Study strategies for Rotman Commerce students
Find study strategies to help you succeed on midterms, finals and exams. Learn how to prepare before, during, and after class, strengthen your exam performance, and bounce back strategically after a tough exam.
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Managing test and finals prep
Spaced repetition is a study strategy that helps you retain information long‑term by reviewing material at gradually increasing intervals. Used consistently, it’s an effective way to master course content and perform better on midterms and finals without cramming.
- Break content into chunks: After class, divide lectures and readings into small, testable concepts or questions.
- Review shortly after learning: Do a quick review within 24 hours to reinforce new material while it’s still fresh.
- Schedule repeated reviews: Revisit the same material days and then weeks later, increasing the time between each review.
- Test yourself actively: Use flashcards, practice problems, or recall questions instead of rereading notes.
- Adjust before exams: Increase review frequency for weak areas as midterms or finals approach.
Active recall is a study technique that strengthens memory by actively retrieving information from your brain instead of passively rereading notes. It helps you perform better on midterms and finals by building exam‑ready recall and highlighting gaps in your understanding early.
- Learn the material first: Attend class and review notes or readings so you understand the concepts before testing yourself.
- Close your notes: After studying, put your notes away and try to explain key ideas out loud or write them from memory.
- Turn content into questions: Create practice questions, flashcards, or problem sets based on lectures and tutorials.
- Check and correct: Review your answers, identify mistakes or gaps, and immediately clarify weak areas.
- Repeat consistently: Use active recall regularly throughout the term and increase frequency as midterms and finals approach.
Other strategies:
- Create a study schedule. Divide courses over multiple days.
- Create a one‑page summary sheet. Condense key formulas, definitions, and frameworks onto a single page—making it forces review and helps you spot weak areas quickly.
- Protect sleep and energy before the exam. Prioritize sleep, hydration, and a light review over late‑night cramming so you perform at your best cognitively during the exam.
Before, during and after class strategies
Before class preparation: Maximize your learning and get the most out of your lectures by preparing with purpose.
- Spend 15 minutes prepping for a 50-minute lecture.
- Preview the slides and underline 3–5 points you find confusing or important.
- Summarize key concepts in 3–5 brief bullet points for quick pre-class review.
In-class note taking: Take notes effectively to absorb key concepts and stay engaged.
- Write down questions as they arise and ask them when prompted. Don’t assume there will be time after class!
- Use shorthand symbols and abbreviations to capture key ideas.
- Mark unclear points with a symbol (?) or highlight to revisit after class or during office hours.
After class review: reinforce what you learned and strengthen recall. You’ll thank yourself later.
- Write a short summary (5–7 sentences) of the lecture right after class.
- Do a 2-minute recall test by explaining the topic to a friend or peer without notes.
- Revisit your list of unclear points and resolve them (office hours, peers, textbook).
Overcoming the Curve of Forgetting
The Curve of Forgetting describes how students rapidly lose newly learned information unless they review it soon after first exposure. Frequent, spaced review helps flatten the curve, allowing knowledge to be retained far longer and recalled more easily during exams.
One day before class:
- Spend 15 minutes reviewing slides.
- Write out 5 questions you have.
- List 10 key equations & main concepts.
Immediately after class:
- Spend 1-2 hour completing notes with reading material and solidifying examples covered in lecture.
- Answer any questions and write a short point form summary of the lecture.
1-2 weeks after class:
- Spend 0.5-1 hour recalling and reviewing content from lecture in a critical way.
- Use compare and contrast tables, flashcards, steps in a calculation, and understanding terms.
- Visit professor office hours to clarify weak or confusing areas.
Day before an exam checklist
Plan ahead!
- Check your exam room & map your route.
- Set your alarm.
- Pack your ID, pencils, calculator, and other allowed materials.
Take care of yourself. Eat well, stay hydrated, and get enough sleep.
Review key concepts and light practice. Focus on summaries, not full chapters and timed problem sets.
Writing tests and finals
- Read instructions, write your ID, and start with familiar questions.
- Allocate time by marks: Plan your time accordingly between MCQs and short answers.
- Use Retrieval Cues: Write out key equations, facts, and terms before looking at the questions.
Bouncing back from a tough midterm or final
Turn setbacks into learning opportunities:
- Give yourself some time to destress before moving on to the next final. Grab a tea, go for a walk, do a 15-minute stretch or take some deep breaths.
- Meet with a learning strategies to get exam study support.
- Meet with your professor or TA to ask clarifying questions. They want to help!
- Review your midterm to spot mistakes and identify where you struggled the most.
- Make a new study plan for your next midterm or final! Not every study technique works the same for everyone. Debrief what worked and what didn’t and move forward armed with new information about yourself and how you learn.
How to manage test and finals stress
Focus on what YOU can control:
- Support focus and memory by prioritizing sleep and balanced meals.
- Attend professor’s office hours to help with prioritization and planning.
- Meet with academic services for advice and learning strategies.
- Use box breathing to calm your nerves, reduce stress, and improve focus.
Additional resources
CLSS Library
The U of T Centre for Learning Strategy Support has many resources covering studying, completing assignments and taking exams.
RC Academic Peers
Meet with an RC Academic Peer! Get help with goal setting, time management and study strategies from someone who understands the RC experience.
Academic Skills Coaching
Need more hands-on help? Book an Academic Skills Coaching session with RC Academic Advising to access additional supports.
