Open book tests are a weird type of creature. Typically, they are designed to test your ability to apply knowledge, not your retention of it. This makes most open book tests deceptively difficult. It is tricky to figure out how to study effectively for these types of tests, making them almost as stressful as closed book tests. However, with proper preparation, these tests can be much easier to write. And much less stressful.
1. Be Selective
While you should, of course, bring in all permitted and relevant materials, you should be somewhat selective when deciding what to focus on.
Typically your professors/instructors will give you some idea of what material will be on the text. Focus on those topics, ensuring you have all relevant materials on hand, including:
- Slides or print-outs
- Notes taken in class
- Any in-class assignments or other in-class work
- Textbook
When reviewing these materials, focus on those topics your instructor has said will be on the test. Personally, I like to make a list and then sort those topics into categories. For example, if I’m writing a test in Evidence Law focusing on hearsay, I might organize categories as follows:
- Definition (including examples and relevant cases)
- Exceptions to hearsay (including business records, res gestae, etc.)
- Expert evidence (including qualifications, rules, case law, etc.)
I also like to colour code each category, to make it easier to find the relevant material in a hurry.
2. Organize Your Materials
Once you’ve determined what content is most important, organize your materials in a way that makes sense to you, keeping the following points in mind:
- you will only have a limited time available to look up the info you may need
- you will want your materials to stay organized while writing the test
So, how do you achieve this?
- Create cheat sheets/summary sheets for each topic and subtopic
- Prepare a list of key information on each topic you are being tested on
- Use tabs to bookmark specific pages in your notes and your textbook
- Consider colour-coding, both by category/topic and by content type (for example, use blue for hearsay exceptions, purple for expert evidence, etc. and also, in your notes, have your definitions highlighted in pink, case law highlighted in green, and legislation highlighted in orange)
3. Manage Your Time
Once you begin writing, make sure you manage your time wisely.
Start by reading all of the questions on the test first. Then, answer the questions you are familiar with and can answer comfortably without reference to your materials. Next, move on to questions you only need a brief reminder on. After that, answer the questions that require a more extensive use of your materials.
Keep an eye on your time, but don’t obsess over it. Instead, try to be more mindful of the marking scheme, allotting the most time to the questions worth the most marks.
Tests can be stressful, but by carefully reviewing your subject, organizing your notes well, and managing your time effectively, you can get through it with ease – or at least, without spending 70 minutes panic page turning.