How practising questions assist students to study and prepare for exams

Practising questions is a study strategy in which learners improve their understanding and memory by answering quality questions about material they have studied. So, instead of simply reading notes or textbooks repeatedly, learners actively retrieve information from memory by answering questions, solving problems, completing exercises, doing assignments, or attempting past examination papers. 

Then, practising questions is closely related to retrieval practice. As a study strategy, it transforms studying from passive reading into active learning. Its greatest strength lies not only in answering questions, but also in retrieving information, checking feedback, correcting errors, and practising for the umpteenth time. Its key principle is: do not just read to see whether information looks familiar. Instead, test yourself to discover whether you can actually remember and use information. 

Types of Questions Worth Practising (Education News Kenya — https://educationnews.co.ke/news/how-practising-questions-assist-students-to-study-and-prepare-for-exams)

Firstly, there are recall questions that call for learners to remember facts, definitions and concepts. Secondly, short-answer questions demand brief explanations in the learners’ own words. Thirdly, multiple-choice questions require learners to select the best answers from alternatives. Then, essay questions test the ability to organise, explain and evaluate ideas. Additionally, problem-solving questions need application of principles to calculations or unfamiliar situations. Moreover, past-paper questions help learners practise the format, timing and demands of examinations. Furthermore, in self-generated questions, learners create their own questions from their own notes. Then, they attempt to answer them later.  

In the first step, study the material. Read a topic to understand its main ideas. In the second step, close your notes and try retrieving information from your memory. In the third step, answer practice questions. Attempt questions without making references to the answers. In the fourth step, check and correct. Compare your answers with reliable notes or a marking scheme at close range. In the fifth step, practise again later. That is, re-attempt difficult questions after a delay. 

Advisedly, study small sections. Learn one manageable topic before attempting questions. Then, attempt questions from memory by keeping your notes and textbooks closed. Ideally, write complete answers. Do not rely only on recognising the correct answer. Actually, check your answers by using reliable notes, textbooks or marking schemes. More importantly, understand your mistakes. How? Determine why an answer was incorrect instead of just memorising correct responses. Indeed, repeat questions at intervals by reviewing challenging questions after one day. As well as adjusting the intervals according to your performance. Also, mix question types. Meaning, combine definitions, explanations, calculations and application questions. With that, do not dodge practising under examination conditions by occasionally getting prone to the use of a timer as you shun overreliance on notes. 

Mistakes to Shun When Practising Questions 

For this study strategy to work well, avoid the following: Avoid looking at the answer before making a serious attempt. Avoid repeating only easy questions. Avoid memorising answer wording without understanding the underlying concept. Avoid ignoring incorrect answers. Avoid practising questions once, and never focusing on regular revisits. Avoid focusing exclusively on multiple-choice questions when examinations require written explanations or calculations. 

Somehow, practice questions become more effective when learners blend them with other well-thought-out study strategies. For instance, practising questions blend better with spaced repetition or spaced rehearsal when learners are prone to revisiting questions at increasing intervals. Likewise, practising questions merge with active recall when learners focus on retrieving answers without relying on notes. By the same token, practising questions blend better with mixed practice or interleaved practice when learners decide to mix questions from different topics or problem types. Additionally, practising questions work well with Leitner when learners focus on flashcard boxes in reviewing challenging questions more frequently. Again, practising questions align with the Feynman or Protégé Effect when learners explain answers to their peers using simple language. Worth mentioning also, practising questions blend better with Cornell note-taking when learners explore questions and cues from notes for self-testing purposes. 

Benefits of Practising Questions 

Finally, learners should consider using practising questions to study and prepare for exams because of their practical benefits: (1) Practising questions improve memory. For retrieving information strengthens the ability of later recall. (2) Practising questions lead to better understanding. Explaining answers reveals whether the learner truly understands the concept. (3) Practising questions is the best approach to identifying weaknesses. Moreover, incorrect answers show which topics require further study. (4) Practising questions prepares learners for examinations. By employing it, they become familiar with question formats and time limits. (5) Practising questions bolsters confidence in learners. The repeated successful practice reduces uncertainties during examinations. (6) Practising questions is important in self-assessment. So, learners can judge what they know and what they still ought to learn. (7) Practising questions is an application in itself. Problem-based questions assist students in applying knowledge in new situations.