In order for an individual to study for a particular exam, it is essential for that individual to be able to recognize the most important topics that he or she should focus on while studying. Any textbook, regardless of the specific subject that an individual is attempting to study, will cover a variety of topics that are not related to the material that is covered on the exam. As a result, an individual should attempt to determine which material may be on the exam and which material may not. The method that an individual should use to identify the most important information that he or she should study depends on the type of exam that the individual is about to take.
If the individual is studying for a class-specific exam, the individual should focus his or her studying on his or her notes and any handouts that the professor passed out since the last exam. Many professors will actually construct the questions included on their exams from the notes that they used to discuss the topic during class and from any handouts or assignments that they assigned while discussing the material. As long as the individual has carefully taken notes during class, the individual's notes should be the best indication of the material that he or she should focus on while studying. If the individual is studying for a standardized exam, the individual should focus his or her studying on the exam outline. Almost all standardized exams have an outline available that explains the format of the exam, the topics that are covered, and the weight given to each section, which can be extremely useful to an individual that is attempting to determine if he or she should study a particular topic. An individual who is preparing for a standardized exam may also want to find a practice exam for that specific exam, if one is available, as a practice exam will allow the individual to actually see the types of questions that are included on the exam.