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Open Book Exam Study Tips
Open book exams are not a test of memory, as you can have the material at hand. The aim is to test your understanding of the topic and your ability to apply that knowledge to answer the exam question using higher order thinking skills. (Critical thinking)
You should prepare for an open book exam the same way as you would for any other exam.
- To prepare for the exam use your lecture notes to pinpoint the main concepts and potential questions. After you have done this, locate where this information is covered in the books/notes you intend to use for the test.
- Study key concepts and ensure you understand and know the material. A good technique is to summarize key information/concepts/topics in your own words and have location of references written on these notes.
- Carefully select what you bring to the exam. Too many sources will waste time during the exam and will be confusing.
- Ensure all books and notes you require for the exam are organized and that you know ahead of time exactly where all the information you may need is.
- Use post-its to mark important pages/information and label the post-its clearly for easy referral. Personal notes in the book's margins, or on post-its stuck to relevant pages, can be useful during the test. For math and science exams, list out important data and formulas separately for easy access during the test.
- Your books and notes should only be used as reference resources. Do not be tempted to over reference; the test is on your understanding of the topic and your application of this knowledge to answer the questions. Use references to support your position but do not rely on them.
- Be very conscious of plagiarism. Do not copy or cut and paste from the internet. Do not copy large amounts of text from a book. Reference your quotes/citations. TU Dublin Policy on Plagiarism applies rigorously to these exams. Further information on plagiarism is available at: Policy on Plagiarism
- Be aware of time management. Review how many questions there are; divide your time between these allowing more for those with the highest marks available. Answer the questions you may find easiest first. Plan your answers out roughly (bullet points) before beginning.