Summary
Highlights
When faced with a large amount of content for exams, avoid superficial skimming. Instead, work backwards by reviewing chapter summaries in textbooks to identify key concepts. Copy these core ideas into a separate document and actively test yourself on them using active recall, rather than just highlighting, to improve retention.
Instead of measuring productivity by hours studied, prioritize intensity. Apply Parkinson's Law by studying in focused 1-2 hour blocks per topic to create pressure for productive work. Additionally, utilize a multi-sensory learning approach, incorporating videos alongside reading, to enhance understanding and memory by engaging different senses.
To reduce exam day stress, make your study sessions mirror the actual exam environment. This means eliminating distractions like phones and music, setting a timer for the exam's duration, and limiting breaks. By adapting to these conditions during study, you'll be better prepared to maintain focus and manage stress during the actual exam.
Close to exams, avoid creating your own practice questions, as these often lack a proper marking criteria and can lead to overconfidence. Instead, practice with real past exam papers or questions from others to expose yourself to various question styles and improve your ability to apply learned material to different scenarios. Keep a document to track and review wrong answers for further active recall.
While sufficient sleep is ideal, if struggling to sleep the night before an exam, it's better to get up and study productively for a short period until tiredness sets in, ensuring at least 7 hours of sleep. On exam morning, avoid breakfasts high in simple carbohydrates, which can lead to fatigue, choosing options that sustain energy instead.