It might seem natural to jump right into the material now and consult the course instructor with questions later, but determining the instructor's expectations early on can save hours in valuable studying time. Ask the instructor about the scope and type of exam. Will it be a comprehensive final? If not, what chapters or material will be covered? Will the questions be multiple choice, short answer, essay or a combination? What major topics or events will be covered? Some instructors may not wish to answer all of these questions, so be courteous and write down whatever information they offer.
Using the syllabus, lecture notes, text and instructor's comments, make an outline of the material that will be covered on the exam. Focus on large concepts like major events or themes that have been covered in the class. Use the outline to organize your thoughts as you study and to help you focus on the big picture.
Keep the outline within reach and review the material that will be covered on the final exam. Go over the lecture notes day by day and underline or highlight the most important information. It may help to add these points to the outline using bullets. Pay special attention to topics you have questions about, and make note of them. Then, review the textbook. Think of the text as a way to add more detail and context to what was covered during the lecture. Spend time reading or reviewing in depth the sections dealing with topics you are still unsure about; spend little or no time rereading information you are confident about.
Refer back to the instructor's comments about the exam to determine how to practice for the test. For multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank questions, make flashcards for important terms, people and dates with a short explanation or definition on the "answer" side. This strategy may also be used for short answer questions, but the "answer" side of the flashcard should include at least several bullet points or facts about the question, including its overall significance. Some students may prefer to write lists of short answer questions, fill in the information and study the list as a whole. For essay questions, write practice questions based on the major themes, topics and events covered in the material and then either write out responses or outline the answer. Combine these strategies as needed.