The classic trap
Rereading feels like working, but it is not always learning. For exams, I try to move quickly from passive reading to active recall: explain, redo, test, correct.
My method
Map the program
I start by listing chapters, concepts and exercise types. Then I sort them into three levels: mastered, fragile, unknown. This prevents me from revising only what I already like.
Make sessions short and verifiable
A good session must produce something: a summary sheet, a corrected exercise, an oral explanation, a list of mistakes. If I cannot show what I learned, I ask whether I mostly spent time.
Train under conditions
The brain does not react the same way under a time limit. So I keep past papers or full exercises for simulations, even short ones.
Practical checklist
- Make a complete list of topics to revise.
- Start each session with a precise question.
- Explain a concept without looking at the course.
- Correct your mistakes in a dedicated notebook.
- Alternate subjects to avoid the illusion of mastery.
- Keep sleep before the exam: it is part of preparation.
A useful rule
If you want to know whether you truly understand a topic, try teaching it simply to someone else.