Advice
Exam Study Tips
Wardah Khizer
Volume 6 Issue 3
June 8, 2026
Image Provided by Ariane de Gennaro of Yale Daily News
Finals season is right around the corner, with it comes the scramble to learn a year’s worth of content in less than a month. For many students, this means late night study sessions, piles of notes, and a lot of panic. Before you start re-reading the same notes for the fifth time, take a step back and learn how to study more effectively.
Studying does not have to be overwhelming. With the right techniques, you can feel more prepared, less stressed, and even have enough time left over to hang out with your friends. Here is a guide to make the most of your study time.
Make a Plan
Before you dive into your notes, make sure you have a clear idea of when and how to study. Start by creating a study schedule that breaks your study time down into manageable sessions. Assign specific tasks or topics to each session, making sure to include regular breaks to avoid feeling rushed or overwhelmed. Taking care of your mental and physical health is just as, if not more important than studying itself. Ensure that you are getting the recommended amount of sleep each night, eating balanced meals, and staying hydrated. Also, limit distractions, such as your phone, to help your brain concentrate. Either use screen time limits or place your phone in a separate room altogether. A quiet organized environment will help you retain information better and make your study sessions more efficient.
Active Recall
According to tutor Prisha Shrivastava, “[a]ctive recall is a proven study technique where instead of passively repeating information, you stimulate your brain to actively retrieve the information you have just learned.” This process strengthens the neural pathways associated with memory, making it easier to recall that information later, especially during exams. Rather than just highlighting or rereading notes, active recall encourages you to quiz yourself, summarize concepts from memory, or use flashcards. Each time you pull information out of your brain, you reinforce your understanding and make the knowledge stick. There are multiple websites and apps that you can use to practice active recall. My personal favorite is Knowt, which is a free Quizlet alternative. On this site, you can create flashcards from PDF files, study guides, or access resources, such as flashcards, detailed notes, and practice questions, created by students who previously took your class. The best part is you do not have to pay a subscription fee!
Spaced Repetition
According to J.E. Choi, Spaced repetition works by reviewing material over increasing intervals of time. You might go over a topic right after learning it, then revisit it a few hours later, again after a few days, and then once more after a few weeks. This technique helps reinforce what you have learned and reduces forgetting by strengthening your memory each time you recall the information. Knowt provides a flashcard study mode that uses spaced repetition, and it allows for full customization. You begin by selecting the date of your upcoming test or exam, then choose how frequently you would like to review different types of questions. For example, you can schedule your most difficult questions to appear every day, while those you consistently answer correctly can appear every four days. Once everything is set, simply review the material at recommended intervals, and you will find yourself recalling definitions and key concepts more easily.
Teach What You Learn
One of the most powerful ways to truly understand and retain information is to teach it to someone else. Explaining a concept in your own words forces you to process it deeply, identify gaps in your understanding, and strengthen your memory. According to Michael Simmons, "Without some form of active processing, like teaching, almost everything we read is lost within weeks." Teaching turns passive knowledge into active recall, whether you are helping a classmate, speaking aloud to yourself, or writing down an explanation. If you struggle to explain something clearly, it is a sign that you need to revisit and review that material. The more clearly and simply you can teach a topic, the better you understand it.
Conclusion
Good luck with your finals! Apply these techniques—make a plan, use active recall, space out your studying, and teach what you learn—and you will set yourself up for success. You have worked hard all year, and now is the time to study with intention and confidence.
Sources:
https://lsc.cornell.edu/guidelines-for-creating-a-study-schedule-2/
https://upchieve.org/blog/active-recall-studying-methods