How to Review Your Notes Effectively After Class and Before Exams (Step-by-Step Guide for University Students)

When you sit down to study and open your notebook, it’s easy to wonder how to review your notes effectively. Hence, everything actually stays in your mind. You’ve gone to the lectures, you’ve written things down, but the pages still feel messy and hard to use. That’s where having a simple, clear review system makes all the difference.

In this guide, we’ll walk through realistic steps you can use after class and before exams to make your notes actually work for you. You’ll learn how to review notes for exams, how to study from your notes using active recall, and how often you should review them so you feel prepared instead of stressed.

If you want a complete system (not just review), start with this guide on how to take notes at university—it shows the best note-taking methods for different classes, plus a simple workflow you can follow all semester.

Step 1: Fix the Biggest Note-Review Mistakes

Before we talk strategy, let’s be honest about what usually happens.

Many students only review their notes the week before an exam. By then, everything feels unfamiliar, and revising turns into panic scrolling or flipping. From my experience, one common mistake is treating note review as a one-time event instead of a regular part of your study routine.

A better mindset:

Think of your notes as “raw material” that you gradually turn into a clear, exam-ready understanding. The best way to review your notes is to do so in small, smart steps rather than one giant cram session.

Common mistakes to avoid:

• Waiting until exam week to open your notebook again
• Highlighting everything and understanding nothing
• Rewriting notes neatly without actually thinking about them
• Never turning notes into questions, summaries, or practice

If you recognize yourself in any of these, you’re not alone — and you can absolutely fix it.

Step 2: How to Review Your Notes Effectively Right After Class

The first and most important review happens within 24 hours of the lecture. This is the key to reviewing lecture notes after class in a way that actually helps you remember.

2.1 Do a 10–20 Minute “Clean-Up Review.”

Right after class (or that evening):

1. Read through your notes once, slowly.
2. Fill in missing words, fix abbreviations, and add anything you remember but didn’t have time to write.
3. Underline or highlight only the essentials.
4. Key formulas, definitions, and “exam hint” phrases from your teacher.
5. Add headings and structure.
6. Turn big sections into mini-titles like “Causes,” “Examples,” “Steps in the Process.”

This is the best way to review your notes at the start: you’re not cramming, you’re simply making your notes readable and meaningful.

Example:

You just finished a psychology lecture on memory. In your quick review, you:

• Add a heading “Types of Memory” above a list of bullet points
• Underline “short-term memory” and “long-term memory.”
• Add a margin note: “Prof said this will be on the midterm!”

Now, instead of a block of text, you have a structured, exam-friendly page.

2.2 Using Active Recall to Review Your Notes

Next, add a column or write in the margins:

• Turn key points into questions.
  • “What are the three stages of memory?”
  • “How does classical conditioning work?”

This is the start of using active recall to review your notes. Later, you’ll cover the answers and try to recall them from memory instead of re-reading.

This simple step turns your pages from passive information into active study tools. It is one of the most effective answers to “how to study from your notes” without wasting time.

Step 3: How Often Should You Review Your Notes? Build a Weekly Routine

Now let’s talk about how often you should review your notes.

A powerful (but realistic) system is:

• Mini-review: within 24 hours after class
• Weekly review: once a week (e.g., Sunday afternoon)
• Pre-exam review: more intensive sessions before tests or finals

3.1 Weekly Review: How to Study From Your Notes Without Burning Out

Your weekly review is where you actually start studying from your notes, not just cleaning them up.

Once a week:

1. Pick one subject at a time.
2. Open your notes from that week.
3. For each lecture:
   • Read your questions in the margins.
   • Cover your notes and try to answer out loud or on scrap paper.
   • Then check your answer.

This is active recall in action — and it’s one of the most effective ways to learn. It’s normal to miss things at first; that’s how you figure out what to focus on.

Example:

On Sunday, you review three biology lectures:

• You test yourself on: “Differences between mitosis and meiosis,” “Stages of cell division,” etc.
• You realize you always forget one stage.
• You mark that part with a star or a “!” to review again in your next session.

Suddenly, your weekly review isn’t just “reading notes” — it’s targeted practice.

Step 4: How to Review Notes for Exams Without Last-Minute Panic

When exams are coming up, the question becomes: how to review notes for exams in a focused, efficient way.

4.1 Create a One-Page Summary Per Topic

For each major topic:

1. Grab a blank page or digital doc.
2. Without looking at your notes, write down everything you remember: definitions, formulas, key ideas.
3. Then open your notes and fill in the gaps in a different color.

This is basically an active recall test plus a summary in one. It’s also a great way to spot weak areas before it’s too late.

4.2 Use Different Review Modes (So Your Brain Doesn’t Switch Off)

Mix up how you review:

• Teach it to yourself (or a friend) like a mini-lecture.
• Do practice questions from past papers or textbooks.
• Use your notes only to check, not to copy from.

If you’re wondering how to study from your notes efficiently, remember this: the more your brain has to work (retrieve, explain, connect), the better you remember.

Example:

You’re revising for a marketing exam. You:

• Use your notes to create a one-page mind map of the “Marketing Mix.”
• Close your notebook and try to explain the 4 Ps out loud.
• Then check your notes to see what you missed and adjust your summary.

That’s a lot more effective than just highlighting the same page for the fifth time.

Step 5: Make Your System Fit You, Not the Other Way Around

Many students struggle with sticking to study systems because they try to copy someone else’s routine exactly.

From my experience, one common mistake is assuming there’s a single “perfect” method. In reality, the best way to review your notes is the one you’re willing to do consistently.

Some ideas to adapt the system:

• Short on time? Do 10-minute reviews after each class instead of 30.
• More of a visual learner? Turn summaries into diagrams or mind maps.
• Prefer digital? Use apps that let you turn headings into flashcards or question cards.

The point isn’t perfection — it’s progress.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How often should I review my notes?

Ideally, you should review your notes at three points: within 24 hours after class, once a week, and again before exams. The first review helps your brain “lock in” the new information. Weekly reviews stop forgetting to build up. Pre-exam reviews then feel like refreshing, not relearning from scratch.

2. What if my notes are really messy?

Messy notes are normal, especially from fast lectures. Use your first review session to rewrite only the structure (headings, key points, questions), not every word. You can also add sticky notes or extra pages to clarify confusing parts. Over time, you’ll naturally start taking clearer notes because you know you’ll review them later.

3. Is rewriting my notes a good way to review?

Rewriting can help if you’re actively thinking while you do it — reorganizing ideas, adding questions, and summarizing. But copying notes word-for-word without thinking is mostly a waste of time. Try combining rewriting with active recall: cover a section, rewrite what you remember, then check your notes and fill in any gaps.

4. How can I use active recall to review my notes?

First, turn key points into questions in the margins or on flashcards. Then, during review, hide the answers and try to recall them from memory — out loud or in writing. Only then do you check your notes. This “struggle” to remember is what actually strengthens your memory and understanding.

5. How long should a note review session be?

It doesn’t have to be super long. A 15–20-minute review after class and a 45–60-minute weekly review per subject are already powerful. If you’re tired or busy, even a 10-minute focused session is better than nothing. Quality (active engagement) always beats quantity (hours of passive re-reading).

Conclusion: Let Your Notes Work For You, Not Against You

Learning how to review your notes effectively is one of the most underrated study skills in university. When you review soon after class, build a simple weekly routine, and use active recall before exams, your notes become a real tool — not just ink on paper or text on a screen.

You don’t have to change everything overnight. Start with one small step: pick one lecture from this week, spend 15 minutes reviewing it actively, and write a short summary. Your future self, staring at your notes before the next exam, will be very grateful.