How Do I Study?

Q: How do I Study for the Upcoming Quiz/Test?

A: Create a Cheat Sheet* or Study Sheet

* Cheat Sheets may be allowed on certain QUIZZES (not tests)

If a cheat sheet is permitted by your teacher, make the best one you can. It will help you study and, perhaps most importantly, reduce your anxiety about the test even before you take it.

If a cheat sheet is NOT permitted by your teacher, making a study sheet will STILL help you be better prepared for and reduce your anxiety about the test.

For this class you may have a single cheat sheet on certain QUIZZES only. NO cheat sheets will be allowed on tests.

When making your study sheet or cheat sheet:

1. Review your notes

Keep in mind you really need to understand the material that will be on the test. So don’t just mindlessly copy your notes onto a blank sheet. Look at what you’re copying and think about each step as you write.

As you review your notes highlight the following things to include on your study sheet:

• steps or processes, formulas, tables, and any reminders that help you understand key concepts
• a couple good examples that illustrate the steps and concepts that will be on the test.

2. Create

Look at your list of things to remember. Divide it into things you have trouble remembering and things that you easily remember. Leave the things you easily remember off of your cheat sheet.

Write clear headings to organize your cheat sheet. For example, “How to Solve a Quadratic Equation" would be a good heading. Then under that heading outline the different ways to solve quadratic equations. Include pictures or diagrams with labels. You can further organize your study aid by color-coding, or using arrows → ←▼▲, borders, and highlighting.

3. Edit

Take it for a test drive: re-work problems from class or try other problems from a textbook or another source (like Khan Academy). Is there anything you’ve missed? Need to add anything?

The last thing you can do is to simply re-write your cheat sheet. The more you write and read your notes (even out loud to yourself!), the better prepared you will be for the test.