Practice Like It’s Test Day
Reading your notes can make information feel familiar, but a test requires you to retrieve that information. Practice retrieving what you know before test day.
The Science Behind It
Retrieval practice involves actively bringing information to mind rather than simply reviewing it. Practice questions, flashcards, explaining concepts from memory, and practice exams all require your brain to retrieve information.
Testing yourself also provides valuable feedback. Instead of discovering during the exam that you don’t understand something, practice allows you to identify gaps while you still have time to address them.
Try This Strategy
- Put your notes away.
- Answer practice questions from memory.
- Check your answers.
- Identify what you missed.
- Review those concepts and test yourself again later.
When to Use It
While studying: After learning a new concept.
Several days before: Complete practice questions.
Before the test: Use a short self-quiz to identify areas needing final review.
Mindfulness Moment
When you get a practice question wrong, pause before reacting. Replace “I’m terrible at this” with: “I just found something I need to practice.”
Build Your Confidence
Keep track of questions you couldn’t answer initially but can answer later. Those improvements provide evidence that your studying is working.
Common Mistakes
Don’t rely entirely on rereading, highlight everything without testing yourself, immediately look at answers when you’re stuck, or avoid difficult practice questions because getting them wrong feels uncomfortable.
Make It an Experiment
Question: Does practice testing improve my recall?
Hypothesis: If I regularly test myself, I will remember more without looking at my notes.
Experiment: Use retrieval practice during three study sessions.
Observe: Track your percentage of correct answers.
Conclusion: Did your ability to retrieve information improve?
