Exam Prep Activities that Are Worth Your Time

Students spend time on the wrong things.

I really hate it when I find out a student spent hours and hours prepping for exams, but still did poorly. It happens relatively frequently, unfortunately. There are two causes: (1) students don’t spend time on the right things and (2) students spend time on the wrong things.

How to Spend Time

• Two things must happen: You must know the rules and be able to apply them. To do this have to learn the rules. This is usually a product of outlining and memorization.

• You also need to make sure you understand the rules. This can be accomplished by outlining (if done correctly) and by asking if you understand how each rule functions and how it relates to other rules on the same issue.

• Finally, practice is absolutely critical. The hypothetical is a unique way of testing. It takes practice and strategy to do it well. Do sample hypotheticals and self-grade. Repeat, repeat, repeat. After learning rules, this is the critical place to spend your time. Students improve quite predictably with practice. It’s not rocket science. But relatively few people are fantastic at it the first time they try. And due to comparative grading and mandatory means, you have to be fantastic to get an A grade.

How Not to Spend Time

• Don’t just reread cases and class notes over and over. Focus on learning the rules specifically.

• Be careful how much time is spent in study groups. This can be a time waster. It can also be useful. Doing hypotheticals together and discussing them after you self-grade can be helpful (and make sure you actually get your practice in).