Creating Your Own Exam Review

What You’ll Find Here: 3 Videos • Review Strategies • Practice Exam • Self-Check • 5 Downloads

On This Page: Predict The Exam | Gather Materials | From Homework to Review | Topic Map | Organize Materials | Practice Questions | Mini Practice Exam | Study Actively | Self-Check | Downloads | Get Help | One Action

Build a Review That Actually Helps You Prepare

An exam review is more useful when you create it actively. Instead of only rereading notes or waiting for a study guide, you can use your course materials to predict important topics, choose representative problems, organize key ideas, and create your own practice questions.

On this page, you will learn how to:

• Predict what is likely to appear on an exam

• Turn homework into a useful review tool

• Organize notes, quizzes, and examples

• Create a topic-by-topic review

• Build a practice problem set

• Use your review to check what you actually know

You may not know every question that will appear on an exam, but you can often make a strong prediction about the topics, skills, and problem types that are most likely to matter.

As You Watch:

Think about this question: What clues in your course materials could help you decide which topics deserve the most attention?

Try It Now

Choose one upcoming exam and list five topics or skills that are likely to appear.

Before creating your review, collect the materials that show what you have been expected to learn.

Useful Materials to Gather

• Class notes

• Homework assignments

• Online homework screenshots or problem lists

• Quizzes

• Previous exams

• Review sheets

• Textbook examples

• Lecture slides

• Formula sheets

• Instructor announcements

• Graded feedback

• Problems you missed or guessed on

Do not try to organize everything perfectly at first. Begin by gathering the materials in one place.

Sorting Your Materials

Create three groups:

• Definitely Important - These are topics, examples, or problems that appear repeatedly or were clearly emphasized.

• Possibly Important - These are topics that appeared once or twice but may still be connected to larger ideas.

• Need to Ask About - These are topics where you are unsure whether they will be included or how deeply you need to know them.

Homework can become one of your strongest exam-preparation tools if you use it actively. The goal is not to reread completed homework. The goal is to identify problem types, practice independently, and learn from mistakes.

As You Watch:

Think about this question: How could old homework become practice rather than something you simply reread?

Try It Now

Step 1: Identify Problem Types

Look through your homework and group similar problems together.

For example:

• Solving linear equations

• Graphing lines

• Factoring expressions

• Solving systems of equations

• Applying formulas

• Interpreting word problems

• Simplifying expressions

• Working with functions

Step 2: Choose Representative Problems

For each topic, choose a few problems that represent what you need to know.

Include:

• One basic problem

• One medium-difficulty problem

• One challenging problem

• One problem you previously missed

• One problem that connects to another topic

Step 3: Rework Problems Without Looking

Cover your old solution and try the problem again from the beginning.

Ask yourself:

• Can I start this without help?

• Do I know which method to use?

• Can I explain each step?

• Can I check my answer?

• Did I make the same mistake again?

Step 4: Correct and Explain

Do not only mark an answer right or wrong. Write a short explanation.

Use this format:

I missed this because ______________________.
The correct idea is ______________________.
Next time, I will ______________________.

A topic map helps you see the structure of the exam.

Instead of making one long list, organize topics by category.

Example Topic Map

Unit or Chapter: ___________________________

Main Ideas

• Idea 1

• Idea 2

• Idea 3

Skills I Need to Practice

• Skill 1

• Skill 2

• Skill 3

Common Problem Types

• Type 1

• Type 2

• Type 3

Formulas, Rules, or Vocabulary

• Formulas

• Rules to Remember

• Important Vocabulary

Common Mistakes

• Mistake 1

• Mistake 2

• Mistake 3

Questions I Need to Ask

• Question 1

• Question 2

• Question 3

This kind of organization helps you move from “I need to study everything” to “I know exactly what I need to practice.”

Once you have gathered your materials, organize them in a way that helps you study actively.

As You Watch

Think about this question: If you created one review packet for your exam, what would it need to contain to help you practice rather than just reread?

Suggested Review Packet Sections

Section 1: Exam Information

Include:

• Exam date

• Chapters or sections covered

• Allowed materials

• Question types

• Topics emphasized by the instructor

Section 2: Topic Checklist

List each topic or skill and rate your confidence.

Use this scale:

• 3 - Ready: I can do this independently.

• 2 - Almost ready: I can do this with a reminder or example.

• 1 - Needs attention: I am unsure how to begin.

Section 3: Key Ideas and Procedures

Write short summaries in your own words.

For math, include:

• When to use a method

• Steps in the process

• Important formulas

• Common mistakes

• How to check the answer

Section 4: Representative Problems

For each topic, include several problems to practice.

Try to include:

• Basic problems

• Mixed problems

• Word problems

• Previously missed problems

• Problems that require choosing the correct method

Section 5: Mistake Corrections

Create a section for problems you missed.

For each mistake, record:

• Where the mistake happened

• Why it happened

• The correct solution

• A reminder for next time

• A similar problem to try again

Section 6: Practice Test

Use your review packet to build a short practice test.

Include a mix of problem types, put away your notes, set a timer, and check your work afterward.

Try It Now

Create the basic structure for your own review packet. Start with these six headings:

1. Exam Information

2. Topic Checklist

3. Key Ideas and Procedures

4. Representative Problems

5. Mistake Corrections

6. Practice Test

You do not need to fill in everything at once. Begin by adding something to each section, then build your review over several study sessions

A strong exam review should help you test yourself.

Create questions from:

• Homework problems

• Quiz questions

• Lecture examples

• Textbook examples

• Review sheets

• Instructor comments

• Mistakes from previous assignments

Question Types to Include

“Can I Start?” Questions

These help you recognize what type of problem you are looking at.

Example: What method would I use to solve this problem, and why?

“Can I Do It?” Questions

These require full independent practice.

Example: Solve this problem without using notes or examples.

“Can I Explain It?” Questions

These check understanding.

Example: Explain why this step is allowed.

“Can I Check It?” Questions

These help you verify your answer.

Example: How can I tell whether my answer makes sense?

“Can I Fix It?” Questions

These build mistake-awareness.

Example: Find and correct the error in this solution.

After creating your review, use it to make a short practice exam.

Mini Practice Exam Template

Part 1: Basic Skills

Choose three to five problems that check essential skills.

Part 2: Mixed Practice

Choose several problems from different topics and mix them together.

Part 3: Challenge or Application Problems

Choose one or two problems that require multiple steps, interpretation, or decision-making.

Part 4: Error Correction

Choose one missed problem and explain the correct process.

Part 5: Reflection

After completing the practice exam, answer:

• Which topics felt strongest?

• Which topics still need practice?

• What mistakes did I repeat?

• What questions should I ask before the exam?

• What should I study next?

Once your exam review is created, do not simply read it from beginning to end.

Use it to:

• Cover solutions and rework problems

• Quiz yourself

• Explain steps aloud

• Create a timed practice set

• Teach a topic to someone else

• Correct old mistakes

• Mix problem types together

• Identify topics that need tutoring or instructor help

A review packet is most useful when it becomes a tool for practice.

Have I identified the main topics likely to appear on the exam?

• Does my review include problems from each important topic?

• Have I included problems I previously missed?

• Can I practice with my review without constantly looking at solutions?

• Does my review include different types and difficulty levels of problems?

• Have I included questions that make me explain or check my reasoning?

• Do I know which topics still need additional practice or help?

• Could I use this review to create a short practice exam?

Your review does not need to contain everything from the course. It should help you identify, practice, and check the ideas that matter most.

Choose the tool that would be most useful to you right now - you do not need to use all five.

If you are unsure what belongs on your exam review or which problems would be most useful to practice, ask for guidance before trying to include everything.

You could suggest asking an instructor or tutor which topics are most important, bringing the review to tutoring for feedback, or asking for help choosing representative problems.

Choose one action to take now.

• Gather your notes, homework, and quizzes.

• List five topics likely to appear on the exam.

• Choose three representative homework problems.

• Rework one old problem without looking at the solution.

• Create one practice question for each topic.

• Ask your instructor what types of problems to expect.

• Download the Exam Review Builder.

My next action: ________________________________________

When I will do it: _____________________________________