Improving Subject Knowledge for Exams

Active note reading

Your understanding and recall of information will increase if you engage actively with the material. Try these:

• Make a summary in your own words at the end of each section.
• Draw a mind map or diagram of information you have in prose form.
• Draft some questions to test knowledge of the material you have just studied.
• Cover sections of a list or formula and see if you can supply the missing information.
• Explain the topic to a friend - if you can clearly express the concepts in your own words, you can be sure you understand the topic well.
• Imagine a situation from a different point of view - for example, the client's, the patient's, the plaintiff's - or imagine pictures, figures and physical structures from another perspective.
• Annotate your notes as you go and develop a list of key terms and concepts.

General rules and principles

Generally, it's better to know fewer topics in some depth than to try to remember isolated bits of information from across the subject. That is, it's easier to recall information that is connected and logically organised. Additionally, many exams test whether you can apply the rules or principles you've learned to new material, so it is less likely that you will be asked to replicate or regurgitate examples you worked through during classes.

Learning strategies

Learning by rote is good for remembering lists, items in order, formulae and vocabulary. To learn by rote you can use repetition, rhymes, melodies and peg words. Mnemonics are useful and you can choose your own to suit the material. For example:

• Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit (EGBDF - the notes of the treble stave)
• ROY G BIV (for the colours of the rainbow)
• My Very Elderly Mother Just Saw Uncle Ned (for the planets in order from the sun)

Different strategies are needed, however, to remember concepts and theories, argumentative material and systems. Understanding the big picture, familiarising yourself with any specialised vocabulary and explaining the ideas and processes to others will develop your understanding and recall of this type of material.

Make revision meaningful

Ultimately, you'll remember more of the information you revise if you can make it meaningful to yourself in some way. Give it purpose by thinking about where and how you will apply the information; or make it personally relevant by thinking about whether and how the concepts apply to you and your friends or family.

Demonstrate your learning

Attempt old exam papers

Familiarise yourself with the structure and format of old exam papers in each of your subjects.

Write outline solutions or answers to the questions and then check these against your notes to see if you've omitted any important points.

Write detailed answers in prescribed format within the time limit to the questions on at least one previous exam paper, and reflect:

• Do I need to work faster in order to complete the paper or slow down and include more detail?
• Would my answers earn the allotted number of marks? For example, if five marks are allocated to a questions, a single word answer is not likely to be sufficient.

Focus on less-preferred exam tasks

Everyone prefers certain kinds of work. Some people like writing essays and loathe problem solving; some people excel at multiple choice and do poorly when asked to write extended responses. It's important that you identify and improve your performance in all exam tasks you'll be expected to do.

Seek help!

If you need help preparing for exams, seek it as early as possible, whether it's from tutors, lecturers, demonstrators or student support services.