Tips to study law : Preparation for Exams

Towards the end of a course, students should have accumulated lecture notes, tutorial problem answers and text book summaries.
It is usually a useful exercise to consolidate these notes perhaps in point form during the final weeks before the exam and they can be organised as follows:

a. according to topics
b. highlighted with headings and sub-headings for easy reference
c. as a table of contents to quickly find particular topic areas
d. as an index to books and supplementary documents for quick reference.

The compilation of such note summaries gives an overview of the subject and requires an understanding of the important legal issues likely to appear on the exam.
The note summaries bring together materials from various sources into one convenient place for study and use in the exam (if it is "open book"). This should enable the student to more easily identify relevant legal issues in exam questions as well as the legal principles to be applied. The topics should be set out in a logical sequence so as to enable exam answers to follow a similar structure.

EXAM PRACTICE

Previous exam papers are a good indication of which topics are emphasised or favoured by the lecturer. While it is dangerous to assume too much, such indications are very useful in preparation for the exam.
Written answers to past exam questions may also lead to the understanding of difficulties and also may provide an opportunity to question the lecturer or tutor on any points of confusion which have become apparent.