Testing what you know is a key part of the study process, and doing so helps you identify where you have gaps in your knowledge. Creating tests to use on yourself is also a helpful way of consolidating what you’ve already learned, as the act of thinking about and writing questions in itself can help you further understand the information.

Although testing yourself is always helpful when studying for exams, certain methods and techniques will help you prepare more thoroughly. Here are some tips that will help you make the most of self-testing:

Use the iFlipTips app

iFlipTips is a study app from TECHtionary that enables you to create digital flashcards. The app is useful throughout the study process; however one section in particular can help you test your knowledge.

The iFlipCards question and answer cards let you test yourself on what you’ve learned in a variety of ways. You can create questions using text, audio, video, and images, before ‘flipping’ the card and entering a pre-prepared answer. The different formats allow you to prepare for different types of exam. As well as written exams, for example, the iFlipTips’ audio and video capabilities enable you to prepare for complex examinations too.

When testing yourself using iFlipCards, simply read out the question card, verbalize or write down your answer on a separate sheet of paper, then flip the card to reveal the correct answer.

Thanks to its multiple formats, you can use iFlipCards to rehearse taking multiple choice tests. The app’s flexibility means it is also helpful for preparing answers to essay questions. To practice mock essays in an exam environment, simply use the question card as a prompt, complete your essay, then turn over to the answer card to see the pre-prepared list of points you need to cover to attain a high mark in the exam. Compare this list to your essay to look for gaps in your knowledge and notice where you could improve.

Make it fun

Despite its reputation, studying doesn’t have to be boring! You can make your self-testing more interesting by creating puzzles, crosswords and quizzes. Although this might not sound very helpful, the more you enjoy a subject, you more likely you are to remember it, so these kinds of exercises could actually aid your learning.

Use different formats

Testing your knowledge is the perfect opportunity to get used to the question formats you will see in your exams. When creating your own self-tests at home, always use the same kind of formats you’ll find in the exam itself as this will help you get used to what you can expect on the big day.

This is especially helpful if you are studying for exams in multiple subjects at the same time, as you can practice switching between different answer formats. For example, an English exam will contain mostly essay questions, while a Biology exam will contain a lot of short answer and diagram-related questions. You can give yourself more of a chance of performing well in each exam by testing your learning using similar formats.

Reward yourself

Studying can be tough, especially if you have an intense exam period on the horizon. Since preparing for exams is stressful, make sure you reward yourself when you do well on self-testing. Not only will this help boost your confidence, but rewarding yourself with a treat will also give you an incentive to perform better in self-tests in the future too.

iFlipTips  newest additions is called iFlipTipsPro and has a iFlipTips Calendar and multicolor notepads/iDoodleGrams called iFlipPads are perfect ways to adhere to a schedule and manipulate pictures and images for a variety of note uses.  The ideas tool is useful for organizing and tracking notes, and other academic related activities. Use it to organize contacts of people you meet during your study or research, reminders or just creative drawings which can be shared via Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter or email.

iFlipTips