Why Am I Studying So Much but Still Not Doing Well on Tests?
By Julie Diamond, Ontario and British Columbia Certified Teacher & Founder & CEO of Diamond Teachers Group
As exam season approaches, many students find themselves spending hours reading and rereading their notes, highlighting textbooks, and reviewing slides.
While these strategies may feel productive, research consistently shows that passive review techniques are among the least effective ways to learn and retain information.
As a teacher, one of the most common errors I’ve seen students make is that they simply read their class notes repeatedly and think that will help them remember what they need to know for an exam. Unfortunately, familiarity with the material is not the same as applying it. Just because information looks familiar does not mean a student can recall it independently or apply it when answering an exam question.
To truly prepare for exams, students need to engage in active studying.
Active studying requires students to interact with the material, organize information, make connections, and retrieve knowledge from memory.
Two highly effective active study strategies are creating formula sheets and developing one-page summaries.
Let's explore why these strategies work and how students can create them effectively.
Why Reading Notes Isn't Enough
When students read their notes multiple times, they often experience what psychologists call the "illusion of competence." The material feels familiar because they have seen it repeatedly, leading them to believe they know it better than they actually do.
The problem becomes apparent during a test when students must retrieve information without looking at their notes. Suddenly, concepts that seemed clear while reading become difficult to recall.
Instead of asking, "Have I read this?" students should ask, "Can I explain this without looking?"
This shift in thinking transforms studying from a passive activity into an active learning process.
The Power of Formula Sheets
Many students think formula sheets are only useful for math and science courses. In reality, creating a formula sheet can be beneficial for any subject that involves key concepts, procedures, definitions, dates, or relationships.
The goal is not simply to copy formulas from a textbook. The learning happens during the creation process.
As students decide what information belongs on their formula sheet, they must:
Identify the most important concepts
Organize information logically
Determine relationships between ideas
Summarize complex concepts into concise notes
Review material multiple times with purpose
This process strengthens understanding and memory.
How to Create an Effective Formula Sheet
Step 1: Start with a Blank Page
Avoid copying information directly from existing notes. Begin with a blank sheet of paper and write down everything you can remember about the unit.
This retrieval practice helps you identify strengths and gaps in understanding.
Step 2: Organize by Topic
Group related concepts together.
For example, in a math course, students might create sections for:
Algebra
Functions
Geometry
Trigonometry
Data Management
In science, sections might include:
Key vocabulary
Formulas
Diagrams
Processes
Scientific laws
Organized information is easier for the brain to retrieve later.
Step 3: Include More Than Just Formulas
A common mistake is listing formulas without explaining when or why they are used.
Students should include:
Formula names
Definitions of variables
Sample diagrams
Units of measurement
Common mistakes to avoid
Tips for selecting the correct formula
For example, instead of writing only:
Area = Length × Width
Students could add:
Area = Length × Width
Use when finding the surface inside a rectangle.
Units must be squared.
Step 4: Use Colour and Visuals Strategically
Colour coding can help organize information and improve recall.
For example:
Definitions in one colour
Formulas in another
Common errors in a third colour
Simple diagrams, charts, and visual cues can also strengthen memory.
The key is using visuals to support understanding rather than decorating the page.
Step 5: Recreate the Sheet from Memory
After creating the formula sheet, put it away!
Later, try recreating it from memory on a blank page.
The information you struggle to remember becomes your focus for further review.
This practice is significantly more effective than simply rereading the sheet.
The Benefits of One-Page Summaries
One-page summaries work similarly to formula sheets but are particularly useful for subjects that require understanding large amounts of content, such as:
History
English
Geography
Social Sciences
Business
Biology
The challenge of fitting an entire unit onto a single page forces you to identify the most important information.
This process promotes deeper understanding and helps you see the "big picture."
How to Create an Effective One-Page Summary
Step 1: Identify the Big Ideas
Before writing anything, you should ask yourself:
What were the main topics in this unit?
What themes appeared repeatedly?
What concepts would my teacher most likely assess?
Focus on the concepts that connect the entire unit together.
Step 2: Use Keywords Instead of Sentences
Many students try to rewrite entire sections of their notes.
Instead, use:
Keywords
Bullet points
Short phrases
Symbols
Diagrams
The goal is to summarize, not rewrite.
Step 3: Create Connections
Strong learners look for relationships between ideas.
Consider using:
Arrows
Flow charts
These visual connections can help you understand how concepts relate to one another.
Understanding relationships often leads to a stronger exam performance than memorizing isolated facts.
Step 4: Include Examples
Examples help anchor concepts in memory.
For instance, when summarizing literary devices, you might want to include a brief example beside each term.
When studying history, it’s helpful to connect events to specific dates or outcomes.
Examples help provide context that makes the information easier for you to recall during the exam.
Step 5: Explain It to Someone Else
Once the summary is complete, challenge yourself by teaching the material to a family member, friend, or even a stuffed animal.
Teaching is one of the most powerful forms of active studying because it requires you to organize their thoughts and explain concepts clearly.
If you cannot teach it, then you probably do not know it as well as you think.
Turning Formula Sheets and Summaries into Study Tools
Creating these resources is only the first step.
To maximize their effectiveness, you should:
Cover sections with your hand and recall the information from memory
Explain concepts aloud
Create practice questions
Complete practice tests
Recreate summaries from memory
Identify areas that still feel unclear
The goal is to repeatedly retrieve information rather than repeatedly reread it.
Exam success is not determined by how many hours you study. It is determined by how effectively those hours are used.
Reading notes may feel comfortable, but comfort does not always lead to learning.
Formula sheets and one-page summaries encourage you to actively engage with material, organize information, identify key concepts, and strengthen memory through retrieval practice.
When you shift from passive review to active learning, you will discover that you can study more efficiently, retain information longer, and approach your exams with greater confidence.
This exam season, encourage your teen to put down the highlighter, step away from endless rereading, and start creating study tools that help them truly learn the material. Their future self on exam day will thank them.
If you want to learn more effective study strategies, sign up for our Exam Prep Strategies Workshop happening this Saturday, June 13 from 1-2 PM ET. For only $30, you can learn helpful study strategies for different subjects that will build your confidence for the exams next week.