One of the study systems that an individual may consider using in order to study for a particular exam, interview, or other similar purpose is the Index Study System. The Index Study System is a process for studying a particular topic by making flashcards from the information in the individual's notes or textbook. This system is a very effective way for an individual to study for virtually any exam especially if the individual is a visual or tactile learner as it allows the individual to read, write, and review the material by creating and using visual aids. This system is also a very effective system for individuals that only have a limited amount of time available, as an individual can transport the flashcards easily and study them whenever there is time. However, it is important to note that this system works best if the individual has in-depth notes for the exam or if the individual has a detailed outline or other handout that explains each topic covered on the exam so the individual is already aware of the material that he or she needs to study.
The Index Study System is actually very easy to use and can be used by following a few simple steps. First, the individual should read his or her notes or textbook and attempt to identify any key terms or concepts with which the individual is unfamiliar. As the individual is reading the material, he or she should use each term or concept that he or she is unfamiliar with to create a question and write each question on an index card. The individual should then flip over each index card and write the answer to each question on the other side. Once the individual has gone through all of the topics that he or she needs to study and created flashcards for each key term or concept that he or she is unfamiliar with, the individual should organize each flashcard by topic. The individual should then go back each day and attempt to answer the questions that he or she wrote on each flashcard topic by topic and check his or her answers against the answers that the individual wrote on each card. If the answer is correct, the individual should move on to the next flashcard. If the answer is incorrect or the individual knew the answer, but did not really understand it, the individual should go back and reread any material related to that specific topic.