Three common mistakes students make before exams

Most upper-secondary students make the same mistakes when preparing for exams. We know because we made them ourselves. Here are the three most common ones, and how to break the pattern.

Mistake 1: starting the night before

The classic scenario: the exam is tomorrow and you open the book for the first time. Panic sets in and you try to squeeze everything into one evening. The problem is that your brain does not work that way. Research shows that cramming, studying everything in a short period, produces worse long-term results than spacing your study out.

The solution: Start at least a week beforehand. Even 15–20 minutes a day is enough to build a solid foundation. With spaced repetition, you do not need to study for hours. Short, regular sessions give better results.

Mistake 2: only rereading your notes

Rereading your notes or textbook chapters feels productive. You recognise the information and think, “yes, I know that”. But recognition is not the same as knowledge. In an exam, you have to produce the answers, not just recognise them.

The solution: Use active recall. Close the book and try to explain what you just read. Create flashcards and test yourself. It is harder and more frustrating, but that is exactly what helps you remember.

Mistake 3: never testing yourself

Many people study for hours without ever simulating an exam. They read, highlight and rewrite, but never check whether they can actually answer questions under time pressure.

The solution: Do past papers or create quizzes from your material. Set a timer and answer without checking the book. This exposes gaps in your knowledge and trains you to perform under pressure, just as you will in the real exam.

The common theme

All three mistakes have something in common: they are about choosing what feels easy instead of what actually works. Starting early, using active recall and testing yourself take more effort, but that effort is what makes the knowledge stick.