The best ways to prepare for open book exams

Picture this: you walk into an exam with your textbooks and notes, ready to answer every question without worrying about your brain coming up empty. Sounds like a dream come true, right?

Don’t be fooled — open book exams aren’t academic freebies like they seem.

While you get to bring in all your materials, you’ll need more than just a pile of books to pass.

Now, if the concept of open book exams boggles you, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered.

What are open book exams and why do they exist?

Open book exams are a type of assessment that allows you to use certain study materials, like textbooks or notes. 

You may think, “Wait, isn’t that saying you can ‘cheat’ with permission?”

Well, no, not really. The point of an open book exam is to provide students with aid during the exam.

Your next line of thought might be, “Being able to access notes means that the exam should be easier to pass then.”

Again, the answer is no.

Open book exams are known to be more difficult than closed book exams. They aim to emphasise understanding and applying knowledge rather than just memorising them as facts. They also mirror real-life scenarios, preparing students for problem-solving in their future careers. 

English literature, law, maths, chemistry, or physics are some of the many degrees that offer open book exams for selected classes. 

A study found that students are more likely to cheat during online exams, especially if it’s a closed book exam. Source: AFP

Open book exams vs close book exams

A study in 2019 found that students in open book exams experienced less test anxiety and showed greater engagement with course material than those in traditional exams.

Medical students, too, find themselves less stressed with open book exams, which are easier to prepare for, according to a recent study. The majority believes that if they’re given an open book exam, they’ll be accurately assesed on their comprehension of the topic, which is a better way to prepare students for the real world.

Plus, if you were to watch a medical show like “Grey’s Anatomy,” you can find doctors still referring to textbooks and medical journals when unsure about their patients’ illnesses.

Open book exams also help promote critical thinking rather than memorisation. It’s a format that supports deeper learning, assisting students to connect information and see the “big picture” of their subject.

A Reddit user says, “You won’t ever be in a test environment in the real world. It is way more important to be able to derive information that you need and solve problems.”

While open book exams might seem like an “easier” route, they push students to think more creatively and critically, helping build skills they’ll need in their careers and future.

5 ways to succeed in open book exams — in order

Asking questions not only gets you the information you need, but it helps with building relationships, problem-solving, communication, and emotional intelligence. Source: AFP

Understand what “open book exam” means 

The term “open book exam” may differ for your classes. 

In some classes, “open book” may mean you’re allowed to bring in one sheet of paper with all your notes on it. In contrast, others may take the name literally, enabling you to have your textbook open throughout the exam.

You’re encouraged to ask your professor questions to understand their expectations for the exam and that you’ll clearly understand the exam framework. 

Ask them:

• What are you allowed to access during the test? Is it a textbook or just one sheet of paper filled with notes, and if it’s the latter, can both sides of the paper be filled?
• What type of questions will be on the exam? For example, is it a multiple-choice or essay-based paper?
• Do you need in-text citations or references for your exam? 
• What are the topics will the exam cover?

You’ll also need to know how much time you have to complete the exam.

Again, all open book exams differ between classes and professors. It is your responsibility to find out every detail beforehand, or you may miss out on doing well.

Studying is important because it helps you develop valuable skills for the rest of your life, such as logical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, and applying knowledge. Source: AFP

Study for the exam

Just because it’s an open book exam doesn’t mean you shouldn’t study. In fact, it’s the opposite — there’s no point in giving you access to the answers if you don’t even know where to start looking for them.

This is especially important if your exam is timed.

Studying and reading through your textbook and class material will give you a better grasp of the topics and their locations in your books. 

You will not have enough time flipping through your notes for the answer, at least not for every question. Professors still expect you to know your material despite having an open book exam.

Prepare notes and materials

While having your whole textbook beside you may give you more security, writing notes can help. 

For those who are only allowed to bring in a sheet of paper, here’s how you can prepare your notes:

• Mind-map

Mind maps not only highlight essential facts but also help you visualise the overall structure of the topic and organise information so that it can help you make new connections between topics or subtopics. 

Mind maps are known to be the most effective way to study as your brain is trying to analyse the information in different ways. This not only helps you remember, but it helps you understand it better and improve your problem-solving skills.

Besides, writing notes can often take ages, and you can fit a mind map of a whole topic onto a piece of paper.

• Don’t be too detailed

This advice may sound silly, but the lesser, the better. Besides, if you’ve studied well, you should already grasp the topics well. They should be informative enough to help jog your memory of your previous revision.

Your notes can be a small summary of the topics you’re still unsure about to help you through the exam.  If you’re sitting for an exam that involves solving equations, you can note down the equations.

Also, make sure your handwriting or font is readable. If you spend the whole exam squinting your eyes trying to read your notes, you may spend more time on it than answering the questions.

• Make up your own shorthand

Shorthand is a method of rapid writing that utilises abbreviations and symbols, especially for taking dictation.

For your note-taking needs, using shorthand could save you valuable real estate on one sheet of paper. This includes swapping symbols out rather than spelling a word, like using “&” for “and,” or using “∴” for “therefore.”

You can search some of these tricks up online, or even better, make your own as a way to hammer in the information into your head during your revision process.

A way to prepare for exams is to eat well, sleep well, not leave revision to the last minute, and steer clear of energy drinks. Source: AFP

4. Get enough sleep

While pulling all-nighters seems to work for Kay Chung, it’s not the most sustainable way to get your studies done. 

Research has shown that memory and learning are consolidated during sleep, particularly in the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase. Sleep also plays a big part in long-term memory, which leads to the ability to recall information, which is essential for students. 

However, if pulling an all-nighter is a must for you, then here are a few ways to do it safely: 

• Drink lots of water
• Set a timer to prevent procrastination
• Get a study buddy
• Have a good study environment

5. Revise and organise your notes

After a good night’s sleep, one thing you should do before the exam is to revise your notes and materials. 

It doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to spend five hours studying it; it just means that you can spend about 30 minutes flipping through the notes, rephrasing your understanding, and comparing what you have rephrased with your notes — a practice called active recall. 

Once you’re done with revising, the final thing you should do is to spend time organising your notes. Double-check all the information, and ensure your handwriting is readable and filed correctly. 

If your open book exam only allows you to bring in textbooks, ensure they are prepared the night before. Remove any loose notes from the book, which may be considered cheating.