The Seven-Day Test Prep Plan (2024)

One of the most important steps ineffective test prep is creating a plan. In general, plan to start about 7-10 days in advance to make sure you maximize your study time. Remember, it is better to space your studying out over a period of days rather than clustering your studying just before the exam. Ten hours of studying over 5 days is better than 10 hours of studying over 2 days! Organize your material by concepts, planning to start with the most difficult material first. This gives you the most time to seek out support well before the exam. Use the guidelines below to create your plan.Use your resources and remember to use active study techniques! You got this.

7 days before the exam:Overview of all of the material

6-4 days before test:Review content and self-test, begin with difficult areas

  • Reviewing strategies

    • rework homework and quiz questions

    • self-test on chapter and lecture notes

    • answer chapter or study-guide questions

    • attend a review session, office hoursand/or tutoring

    • study with a friend or teach someone else the concepts

    • explain concepts in your own words from memory

  • For essay exams

    • Come up with ten possible essay questions using your notes and texts

    • Outline a brief answer to each

    • Reduce the outlined answer to key words that you can remember. Use acronyms or mnemonic devices to remember these key words

    • Even if these questions do not appear, you will have organized the course content in your mind.

3-2 days before test:

  • Study all material thoroughly.

  • Work with others to work-through material and ask possible exam questions.

1 day before the test:

Review briefly and get a good night’s sleep. You have studied the material three times in the past seven days. Sleep will help you recall and use what you have learned.

Active Studying

Passive Studying

  • Explain material in your own words, from memory
  • Develop a concept map or flow chart
  • Answer practice questions
  • Relate theories to made-up stories or real life, personal examples
  • Look at charts and diagrams and explain them in your own words
  • Answer Higher Order Thinking Questions- Why? How? What if?
  • Flashcards for memorization
  • Rewriting notes
  • Rereading chapter summaries
  • Looking over chapter outlines
  • Rereading textbook
  • Reviewing highlighted material from your textbook

Download a PDF of this material.

The Seven-Day Test Prep Plan (2024)

FAQs

The Seven-Day Test Prep Plan? ›

What is the 2357 study method? When using the 2357 technique, you revise your notes and study materials over and over again, following a set schedule. In simplest terms, you revise your initial set of notes on day one, take a second look on day two and day three, then revisit them on day five and day seven.

What is the 2/3,5/7 study method? ›

What is the 2357 study method? When using the 2357 technique, you revise your notes and study materials over and over again, following a set schedule. In simplest terms, you revise your initial set of notes on day one, take a second look on day two and day three, then revisit them on day five and day seven.

Is 2 weeks enough to study for a final? ›

Yes, so your exam is coming right up in a short time, but it's important not to neglect your brain. It needs time to process and consolidate the new material you've covered, so that it can recall information when you need it. You may not have time for a full 8 hours, but do your best to sleep 6–7 hours if possible.

How to pass a test in one week? ›

📅 Divide studying into sessions

It's better to plan everything ahead of time and spread out your study periods for at least one week before the exam. In this way, you will have enough time to develop a deeper understanding of the subject. For better long-term retention of knowledge, be sure to take regular breaks.

How many days should I prepare for a test? ›

Preparing study material for an exam is an active process.

Staring this five days before your exam helps solidify the material, plus it gives you time to identify what you still don't understand so you can get your questions answered.

What is the 8 20 rule in studying? ›

The Pareto principle states that for many outcomes, roughly 80% of consequences come from 20% of causes. In other words, a small percentage of causes have an outsized effect. This concept is important to understand because it can help you identify which initiatives to prioritize so you can make the most impact.

What is 1 2 4 7 study plan? ›

The 1-2-4-7 Rule:

Read a topic for the first time on day 1. Revise on day 2, then on day 4, then on day 7. This way, a topic is revised 3 times after the first reading, and there is an increasing gap between the two revisions gradually.

Is it better to study last minute? ›

Space Your Study Sessions

But while last-minute cramming may allow you to pass a test, you won't remember the material for long, according to Williams College psychologist Nate Kornell, PhD. Decades of research have demonstrated that spacing out study sessions over a longer period of time improves long-term memory.

How many hours a day should I study for a final? ›

Your ideal study time hinges on several factors, including the extent of the material, your personal assessment of its difficulty, and the specific study methods that work best for you. However, a common approach is the "Hour-a-Day" rule, suggesting at least an hour of study each day for each exam.

Can you study for a final in 3 days? ›

You might be wondering, “Is three days even enough time to study for an exam?” Generally, the earlier you start studying the better. Having an adequate amount of time to prepare can lead to great success. But if you're getting a late start, 3 days can do the trick!

How do I prepare for a test in 7 days? ›

7 days before the exam: Overview of all of the material
  1. Review notes/quizzes to identify the difficult areas that are giving you problems.
  2. Create a to-do list and fill out Seven-Day Test Prep Chart.
  3. Decide which study tools you will create to organize your materials:

How to cram for a test? ›

  1. Gather All Your Materials before you cram for an exam. Make sure you have all your notes and books with you. ...
  2. Turn off social media. ...
  3. Turn on a timer. ...
  4. Focus only on the Big Ideas and Key Details. ...
  5. Involve all your senses to cram for an exam. ...
  6. Make your own study guide. ...
  7. Set goals and rewards as you cram for an exam.

What to do 30 minutes before an exam? ›

To help relax yourself, take a few deep breaths as you sit at your desk. In particular, focus on deep breathing. This technique is known to quell anxiety and make you feel more relaxed. Don't think about everything you've studied up until this point—just focus on feeling confident and at ease.

What is the 2357 method of studying? ›

One of the benefits of this revision method is that you won't simply be revising the same content every day. The 2357 revision method is based on the psychological scientific principle of spaced repetition that says that people forget a huge chunk of information they learned after two days.

What is the best way to study for a test? ›

6 Ways to Study Better for Tests
  1. Start Studying in School. Studying for tests and quizzes starts well before you even know you'll have a test. ...
  2. Plan Your Study Time. ...
  3. Study Based on the Type of Test You're Taking. ...
  4. Keep Procrastination to a Minimum. ...
  5. Join a Study Group (or Start Your Own) ...
  6. Study in the Right Frame of Mind.

Which questions should you answer first when taking a test? ›

Start with what you know. This will often give you a more clear focus than trying to answer questions you don't know. I don't seem to study the right information. I get to the material on the test and discover that I don't know any of it.

Does the 2357 study method work? ›

Using this method works well as you start to get closer to the exams, but you can use it even better if you start doing it after the first time you cover the material. A good tip would be to create flashcards based on what you've learned after a class, then use the Leitner system to review them at regular intervals.

What is the 2 5 7 study rule? ›

Just follow these three simple steps: 1️⃣ Mark one of your exams on a revision calendar. 2️⃣ Working back from the day before your exam plan in revision days, keeping 2, 3, 5 and 7 days between sessions. 3️⃣ Repeat this for all your exams. Follow us for more advice on how best to prepare for your exams.

What is the rule for 2 3 5 7? ›

Also if we consider any two successive prime numbers from the above sequence then we can observe that all the integers present in between are composite numbers. Also 2 is the smallest prime number. So we can say that the given pattern of numbers: \[2,3,5,7,11,13,17,19,23,29\] will describe the first ten prime numbers.

What is the 1 3 5 7 revision strategy? ›

Proven beyond the confines of academia, the 1-3-5-7 revision strategy is not just about task management; it's a cognitive enhancer. Regular implementation of this method has shown to amplify memory retention and provide a significant boost to overall brain function.

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