How to study for exams: 5 tips from Jørgen Austnes
Exams are approaching, and it's easy to feel that everyone else has better control than you. Here he shares five tips that have actually worked for him.
The students in NITO work to improve your everyday life as a student – both through political influence and concrete offers such as courses, counselling and crash courses before exams.
At the same time, we know that some of the most useful advice comes from fellow students who are in the same situation as you. That's why we've asked Jørgen to share how he reads for exams – focusing on what he feels has the most effect.
1. Test yourself often – learn actively, not passively
- I learn much more from solving problems and explaining things out loud than from reading the same page five times, says Jørgen.
Instead of just reading notes over and over again, he tries to retrieve the knowledge actively by:
- Solve previous exam questions
- Create your own questions from the syllabus
- Explain a topic aloud to oneself or a fellow student
When you have to put into words what you think you know, you quickly discover where the gaps are. These are the areas you should spend more time on – not necessarily the entire curriculum.
Use AI as a training partner
- I ask AI to create tasks at my level, but don't give me the answers right away. First I try myself, and then I ask for the answer. Then I learn a lot more," says Jørgen.
If regular exam questions feel too difficult, you can ask AI to create simpler variants first, and gradually increase the level of difficulty.
Jørgen emphasizes that self-testing is not just something you do the day before the exam – it is a way to learn throughout the semester.
2. Spread the learning – don't rely on skippers
A skipper's grip may be enough to pass, but it rarely gives peace and deep understanding.
- What I don't understand along the way, always comes up again later. Then I regret that I didn't take it more seriously the first time," says Jørgen.
Learning is better when it is distributed over time - little and often, rather than all at once.
For Jørgen, this means:
- Short, focused sessions with breaks
- A quick review the day after a lecture
- Addressing important topics several times during the semester
Sleep and breaks are part of the job. In deep sleep, the brain processes what you have learned, and short breaks where you actually relax make it easier to concentrate over time.
- I have stopped seeing sleep as something I "steal" from reading time. That's really where a lot of the learning happens," he says.
3. Connect theory to practice
Exam papers often test more than cramming. They are about using theory in practice.
- I learn much better when I understand why we do something, and where it is used, says Jørgen.
For example, you can:
- Find examples from technology, research or working life
- Create small mini-projects or experiments based on the theory
- Draw a model or simple diagram to visualize what you're learning
We often learn better when multiple senses are involved, and when text is combined with visual elements. A diagram or a simple sketch can make the theory more tangible and easier to remember.
As exams approach, you may also want to practice in a way that resembles the situation:
- Set a timer and solve tasks on time
- Use the same tools as you get on the exam
- Practice writing without leaning on aids you are not allowed to use
It gives an honest picture of where you are, and what you should work more on," says Jørgen.
4. Build habits – don't wait for motivation
Motivation is unstable. Habits and systems are often more trustworthy.
- If I wait to "feel like it", often nothing happens. What helps is fixed times and a fixed place to read," says Jørgen.
A few simple steps:
- Choose a place you use only for concentrated work
- Don't read in bed – leave it a place for rest
- Decide the night before when you will read, where you will read and what you will do
- Find the time of day when you are most sharp, and put the most difficult subjects there. Try to protect that time from distractions, messages, and small things
The more you build such habits, the less academic lag you take with you into the sprint.
5. Think "I can't do it yet"
Learning demanding subjects doesn't always feel good. It can be frustrating, confusing, and tough.
- I have often thought "I don't understand anything". What has helped is to change it to 'I don't understand it yet'," says Jørgen.
It's normal to feel insecure when you're learning something new and difficult. The point is to continue working on the most important things.
An easy way to manage your efforts is to ask yourself these questions after a reading session:
- What did I understand well now?
- What is still loose?
- How do I know that I can actually do this? Could I explain it to someone else?
Then it will be easier to prioritize your time – and let go of the feeling that you have to know everything.
Want more help before the exam?
- What has helped me the most is to combine my own routines with more structured programs such as crash courses and review of exam assignments, says Jørgen.
The students in NITO arrange crash courses in selected subjects at campuses all over the country.
Here you get:
- Overview of the most important topics
- Review of typical exam questions
- Opportunity to ask questions
Find a crash course near you
With NITO's crash course, you get a proper review of the most important things in the subject, good exam tips and the chance to ask specific questions.
- Free for you as a student member.
