(Exam) Study Skills

Effective Effort

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York Mills CI Student Success

2025-26

Last updated Sept. 30, 2025

Tests/Exams

Calm down…breathe

You can learn how to deal with tests/exams even if the idea is a bit worrying or scary.

How is an exam different from a test?

Your teacher will tell you more about your course exam - don’t worry. ☺

Start getting ready before (a month before)

Organize your materials

• Binders
• Folders on GC or Bright Space
• Random pics

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Do what you haven’t done

• Past homework, worksheets, charts, diagrams, notes, assignments (EVEN IF teachers are not still accepting them for marks)

How to study effectively

Studying has to be ACTIVE

Get information out of your brain!

= retrieval

If you’re going to study, you might as well do it right!

We usually think of studying as getting information in our brains! Let’s focus on getting it out. Let’s retrieve (get out) what’s in our brains. That will help us learn to study effectively.

Two strategies that don’t work well

❌ Re-reading your notes/textbook is not a scientifically proven, effective study technique

❌Highlighting your notes is also not a useful technique

✅ Go for active learning instead

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The percentages on the graphic aren’t necessarily accurate. What matters is active versus passive.

Here are 7 effective and active study strategies

GET IT OUT

Link

General Study Tips

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Make a concept map

1. Identify a main idea or topic from one of your subjects
2. Write down, by memory, the things you remember about it
3. Add in words that help connect the things

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Make notes through retrieval

✖ Don’t mindlessly re-copy your notes!!!

✅Write summaries of notes by memory

✅Create flashcards through memory

✅Do practice questions/tests without looking at your notes (it’s ok to make mistakes - it actually helps you LEARN)

✅Instead of highlighting, say out loud what you’d highlight (with book closed)

✅After each heading in a textbook (a prompt), record key ideas from it without reading

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Make 5-sided flash cards

1. Term (key word or idea)
2. Definition
3. Example, Picture, Story
4. Similarities to Other Terms
5. Differences From Other Terms

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Use whiteboards

A great way to self-quiz:

• Retrieve, write, erase.
• Repeat.
• Do it from memory!!

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Memory and meaning

• Retrieval is not just about memorizing definitions of words
• It’s not just about small things
• It’s also about big ideas, deeper thinking
• Most importantly, it’s about MEANING
• So pay close attention when you are learning

“...memories are formed as the residue [left overs] of thought. You remember what you think about, but not every fleeting [short-lived] thought - only those matters to which you really devote some attention.”

Link to memory strategies

With whom should you study?

Study independently in order to mimic (imitate) the conditions of a test/exam.

If you have a tutor, make sure the tutor is not making things too easy for you or doing the work WITH you. The tutor definitely won’t be at the test/exam.

If you only study with a group of friends, you may be relying on them too much (or them on you). You need to practice independently, too!

Here are some tips for when to study

November is very important

Before you know it, semester one will be over!

Make sure that by November you are caught up on any missing work so that you can get ready for the big culminating stuff in January.

Plan your study time

December and January will go very quickly!! Start studying as early as you can and space out your studying over a longer period of time. Use this resource to understand how to plan backwards using a calendar.

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Don’t wait

- last day of class is Tuesday Jan. 20 (likely)

- then exams (E) start (that afternoon)!

- you can’t wait that long to start studying

- most studying has to be at home on your own initiative

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Note: exam review day is Jan. 28 - your only chance to see your marked exam.

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Overconfidence and underestimating

Keep these facts in mind when you are thinking about: �a) how well you understand the material you’re studying

b) how long you should study for

1. Students tend to overestimate how well they have learned the material they’re studying.
2. Students tend to underestimate how long they’ll need to study to get really good at something.

So, challenge yourself to study more, probably about 20% more than you think is enough to learn something very well!

How to study for multiple exams

For a grade 9 subject you should do two ½ hour blocks in one day. Do this over 6 days for one exam.

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For grade 10, increase this to 45 minutes. Do this over 6 days for one exam.

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For grade 11 and 12, increase this to at least 1 hour blocks. Do this over 6 days for one exam.

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Block out at least 6 study sessions for each exam.

Pomodoro technique

• Helps you focus – You work for short times with no distractions.
• Gives you breaks – You rest your brain after each work time.
• Stops burnout – You don’t get too tired or stressed.
• Improves time use – You get more done in less time.
• Makes big tasks smaller – You break work into easy steps.

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Balancing studying and working on culminatings

In January you will not only have to study for exams but also work on your culminating activities (projects, tests, assignments, presentations, etc.).

Every class has a 70% - 30% split in marks.

There will be no time for credit rescue of the 30%. So, if you don’t plan your time carefully, you might run into trouble.

course work

work at the end

Focused studying

Put your phone AWAY when you are studying. Out of reach and out of sight.

Don’t waste your time.

You won’t be learning anything if you’re checking your phone.

Stress is normal

It’s okay to be nervous, worried, even stressed. It is a normal part of life.

The key is to learn to cope with and manage stress by being prepared.

Get sleep. Don’t stay up and cram the night before. It does not work. Your brain needs rest in order to learn and remember.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xeDcPBD5Fk (watch this video)

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How exams work at York Mills

The teacher sets the exam for 1 hour, 1.5 hours, or 2 hours.

Everyone gets lots of extra time if needed.

But you should aim to finish the exam in the time it was set for.

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Your exam may be written in your classroom or in a common setting (such as the caf).

Some classes may have their exam before the exam schedule starts.

You may have two exams on one day.

If you don’t have an exam on an exam day, you don’t have to come to school.

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risa.gluskin@tdsb.on.ca