Make topical summary sheets

Weekender

By THOMAS HUKAHU
TWO weeks ago, I shared with you my best way of studying effectively in mathematics and other subjects that I have taken on over the years. And that was given to me by a maths teacher more than 30 years ago.
I have used it to study maths, science, education and foreign languages as well.
And I can assure you that that has helped me do better in my tests and exams over the years.
What is that strategy again? It is putting one hour every day, six days a week, in any subject that you want to master.
It was that routine (of spending one hour daily on a course or subject) that helped me pass my courses at university with good grades.

Go beyond surface learning
I have stated that many students struggle to master certain subjects because they try to get by with surface learning.
They do not realise that surface learning is not going to help you if you continue to go higher in your learning.
You must use better methods of studying and the best way is what I have suggested: Spend one hour daily on a subject that you want to master. Be committed to that routine!
Putting that one hour daily in your target subject will help you progress from day to day in your lessons.
Completing homework daily and reviewing your notes in that given time will help you better remember concepts that you are learning in class.
Have you been in classes where a revision question is asked and it seems that nobody has an answer to that question?
(Well, I have been in such classes as a student, as well as a teacher, and I can say that it is embarrassing to be in such a class.)
Why is it that nobody has an answer to that question? Answer: It is likely that none of the students reviewed their notes the night before. Or, they may not have completed their homework.
You will fare better than such students (in your learning) if you spend that one hour daily in your work – completing homework and reviewing notes.

Summary sheets vital in exam
preparation
If you, over time, cultivate the habit of spending one hour daily on a subject of your choosing, you will surely do well in that subject.
Now, let us turn to your preparation for an exam or test.
Let me give you a good tip on getting you to prepare well – and that is, you must produce a “summary sheet” on each topic or unit that you covered in any subject.
The summary sheet is a summary of the important concepts learned in any unit.
I have provided an example of a summary sheet (or summary note) on maths in the first picture, where I have basic points on topics like trigonometry, geometry and statistics. You can include properties of shapes, important formulas, definitions of terms, laws or even diagrams of 2D or 3D shapes in your summary sheets.
My second picture is a summary sheet on the conjugation of the French verb “être” (to be). (English equivalents of this verb include words like “am”, “is” and “are”.)
In formal foreign language learning, one of the main exercises you will do is to correctly conjugate verbs, all sorts of verbs. (It can be tiring work, but if you want to pass a French or Spanish course, you must do that.)
In my summary sheet on “être”, all the different forms of the verb are underlined in the sentences given.
 
Revise from your summary sheets
When you are revising for tests or exams, revise from your summary sheets, not your exercise books or textbooks.
If you have done a good job of producing summary sheets on different units covered in your course, the summary sheets would be condensed versions of all that are in your exercise books and textbooks. (Some people call these “cheat sheets”, but that term itself has a broader meaning and I will not use that.)
Having summary sheets though should not prevent you from consulting your notes or textbook if you are unsure about a concept.
However, as much as possible, revise from your summary sheets.

You remember what you write
Writing summary sheets help you in another way too.
I was told this in some way when I was a teenager: You remember better what you write!
Writing a summary sheet helps better impress the concepts you are reviewing in your mind.
Remember, most of us do not possess photographic memory, so we must come up with strategies to help us better remember concepts that we have studied to better prepare for an exam or test.
The best way to do this is to write short condensed notes that should be part of your summary sheets.
Drawing diagrams too will help in a huge way. In science, maths and business planning, a simple diagram or flowchart often sums up a lot in half of an A4 paper.

It can be hard work
Producing summary sheets for the first time can be hard work, I will not deny that.
However, if you start the habit of making them, you will find it a bit easier as you go on, from week to week or from month to month.
And over time, you will feel confident in the subjects that you have used that method to prepare for exams or tests.
Remember, if getting better scores on your tests and exams is important to you, you ought to start working on your summary sheets now.
Remember, you will not continue to get good marks in your subjects or courses if you do not really work. Moreover, if you want to score very well in your tests and exams, you ought to take on my tips.

Consult your teachers
If you are not sure about what I am saying here, show this article to your teacher and get him or her to explain to you.
Some teachers often prepare summary sheets for their students before a test or exam. (I have done that too.)
However, I would advise you to do your own because you will not have your wise teacher with you all the years of your life. You must learn to do things yourself.

Don’t look for special medicine
Let me touch on something that you should be aware of.
Some people have the habit of drinking a special juice or medicine, or eating a certain fruit, before an exam. They believe that consuming such items will help them remember better.
I personally think lazy people do that kind of thing.
The hardworking learners are those who spend sufficient time completing their work and prepare good summary sheets to revise from for their exams or tests.
Sure, you have to watch what you eat before an exam or test but I doubt any special fruit or recipe will help you do better if you do not revise properly.
It is like not practising well for an important football match and hoping that drinking a special medicine will help you perform better on the field.
You know, that just won’t work.
You must work and practise to win your match.
Apply the same principle to exam preparations too.

Next week: How do you write an exam?

  • Thomas Hukahu is a freelance writer.