One page per examined topic
Take the syllabus or the topics in past papers and make one page for each. When a lecture covers three topics, its points go on three pages. That way every page you revise is something the exam can ask.
Write questions, not paragraphs
Split the page in two. On the left, a question; on the right, the answer in a line or two. When you revise, cover the right side.
| Question (left) | Answer (right) |
|---|---|
| What is osmosis? | The movement of water across a partly permeable membrane, from a dilute to a more concentrated solution. |
| Why does ice float? | It is less dense than liquid water, because its molecules are held further apart in a lattice. |
| Name the three causes of the war, in order of importance. | Your answer, with one piece of evidence for each. |
Keep only what you will revise
- Definitions in the words the exam expects.
- Key processes or arguments as short numbered steps.
- One worked example for every type of calculation or essay.
- Common mistakes you or others make, in a box.
- Leave out what you could already explain to a friend without notes.
Add what the past papers show
After each topic page, read two past questions on it and note how they are worded and how the marks are split. "Explain" and "describe" ask for different answers, and a six-mark question usually wants three linked points.
From notes to self-tests
- Cover and say. Cover the answers and say each one before you look.
- Mark what you missed. A small dot next to each miss. Three dots means it needs a flashcard.
- Revisit on a schedule. The next day, a week later, and the week before the exam.
More on spacing and flashcards in Active recall and flashcards.
Your exam notes method
- One page per examined topic, from the syllabus or past papers.
- Questions on the left, short answers on the right.
- Definitions, key steps, one worked example, common mistakes.
- Add how past papers word the questions and split the marks.
- Cover the answers and say them; dot the ones you miss.
- Revisit after a day, a week, and the week before the exam.
Save this plan: print the page or save it as a PDF from your browser's menu, or keep the plain-text version.
Frequently asked questions
Should I rewrite my notes neatly?
Only if rewriting means turning them into questions and answers. Copying notes neatly takes hours and teaches little.
Are typed or handwritten notes better for exams?
Either works if the notes are organised by topic and written as questions you can test yourself on. What matters is recalling the answers, not how they were written.
How long should exam notes be?
About one page per examined topic. If a page grows past two, it holds things you already know.