Vertech AcademyAdvanced Exam Strategy:
Part 1 — Preparation
Getting ready for an exam starts long before the actual test day. The work you do in the days and weeks leading up to it — organizing, planning, and practicing — is what separates students who feel confident walking in from those who are scrambling at the last minute.
This guide, put together by straight-A students at Vertech Academy, walks you through everything you should do before you even sit down to take the test.
Break down what's on the test
When you start studying, it helps to answer the "5 W's" of the test. These questions will help you understand exactly what you're dealing with:
- What exactly is on the test? Which chapters, lectures, and readings do you need to know?
- Why do certain topics keep coming up? What's the big idea your professor really wants you to get?
- How is the test set up? Is it multiple-choice, essays, short answer, or problem-solving?
- When is the exam, and how many study sessions can you fit in between now and then?
- Where are you struggling the most? Which topics feel the most confusing right now?
Tips to help you figure out what's on the test
- Ask your professor or TA if there's a study guide or old exam you can look at — this is the fastest way to figure out what to expect.
- Go through your notes and course outline, then combine everything into one single "master list" of topics you need to study.
Set your study goals
Every good study plan starts with knowing what you're aiming for. Your goals usually come down to the grade you want and the time you have.
These questions will help you set clear study goals:
- What grade are you aiming for on this exam? What's the minimum you need?
- What part of studying for this test do you think will be the hardest?
- What would a student who aces this exam know that you don't know yet?
Identify your weak spots
Knowing where you're strong and where you're struggling helps you spend your study time on the stuff that actually matters.
These questions can help you figure out where to focus:
- Which topics do you feel confident about?
- Which topics confuse you the most?
- Are there concepts you skipped or missed in class?
- How much time can you give to each weak area?
- Do you have practice problems for those topics?
- Who can you ask for help if you get stuck?
Tips to help you find your weak spots
- Try doing a few practice problems without looking at your notes first. The ones you can't answer are exactly what you need to focus on.
- If a topic has come up more than once in homework or lectures, it's probably going to be on the test — don't skip over it.
- Be honest with yourself. It's better to admit you don't understand something now than to be surprised on exam day.
Pacing: Study Less as the Test Gets Closer
Most students study harder as the test gets closer. That leads to burnout. Top students use a wind-down strategy: front-load the hard work early, and study less as the test approaches.
- T-Minus 7 Days: Heavy lifting. Learn new concepts. Struggle through the hard math. Your brain can handle the fatigue now.
- T-Minus 3 Days: Shifting to practice. Do not learn new material. Only do practice problems and flashcards.
- T-Minus 1 Day: The Taper. Light review only. Look at your summaries. Protect your mental energy for the actual test.
Organize your study materials
Keeping your notes, slides, and resources organized makes it easy to find what you need when you sit down to study. Top students often keep everything in one place — a single folder, notebook, or digital doc — so nothing gets lost along the way.
These questions can help you get organized before you start:
- Do you have all your lecture notes, slides, and handouts in one place?
- Are there any recordings, videos, or online resources your professor shared that you haven't looked at yet?
- Could you create a single document or folder that has everything you need for this exam?
Once everything is in one place, the next step is to turn it into a study plan — a simple document that maps out what you'll study and when:
📓 The Study Plan
- Lays out everything you need to study in a clear, organized way so you always know what to work on next.
- Keeps you on track by breaking your study sessions into manageable chunks with realistic deadlines.
- Is a living document that you can update as you learn more about what's on the test or as your schedule changes.
- Should be reviewed regularly — check it before every study session to make sure you're still on pace.
📌 What goes in a study plan?
- Topics to cover
- Daily/weekly schedule
- Practice tests & problems
- Resources & links
- Progress checkpoints
- Review sessions
How to run a study session
Having a plan is great, but knowing how to actually study when you sit down is what makes the difference. Follow this step-by-step template every time you study — it works for any subject.
Set up your space (2 min)
Phone on silent and out of sight. Close all tabs except what you need. Have your notes, water, and a pen ready.
Review the topic (10 min)
Read through your notes or textbook for today's topic. Don't try to memorize — just understand the big picture.
Close your notes and explain it (10 min)
Without looking, try to explain the topic in your own words — out loud or on paper. If you can teach it simply, you understand it. If you can't, use a simplifier to break it down until you do.
Practice (15 min)
Do practice problems, past exam questions, or flashcards. This is where you move from "I think I get it" to "I can actually do it."
Log what you got wrong (3 min)
Write down anything you still struggled with. This becomes tomorrow's starting point — so you're always attacking your weakest spots first.
Take a real break (5–10 min)
Step away from your desk. Walk, stretch, get a snack. Your brain needs this downtime to lock in what you just learned.
Tips for better study sessions
- Don't re-read your notes over and over. It feels productive but it's one of the least effective ways to study. Testing yourself is 3x more effective than re-reading.
- Keep sessions short and focused. One 40-minute session where you're locked in beats three hours of distracted studying.
- Study different topics across sessions instead of spending an entire day on one subject. Mixing it up helps your brain make stronger connections.
Use your support system
You don't have to study alone. Professors, TAs, classmates, and study groups are all people who want to see you do well — and knowing how to work with them can make a huge difference.
These questions can help you get the most out of the people around you:
- What topics are most important to you right now, and who could help you understand them better?
- Would you learn faster studying with someone else, or do you focus better alone?
- Have you visited your professor's office hours this semester? What would you ask if you went?
- Is there a classmate who seems to really understand the material? Could you study together?
Tips for working with your support system
- Go to office hours with specific questions — not just "I don't understand." Professors are more helpful when you can point to exactly where you're stuck.
- If you're in a study group, try teaching each other the hard topics. If you can explain it clearly, you probably understand it. If you can't, you know what to review.
How to Run a Perfect Study Session
The blueprint for a perfect 45-minute study block.
Set Up
Phone away. Notes out. Goal set.
Review
Read the material. Understand the big picture.
Explain
Close notes. Teach it out loud.
Practice
Do problems. Prove you know it.
Log Errors
Write down exactly what you missed.
Walk Away
Stand up. Leave the room.
Exam Prep Checklist
Review this checklist before every exam.
1Gather everything (before you start studying)
- Create a folder for this exam that you can reuse as a template for every future test.
- Write down the exact date, time, and location of the exam.
- Find out the test format (multiple-choice, essay, short answer, etc.).
- Put all your notes, slides, and readings into that folder.
- Ask your professor or TA for a study guide or past exam.
- Make a single "master list" of every topic you need to know.
2Make a plan (turn your list into action steps)
- Go through your master list and highlight the topics you don't fully understand yet.
- Write down your target grade for this exam.
- Count how many study sessions you have left before the exam.
- Assign one specific topic to each session — put the hardest ones first.
- Gather your resources for each topic (textbook, videos, flashcards, practice sets).
- Reach out to a classmate, study group, or schedule office hours with your professor.
3Do the work (during your study sessions)
- Open your plan and study only the topic you assigned for today.
- Close your notes and try to explain the topic out loud or on paper.
- Do at least one practice problem or past exam question.
- Write down anything you still got wrong — that's tomorrow's first priority.
4Review and adjust (the night before and morning of)
- Go through your master list one more time and check you can explain every topic.
- Pack everything you need the night before (calculator, pens, ID, water).
- Set your alarm and get a full night of sleep.
💡 Takeaway The goal isn't to check every box perfectly — it's to get everything out of your head and into a system you trust. Once it's written down, your brain can focus on learning instead of worrying about what you're forgetting.