How do you guys study for exams?

[Kahpow]

Just curious.

Personally, I'm not much of a studying person but I really need to get in the habit of doing it, so I figured I might as well read about how other people do it.

[Valonse]

I have no advice lol. I just study last minute, the night before the exam

[Flame]

Just curious.

Personally, I'm not much of a studying person but I really need to get in the habit of doing it, so I figured I might as well read about how other people do it.

I do like 10 min of studying, then take a 5 min break. Because, I have "easy-boredom-disorder" or EBD

[John]

Depends what i'm studying. I like to write things out.

[Kat]

read the textbook back to front periodically
watch khan's tutorials (as an optional supplement following each lecture)
own ass

basically immerse myself in the material as much as time constraints allow

[Mod]

1. I print off all my lecture slides (6 per page), then do a quick rundown, highlighting key words and phrases. Don't try memorizing anything, just highlight as I see fit. That way, 40*6 pages of slide information becomes 10-20*6; lot of clutter-words, repetitive, or useless info excluded.

(It's a lot easier if you get that 1 critical word, which itself explains the entire concept, rather that rote-memorizing entire slides, word-for-word.)

2. Then I flash-cram all the things I've highlighted. Make an effort to process and remember them. Then (depending on difficulty/density per slide) I mentally recite the last 4-12 slides straight. If I forget even a single detail in any of those 4-12, I go back and recite the entire 4-12 again.
(If you remember one fact and forget something else, then only make an effort to learn the forgotten thing, you'll become overconfident and forget the first fact you remembered - if that makes sense)

3. If time permits, usually doing step #2 2-3 times makes for near perfection on exams. But since I'm a last minute crammer, I only have time for 1 go and get by with decent grades.

Though step 1 sounds easy and quick, I've found that it actually takes the most time, because it's the most boring step, weeding out the shit.

[music.speaks]

Depending on the type of material.. I usually use one of four techniques.

Highlighting, which has already been mentioned.

Flash cards. This is by far the best, most thorough way for me to learn something. It's time consuming.. But just by writing all the info down on flash cards I learn about half it and the other half I learn quickly by going through them a couple times.

Rewriting. If its something I've taken really good notes on, I just rewrite my notes a few times. Not word for word but just enough to get the point down.

Sample problems. This is really only for math and it's the only way I study for math exams. I just do as many sample problems as I can.

[Haku]

I think practive problems are the most useful for me. Highlighting and rereading over and over doesn't really help me that much... unless it's a hardcore memorizing course (but I don't tend to take those anyway)

[Celestial]

The night before I set my alarm to go off every 30 minutes or 1 hour.

I study hard reading the materials until I fall asleep, by the time I'm woken up by the alarm I'm already rested enough to continue.

Always pay special attention to the revision materials given in the last few lessons before the exams, lecturers love to use those questions or very similar questions.

Review the slides from classes.

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I also use the same study techniques before teaching lessons I've not taught before (memorize textbook), keeps it fresh in my head. You never know when a student may ask a question on something you're not sure about.

What's worse than being the student? Being the teacher...
Every lesson is an exam, being examined for students always asking questions you "should" know the answers to. ~ I've never been able to memorize a full book on security theory including the equations or ethics.

After the students finish their exams you also have to mark all of them >< This is never fun

Also having the textbook teachers guide is great too, lots of tips on what parts to focus on in there =]

[Mod]

After the students finish their exams you also have to mark all of them >< This is never fun

But more fun than the students writing their exams,