For example, you will likely not be asked in a class about Shakespeare, “What is Romeo’s family name?”, more likely it will be, “Using citations, explain why Romeo’s family contributed to his eventual death. " There are generally two types of open book exams: a restricted type and an unrestricted type. In a restricted exam material is limited to specific documents, such as a single set of notes or single textbook. In an unrestricted exam, there is no limit on what can be brought into the exam room or take-home test. Make sure you know if your exam is restricted or unrestricted before taking the test. Memorization is largely unnecessary for an open book exam. However, this does not mean you do not need to study. This is not the case. Focus is shifted to understanding the material rather than simply being able to memorize and recite it. You will not be asked questions like, “Define X” but rather, “Explain how X applies to Y situation” or “What implications does X have on Y current event?” You should make sure you truly understand the material before entering the exam room.
If permitted, highlighters can be a great tool. Mark key terms, historical dates, equations, and other difficult to remember material that you might need to draw from for questions. You can flip through your book and easily spot the highlighted sections during the exam. Margin notes can also be a great means of organization, if allowed. Jotting down your instructors commentary or brief summaries of difficult paragraphs in the margins can help you spot important materials fast. Mark pages. Many people dog-ear important pages, but simple folding can be easy to miss. Try investing in multicolored sticky notes specifically designed for marking pages, which you can buy at most bookstores and department stores. You can even color coordinate any passages you’re marking, using different colors to indicate different areas of focus. In the event of a restricted exam that does not permit a textbook in the exam room, these strategies still have merit. Organizing your book during the course of a class can help you easily spot key information while studying.
Write your own commentary on information. As you’ll be tested primarily on interpretation, write down your own commentary and insight in your notes. Challenge yourself to explain what you think about the material, and why. This helps hone your critical thinking skills, which will be needed for an open book exam. If your professor provided any model questions, answer them while studying. Open book exam questions promote a genuine understanding of the course material, so quizzing yourself using model questions is a great way to make sure you’re prepared going in. Team up with other students. While study groups are great for any type of exam, they can be especially helpful for an open book. Rather than quizzing one another on materials, you can discuss and debate information from class. This helps you learn how to apply the information you learned.
Remember, an open book exam is not just memorizing material; it’s striving to genuinely understand it. Each professor and teacher has a unique area of focus when it comes to covering reading materials. You can’t replicate your instructor’s preferences by studying the reading materials alone. You need to attend class. If you do not understand something, note this. Many people will make a notation, such as a big question mark to indicate an area which you do not understand. Leave a section in your notes to be filled in later. Ask other classmates or email your professor if you’re struggling to understand this concept. It is OK not to be clear on something–a good teacher will be happy that you have questions. If you are still foggy on an area, it’s also good to know that. If you have a choice of essay questions, it is good to be able to ascertain quickly which topic to write on. If your instructor talks fast, consider recording the lectures–with his or her permission first, of course. While you are probably unable to take recordings into a lecture hall, you can always listen after the lecture to try and better catch the material. Some teachers will actually record lectures so that you can review or make up classes, too. In the event you have to miss due to illness or emergency, have a friend or fellow classmate whose notes you can borrow. Ask someone you know is a good note taker and dedicated student rather than someone who misses frequently and appears disengaged in class.
Use a system of enumerating and indenting your notes. Many people use roman numerals, using capital letters for headings and lower case for subheadings (e. g. , IV and i. v. ). Date all of your notes. That way, you can locate subjects that confuse you if you remember the approximate time of year they were reviewed in class. Keep your class notes separate. Use a three-ring binder or notebook to separate one class’s notes from another or use a different notebook for each class. Write legibly. If you know your handwriting is sloppy, see if you can bring a laptop to class and type notes. Be careful, however. Many instructors ban laptops as they assume students are using them to disengage with class. [6] X Research source While you might be tempted to doodle during dull moments in class, try to refrain from doing so as these drawings will distract you later on while trying to study. Place material you struggle with at the beginning of your notes. This way, you’ll have quick access to it during the exam. You should also list equations, key terms, and dates towards the beginning as this information can be tricky to recall and will likely show up on the exam.
Pay attention to where the most focus is placed during lectures. If something is written on the board, repeated, or discussed for an extended period it will probably show up on the exam. Include those subjects in your exam notes. [8] X Research source Listen at the end of lectures. Oftentimes, your instructor will provide a brief closing statement that summarizes the most important takeaways from that day’s class. Compare notes with classmates. If certain subjects overlap, these are probably important areas to focus your notes for the exam. You can also see what key issues you might have missed. [9] X Research source
Stop studying an hour before the exam and use this time to take care of yourself. Take a walk or eat something light. If you’re poring over material right before an exam begins, you’ll likely psych yourself out. Know the time and place of the exam and give yourself extra time to get there. Getting lost or running late can increase anxiety and affect performance. Get a good night’s sleep before the exam. Anything that affects you physically can affect you mentally, so make sure you’re rested and refreshed before entering the exam room. If you start to feel nervous during the exam, take a moment to stop. While time is an issue, plowing through and exam despite feelings of anxiety will lead to a poor overall performance. Do not hesitate to stop, close your eyes, and take several deep breaths to calm yourself before continuing.
Your open book exam will probably be timed. Be aware of how much time you have and take a quick moment to calculate roughly how long you should spend on each question. [12] X Research source Answer any questions you can without notes first. This will save you time by allowing you to get through certain questions without fumbling with your notes. This also gives you more time with the questions where you might have difficulty and need to consult your notes. [13] X Research source If you’re really struggling with a question, treat it like you would on any other exam. Simply leave it and come back at the end of the test when you’ve had time to calm down and gather your thoughts.
Go back through your exam and check areas that include information that’s easily mixed up, like dates, names, vocabulary, and equations. Find any questions that you feel your answers were weak on and try to improve them in the remaining time.
