What's the best way to study for exams?

Concerns & risks

You were trying to ace your exam by rereading your notes three times, but on test day your mind went blank.

Studying hard isn't always studying smart.

Causes & evidence

Research rates practice testing and spaced practice highly; rereading and highlighting rate low. See effective study techniques.

What to do

1. Quiz yourself instead of rereading.
2. Spread study over days.
3. Mix problem types.

Common mistakes: Common mistakes: mistaking familiarity for knowing. Rereading feels productive because the material looks familiar, but recognizing something isn't the same as recalling it. Instead, close your notes and test yourself: write down everything you remember, use flashcards, or answer practice questions. Check what you got wrong and focus there. Space your study sessions over several days instead of one long block. Mix different types of problems so you learn to tell which method to use. Explain the ideas out loud as if teaching a friend. Get enough sleep the night before, and eat something before the exam. Start practice tests early enough to fix weak spots.

Speed Man tip: Flashcards are great for self-testing.

Wrap-up: Test yourself. Space it out. Mix it up.