Studying for STEM exams is fundamentally different from studying for humanities. You can't just re-read your notes and hope the material sticks — you need active, effortful retrieval.
Spaced repetition is the single most evidence-backed study technique. Instead of cramming the night before, spread your review sessions over days and weeks. Each time you successfully recall something, the interval before the next review grows. Apps like Anki automate this scheduling for you.
Active recall means closing your notes and trying to reproduce the material from memory. Write out a derivation from scratch. Solve a problem without looking at the worked example. Explain a concept out loud as if teaching it. The struggle is the point — it's what builds durable memory.
The Feynman technique is named after physicist Richard Feynman, who believed you truly understand something only when you can explain it simply. Pick a concept, write it out in plain language, identify where your explanation breaks down, then go back to the source material to fill the gap.
Combine all three: use spaced repetition to schedule your sessions, active recall within each session, and the Feynman technique to audit your understanding. Build this into a weekly routine and your exam performance will compound over time.
One practical tip: after each lecture or lesson, spend 10 minutes writing a summary from memory before you look at your notes. This single habit, done consistently, will outperform hours of passive re-reading.