How to study for a test: what works
Research on learning keeps pointing to the same few habits. None of them is rereading your notes.
Test yourself instead of rereading
Trying to answer a question, even when you get it wrong, strengthens memory more than reading the answer again. This is called retrieval practice.
Space it out
Four 30-minute sessions across a week beat one two-hour session the night before. A daily streak makes this a habit.
Practice with problems like the real ones
Work questions in the same format as your exam, from the same material your teacher used.
Study your mistakes
Every wrong answer shows exactly what to review next. Ask why, not just what the answer is.
Do a mixed review before the exam
Mixing topics, like a final exam does, trains you to pick the right method instead of just repeating the last one.
More guides
- Biology practice tests from your own notes
- Chemistry practice tests from your own notes
- History practice tests from your class notes
- Physics practice tests from your own problems
- Algebra practice tests from your class material
- Flashcards vs practice tests: which is better?
- All guides
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