
• Review chart.  Refer back to notes and textbook for anything you are not sure of.
• Go through chart, cover information and practice self-testing as much as time allows.
• Do NOT stay up all night!! 

Blog 7of 8 will examine the next step – test taking strategies.

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