No more teachers’ dirty looks? Not quite yet

Make sure that you tailor your studying not just to the material, but also to the type of exam. If your prof doesn’t divulge the type of exam in class, make use of her office hours and ask. The style of the test—multiple choice, short answer, essay question—should inform your style of study. For instance, if you know there will be an essay question on the exam, you should prepare yourself with tidbits of information you can use to make a compelling argument. Also, if you can get your hands on one, a copy of an old exam for the course can be a huge help.

Resist the urge to reread whole sections of your text or rewrite notes you’ve already taken. Remember that you’ve completed the class part of your course, so don’t just repeat what you’ve already done. Reviewing your notes is all fine and good, but studying is really all about practice. Make sure you are rehearsing completing actual questions. In a math course you want to practice completing problems, not just memorize equations, but this doesn’t just apply to math; for history class you should practice writing about the topics you will be tested on. This may seem obvious, but many students make the mistake of equating simple memorization to studying.

Studying with others can be helpful, but make sure that you are choosy about who you team up with. Puzzling through problems with someone at the same level as you can be a great way to think about the material from a new perspective, and articulating the material to someone else will help you internalize it and be able to write about it with clarity. But beware the study leech; studying with someone who knows way less than you can rapidly turn into an unpaid tutoring session.

And remember, if your science fiction nerd teacher asks on your exam what the meaning of life is, it is 42.