An example of a concept map would be placing the title of a chapter at the center of the map, with lines going to each main topic addressed within the chapter. Each topic could then have lines going to supporting evidence, providing you with an easy visual map of the content in the chapter. These study guides resemble flow charts and involve using broad ideas with branches to subsidiary ideas. Concept maps let you arrange your information spatially, in an expanding web, instead of in a linear format like most study guides. Start with a main topic in the center, then draw branches from it with each supporting piece of information. There are various websites, such as Canva or Lucidchart, that will help you design a concept map online.
Comparison charts let you see relationships between specific characteristics or categories. Comparison charts are particularly helpful in science classes where you may be trying to identify relationships between organisms. A good use for a comparison chart may be identifying the similarities and differences between the American and French revolutions or something with both coinciding and differing elements. Create a table with the topics listed in a column followed by columns for various pieces of information that relates or differs from each.
Write the key idea or concept on the front of the card along with the category (if there is one) and the source you used to gain the information. Write the most important content pertaining to the idea or concept on the back of the card. Consider what you might be tested on when you make these cards. Summarize information to make it easy to go over as you study.
Use titles for sections that are meaningful to you to help you understand the concepts. If you choose to be detailed and extensive in your summary, this can be one of the most thorough forms of study guide and is great to cover large amounts of material. However, be careful of adding unnecessary information. Organize your information chronologically to help you follow the proper steps or progression of your subject.
It will be much easier to assemble your study guide once you have all the sources you will need within arm’s reach. All of your assignments and class materials can be valuable when putting together a study guide. If the test will be cumulative or quiz you on things you’ve been tested on before, gather your previous tests to look for areas you may have struggled with.
Go back through the sections you covered in class or for assignments and look for important concepts. Make a note of bold or italicized words as they may be important to the subject or cover information you may need to know for your exam.
Go back through your notes and highlight or underline information that seems important. Focus on big concepts or parts that you think are especially important based on the lectures and ensure that information makes it into the study guide. Identify areas that you may not be sure about through your notes. Research things you are uncertain of in your textbook and make sure to include that content in your study guide. Class handouts are also valuable sources as they show what the instructor felt was important.
Pay close attention to things you got wrong on the homework. Begin by including those portions in your study guide. Homework can also serve as a reminder of all the material you covered over a long semester. Use it to help structure your guide.
Topics covered on previous tests will probably be covered again in a final exam. Even if the new test has nothing to do with the old one, they can serve to show you what types of questions your teacher will ask and how they expect them to be answered.
If you are being tested on a portion of a textbook, you may want to divide your material into what chapter it appears in the book. For instance, organize your study guide by chapter with supporting information, or large concepts such as nations for world history or regions of the body for anatomy. Once you have identified what broad topics the information must fall into, use that to begin the framework of your study guide. As you fill out portions of the study guide and identify areas you are less certain about, focus on those areas in your research.
The American Revolution can be divided into time periods on a summary sheet such as “the 1750s, 1760s and 1770-81” or by events such as the Sugar and Stamp Acts, the Boston Tea Party and the Declaration of Independence, followed by supporting information for each category. [6] X Research source The Periodic Tables can be divided into flash cards to help you memorize the abbreviation for each element. [7] X Research source Academic psychological approaches can be divided into a concept map. Start with a center circle called “psychological approaches” with branches coming from it for the dynamic approach, humanistic approach and social learnings. [8] X Research source Viruses or other biological concepts can easily be organized into a comparison chart. If you are using viruses, list them on the left hand column, then create columns for aspects of a virus such as means of transmission, symptoms and treatments.
Be very picky about what information you include in your study guide to avoid making it too daunting to use. You don’t need to cover topics you are extremely comfortable with in as much depth. Instead focus on areas you are unsure of. Regardless of what format you use, combine information from each source into single sections regarding each topic. For instance, if your test is on the American Revolution, include everything pertinent from your notes, textbook, homework and tests about Alexander Hamilton into one section of the study guide.
Use neat, clear handwriting to ensure you can read everything you put in the study guide. Choose the right type of study guide for the material so it’s easy to find the information you’re looking for. Be uniform in the way you divide or separate sections so you can easily identify when one topic is complete and you’ve begun on the next.
