Exam preparation·4 questions

QUESTION: Exam preparation: how to solve practice tests and analyze mistakes?

Answer

Working with practice exams and deeply analyzing mistakes is the foundation upon which confidence during a real test is built. Practice for the exam preparation topic requires applying scientifically proven memorization and analysis techniques that radically outperform passive textbook reading.

Use active recall by formulating complex questions to yourself and trying to answer them without peeking into your notes. Also, actively apply the spaced repetition method, returning to difficult topics at strictly defined intervals.

As research shows, twenty minutes of targeted material review in one, three, and seven days yields a much greater effect than hours of blind cramming on the eve of the exam. This allows you to transfer key facts and formulas from short-term memory to long-term memory.

For a quality error review and material reinforcement, follow this algorithm:

Take the practice exam under conditions as close to real ones as possible, without hints and with a time limit.
Thoroughly check your work against the answer keys and write down absolutely all mistakes made in a separate notebook.
Analyze the root cause of each mistake: lack of knowledge, inattention, or lack of time.
Schedule a re-solving of similar tasks at given time intervals.
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