After your first time learning the material, the majority of subsequent studying should be in the form of retrieval practice—trying to reproduce the information, solve a problem or explain an idea—without looking at the source.

What to Study and How to Do It

Always prioritize higher-quality problem sets. Mock exams are best, followed by in-class problems and then writing prompts from big ideas or concepts discussed.

What Kinds of Practice to Do

Keep your study schedule evenly spaced out, with only a slight bump right before the test (if at all). Try to practice each piece of info five times from when you first learned it, until your exam.

When to Study and How Much

Identify the core concepts and make sure you can explain them without looking at the material. If you really don’t get something, go back and forth between the explanation in the textbook and your own understanding until you do.

Make Sure You Really Understand

Simulate your exam by doing mock exams (or if you lack those, with other problems) under the same time constraints and conditions as the actual exam.

Beat Anxiety by Simulating the Exam First

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When to Study and How Much

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