Exam Hacks

Here we provide general hacks for exams (not for learning, of course one learns also here and there once one prepares for exam, but one should be aware of the fact that the main goal is to ace the exam not to learn! cf. our remark Learning for an exam vs. Learning to understand)

One should be aware that exams (regardless of subject) rarely tell whether you are smart or dumb. They only tell you whether you prepared correctly or not.

All the recommendations below should be done early in the semester, so that if you follow lectures, you already know what to follow.

• Predict Exam Questions (Paul Graham Method)
  Try to guess what will be the exam questions based on the topics the professor discusses and likes.
• Start with Old Exams
  Always begin with old exams before the semester starts to know what is important and what is not. But use only the exams of the professor who will teach your course.
• Learn with Correct Solutions
  Always study using correct solutions to ensure you are learning accurately.
• Understand the Exam Format
  Make sure you know whether the exam is closed-book or open-book, its duration, the medium (computer or paper), and if it is take-home or in-person.
• Develop an Exam Strategy
  Create a plan to complete the exam efficiently, deciding the order in which you will solve different parts.