If your notes contain basic information about the creation of the printing press.

Your question
section might contain recall questions like, “The printing press was invented in the year…?”
However, if you’re expected to write answers that require more analysis, you might write
questions like, “What impact did the printing press have on literacy?”

Finally, at the bottom of your page, you are going to clarify the information in a summary. Ask
yourself how you would summarize this information to someone else, including only the most
important information. If you can’t summarize the information yet, it might be a sign that you
don’t understand the material well enough. Further review your notes to identify where you
might need deeper study or instructor clarification.

Using your notes to study

When preparing for the exam, concentrate on the left-hand column, reading over or highlighting
and underlining the most important parts. Cover the right-hand side and ask yourself the practice
exam questions you wrote. Check your comprehension as you go, or ask a friend to quiz you.

For maximum retention and comprehension, it’s best to practice reviewing over a longer period
of time, rather than cramming right before the test. Using this method should make long-term
review and comprehension easier and more efficient.