Introduction
Imagine you are learning to play basketball. You can watch videos of NBA stars shooting three-pointers all day long. You can read books about the physics of the perfect jump shot. You can even highlight the "important parts" of the rulebook. But when you finally step onto the court, are you going to score? Probably not.
Why? Because watching and reading are passive. Playing the game is active.
Studying is exactly the same. Most students spend hours re-reading their textbook or highlighting their notes. It feels like work, and it tires you out, so you assume you must be learning. But when the test comes, your mind goes blank. This happens because you practiced recognizing the information, but you never practiced retrieving it.
To get an A, you need to stop reading and start testing. If your teacher didn't give you a practice exam, don't worry. This guide will show you exactly how to build your own, using simple tools and a bit of smart strategy.
In this guide, you will learn:
Why your brain remembers better when you force it to answer questions.
How to turn your notes into a quiz without rewriting everything.
The easy way to use AI to generate questions for you instantly.
How to set up a mock exam at home that feels like the real thing.
Why Testing Yourself Works Better Than Just Reading
Scientists have studied how our brains learn for decades, and they have found one method that beats almost everything else. They call it Active Recall.
In simple terms, Active Recall means pulling information out of your brain instead of trying to stuff it in. When you read a textbook, you are stuffing information in. Your brain is relaxed. It says, "Okay, I see that fact. I'll probably remember it." But when you are asked a question, your brain has to wake up. It has to search through your memory, find the answer, and deliver it.
This struggle is good for you.
According to research published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), testing yourself is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen your memory. Every time you answer a question correctly, you are building a stronger path to that information. It’s like walking through a grassy field; the more times you walk the same path, the clearer it becomes.
If you want to read more about the science behind this, you can check out this article on Using Testing as a Learning Tool which explains why this method is superior to just studying notes.
Step 1: Gather Your Materials
Before you can build a test, you need the "raw materials." You can't write questions if you don't know what you are supposed to know.
Start by gathering everything your teacher has given you. This usually includes:
Your class notes: These are the most important because they show what the teacher thinks is valuable.
The textbook: specifically the chapter summaries and bold words.
Old quizzes or worksheets: These are gold mines for future test questions.
If your notes are a mess, don't panic. You don't need to rewrite them perfectly. You just need to have them in front of you. If you want to see how the best students organize their materials before they start reviewing, you can read our guide on How Top Students Study.
Step 2: The "Fold and Solve" Method (No Tech Needed)
You don't need a computer to make a practice test. You can do it with a simple sheet of paper. This is the fastest method if you have handwritten notes.
Here is how to do it:
Take a blank sheet of paper and place it vertically over the right side of your notebook.
Look at the headings on the left side of your notes.
Turn the heading into a question. If the heading is "Photosynthesis," ask yourself, "What are the three steps of photosynthesis?"
Say the answer out loud.
Reveal your notes to see if you got it right.
This is simple, but it works. It forces you to check if you actually know the material or if you just recognize the words.
For a more structured approach, you can also look at advice from Study Work Grow, which offers great tips on how to use this simple recall strategy to boost your exam success.
Step 3: Use AI to Write Questions For You
Let’s be honest: writing your own questions can be hard. It takes a lot of time, and sometimes you accidentally write questions that are too easy because you already know the answer.
This is where Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes your best study buddy. You can use AI to generate a practice test in seconds.
At Vertech Academy, we have a specific tool for this called the Pocket Quiz. It takes your messy notes or a photo of a textbook page and instantly turns them into a quiz. It doesn't just give you a list of questions; it waits for your answer and grades you, just like a real teacher would.
How to use the Pocket Quiz:
Go to our library: Visit the Vertech Academy Prompts Library.
Select "Pocket Quiz": This prompt is designed specifically for students.
Paste your notes: Copy the text you want to be tested on.
Start the quiz: The AI will ask you one question at a time.
This method is superior because you don't know what question is coming next. It keeps you on your toes and prevents you from "cheating" by glancing at the answer key.
Types of Questions You Should Create
When you are making your test (or asking the AI to make one for you), you need to make sure you are asking the right kind of questions. If all your questions are too simple, you will fail the hard part of the real exam.
According to the University of Waterloo, you should try to create questions that cover different levels of thinking.
1. Fact Questions (Easy)
These are simple "Who, What, Where" questions.
Example: "Who was the first Prime Minister of Canada?"
Purpose: These are good for warming up, but they won't help you pass a hard exam.
2. Concept Questions (Medium)
These require you to explain how or why something works.
Example: "Explain how the first Prime Minister convinced the provinces to join the confederation."
Purpose: This tests if you understand the story, not just the name.
3. Application Questions (Hard)
These are the questions that separate 'A' students from 'B' students. They ask you to use what you learned in a new situation.
Example: "If the first Prime Minister were alive today, would he support the current trade policy? Why or why not?"
Purpose: These force you to think deeply.
When you use the Pocket Quiz prompt, you can tell it: "Ask me some concept questions" or "Give me a hard application question." This helps you prepare for the toughest parts of your upcoming exam.
How to Simulate the Real Test Environment
Now that you have your questions, you need to take the test. But you can't just sit on your bed with music playing and your phone buzzing. That is not how the real test will be.
To get the full benefit, you need to simulate the "pressure" of exam day.
Follow these rules for your mock exam:
Clear your desk: Put away your notes, your textbook, and your phone. The only thing on your desk should be a pen and paper.
Set a timer: If your real class is 50 minutes, set a timer for 50 minutes. This helps you learn to manage your time so you don't panic when the clock is ticking.
Silence: Turn off the TV and music. You need to get used to thinking in a quiet room.
If you struggle with organizing your time for studying, you should check out our blog post on how to Create an Exam Study Schedule with AI. It gives you a perfect plan to fit these practice sessions into your week.
Reviewing Your Answers (The Most Important Part)
You finished your practice test. You put your pen down. Are you done?
No. You are only halfway there.
The most valuable part of a practice test is grading it. If you got a question right, great! You know that topic. But if you got a question wrong, you have found a "hole" in your knowledge.
What to do with wrong answers:
Don't just mark it wrong. Don't just put a big red "X" and move on.
Find out WHY. Go back to your notes or textbook. Did you misunderstand the concept? Did you forget a definition?
Write the correction. Write down the correct answer and the reason why it is correct.
This is called the "Feedback Loop." It is where real learning happens. If you skip this step, you will make the exact same mistake on the real test.
For more advice on how to use your mistakes to learn faster, read our article on how to Use AI to Find What You Don't Understand Yet. It explains the "Interrogation Technique" which is perfect for fixing these knowledge gaps.
You can also find excellent advice on writing good test questions and understanding your errors from the University of Minnesota's guide on writing test questions.
Conclusion
Making your own practice tests is the secret weapon of top students. It takes a little more effort than just reading your notes, but the results are worth it. You will walk into your exam feeling confident because you have already "passed" the test at home.
Remember these key steps:
Stop reading passively and start testing yourself (Active Recall).
Use your notes to build questions, or use AI to do it for you.
Use the Pocket Quiz from our library to save time and get instant feedback.
Simulate real conditions with a timer and a quiet desk.
Review your mistakes to close the gaps in your knowledge.
The next time you have a big exam coming up, don't just stare at your textbook. Challenge yourself. Test yourself. Prove to yourself that you know the material before the teacher asks.
Good luck!
