A Two-Week Exam Prep Plan
Two weeks is enough time to prepare well for most exams if you use it deliberately. Here is a plan you can adjust to your class.
Day 1: Map the exam
- Find out the format, length, topics covered and what you are allowed to bring.
- List every topic and rate your confidence on each from 1 to 3.
- Collect practice materials: past exams, end-of-chapter questions, homework, and your own note questions.
Days 2 to 6: Learn and fill gaps
- Start with your lowest-confidence topics.
- For each topic, review briefly, then immediately test yourself with practice questions.
- Keep a "mistakes list" of every question you get wrong and why.
- Begin each day with fifteen minutes reviewing earlier topics from memory.
Day 7: Full practice test
Take a full practice exam under realistic conditions: timed, closed book if the real one is, no phone. Grade it honestly. Update your confidence ratings and add mistakes to your list.
Days 8 to 12: Targeted practice
- Focus on the topics and question types you missed.
- Mix topics in each session so you practice choosing the right approach.
- Explain tricky concepts out loud or to a study partner.
- Visit office hours or a tutor with specific questions from your mistakes list.
Day 13: Second practice test
Take another timed practice exam. Review every mistake. By now your mistakes list should be shrinking.
Day 14: Light review and rest
Go over your mistakes list and summary sheet, gather what you need for the exam, and get a full night of sleep. Avoid starting new material.
Exam day
Eat something, arrive early, read every question carefully, and answer the ones you know first. If you get stuck, mark it and move on.
The short version
Map the exam, attack weak topics first, test yourself constantly, take two full practice exams, keep a mistakes list, and rest the night before. See also active recall and spaced repetition.