1. Look at the syllabus and learning outcomes
2. Look at the contents page of the textbook
3. Skim through the chapter
4. Look at the diagrams (are there links to other information? related information?)
5. what do I know well being described in the text? where is the limit of my knowledge?
6. Look at the end of the chapter and see if they have any worked examples or free-form questions they ask? Look at how questions are being asked.
7. If it’s a written exam, flashcards aren’t the correct format to practice. If it’s an oral, multiple choice questions aren’t the correct format to practice.
8. Start to generate some active recall questions (rather than passively reading and taking notes) and write them down in your notes
9. Jump into past papers, exams, and question banks
10. Focus on the diagrams. Would you be able to draw the diagram yourself comprehensively?
11. Terms you don’t understand should be looked up on YouTube or another resource
12. Think of why this is important? What jobs would use this? How is it applicable in real life?
13. After reading each section, generating questions, metacognitive thinking, think about whether you can explain what you just read to someone
14. Whatever you don’t understand or have trouble explaining, check yourself against your textbook/notes. Try to use video and audio resources instead of solely going back to the same material/notes (video and audio also help reduce cognitive load?)
15. Study using spacing