How to Create a Basic Study Guide

Study guides can help you easily and quickly review important study material before a test or exam. There are many different basic study guide formats, and each format is designed to help you gather information in a way that is easy to understand and absorb. Different topics may fit into certain study guide formats, but the quality of the study guide depends on the information you gather. Make sure you source material from a reputable source when incorporating them into your study guide, and focus on organizing the material in a format that is easy to understand.

Table of Contents

Select format

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Create concept maps. A concept map or branch diagram is a method of mapping out ideas so that you can easily track information from general to specific. Concept maps are great for visual learners, allowing them to make connections between any topic. ^{[1] X Research Source}

An example of a concept map would be to place the title of a chapter in the center of the map, where the lines would link to each of the major themes in that chapter. Each topic can include lines that link to supporting evidence, thereby creating a simple visual map of the content in the chapter.
This type of study guide is similar to a flowchart and involves the use of an overarching idea that incorporates multiple branches associated with sub-ideas.
Concept maps allow you to organize information spatially, like in an open web, rather than in a linear format like most study guides.
Start with a central main topic, then draw multiple branches from that topic with supporting information each.

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Create a comparison chart. A comparison chart is a simple way to organize the information to be compared. This method often works best if trying to establish similarities and differences between facts, theories, or topics. ^{[2] X Research Source}

A comparison chart helps to see the relationship between a particular feature or genre.
Comparison charts are especially useful in science class, helping to recognize relationships between many organs.
For example, a good way to use a comparison chart is to identify the similarities and differences between the American and French revolutions or something that includes an element of coincidence and difference.
Create a table of multiple topics listed in one column and then multiple columns with different or related information.

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Remember concept card. Concept cards are neatly arranged flashcards. This type of card is made from index cards with a width of about 8 to 15 cm or more. Concept cards are great for helping you remember material and ask yourself questions about a subject like Math, Science, or History. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Write down a key idea or concept on the front of the card, along with the category (if there is only one card) and the source from which you gathered the information.
Note the most important content related to the idea or concept on the back of the card.
Summarize information to make it easy to check back as you study.

Prepare study guide

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Gather all necessary resources. You’ll be bringing together information from multiple sources, so start gathering them. The better prepared you are when you start, the easier it will be to write a study guide. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

It’s easier to put together a study guide when you have all the necessary resources on hand.
All class work and materials can help when combined in a study guide.
Collect past tests to find out if the range still bothers you.

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Use textbooks as a source of information. Most classes include one or more textbooks, and this is an invaluable resource when creating study guides. Textbooks can help you categorize subjects, organize materials, and find definitions of important terms. ^{[6] X Research Source}

Review what you learned in class or on an assignment and find key concepts.
Bold or italicize words when taking notes as they may be important to the course or cover information you need to understand for the exam.

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Get information from notes. Taking careful class notes not only helps you remember the information being taught, but they are also an important part of the study guide. Taking notes can help you organize your material and at the same time see what sections your teacher considers most important. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Review your notes and highlight or underline important information.
Focus on key concepts or sections that you think are particularly important, based on the lecture, and need to gather enough information in the study guide.
Identify the extent to which you are still vague through the notes. Research to find the answer to what you still doubt in the textbook and need to include that content in the study guide.
Classroom materials are also a valuable source of information because they show what teachers consider important.

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Use homework to guide yourself. Homework can show you what the teacher thinks is the focus as well as provide an idea of what types of questions might appear on the exam. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Focus more on mistakes in homework. Start by adding this to your study guide.
Homework also has the benefit of serving as a reminder of all the work you’ve learned over the course of the semester. Use it to structure the tutorial.

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Use the past test for orientation. The tests you take during the semester are often designed to test your understanding of the subject, so they can be a great review tool.

Topics covered in the previous test may reappear in the final exam.
Even if the new tests have nothing to do with the old test, they can help you see what kind of questions the teacher will ask and how they want the answers.

Organize study guide

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Classify information by subject. Now that you have all the material you need to put together your study guide, it’s time to reorganize it. Organize your study guides in a way that’s easy to understand and follow. ^{[9] X Research Source}

If the test contains a passage from the textbook, divide the material by the chapter that appears in the book. For example, organize study guides by chapters with supporting information or broad concepts such as country for world history or body region for anatomy.
Once you’ve identified information that corresponds to some overarching topic, use that information to begin creating an outline for your study guide.
When taking the time to study parts of the study guide and identify areas in which you are less confident, focus on these areas as you research.

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Try using the following examples to organize your study guide. Breaking information into easy-to-follow chunks is important for a learning guide to be useful. Here are some examples that break down information from multiple subjects into more manageable chunks.

The American Revolution can be divided into periods in summaries such as “the 1750s, 1760s, and 1770-81s” or by events such as the Stamp and Sugar Act, the Boston Tea Party, and the Declaration of Independence, including supporting information for each category. ^{[10] X Research Source}
The periodic table can be divided into flashcards to help you memorize the abbreviation for each element. ^{[11] X Research Source}
Educational psychology methods can be divided into concept maps. It begins with a circle that has a focus on “methodology” with many branches derived from it in dynamic, humanistic and sociological methods. ^{[12] X Research Source}
Viruses or some other biological concept can be easily arranged in the form of a comparison chart. If you’re reviewing viruses, list them in the column on the left, then create a column that deals with some other aspects of viruses like how it’s transmitted, symptoms, and treatment.

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Don’t try to cram a lot of information into the study guide. This guide should help you understand complex subjects, so simplify them in a way that is easy to understand and follow and remove the unnecessary. ^{[13] X Research Source}

The information included in the study guide should be considered carefully to avoid frustration when using it.
You don’t have to include a topic you’re super interested in with insights. Instead, focus on areas where you are not confident.
Whichever format you use, it’s a good idea to combine information from each source into a separate section regardless of the topic. For example, if the test is related to the American Revolution, incorporate all pertinent points from notes, textbooks, homework and tests about Alexander Hamilton into one part of the study guide.

Presents a simple study guide. You can refer to study guides easily and often, so make them as easy to read and understand as possible. Use spaces, underline, and bold to vary between topics and to find what you need easily.

Use clean, concise handwriting so you can read everything that’s written in the study guide.
Choose the right type of study guide for each document so you can easily find the information you need.
Fixed format used to categorize or divide review sections to make it easier to determine when a topic has been learned and to begin studying for a new topic.

Steps

Select format

Prepare study guide

Organize study guide

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