Practise finding and applying

How to Study for an Open-Book Exam

Learn the main ideas first, then make a small index of the sources you are allowed to use. Rehearse answering one realistic question under time. Practise deciding which idea fits the question, finding the right page and using it to support your answer.

By Rain Night Café · 7 November 2026. We make the café linked below. Use the exercise for preparation and follow your course’s own assessment rules.

Make a rules card before making an index

Write down the permitted texts, notes, calculators and online tools, along with any citation rules and timing or submission details. If the rules mention printed notes, check whether a personal index is allowed. Ask the course team about unclear rules early enough to practise under the answer they give you. Account for any approved accommodations in your rehearsal.

UNSW’s student guidance emphasises knowing your material well enough to locate and apply it, selecting resources carefully and practising on sample questions when available. Use your own course instructions to decide which materials and format apply. UNSW guidance on open-book and take-home exams

Build a map that tells you when to open a source

• Cue. A term you are likely to think of when you see the question.
• Location. The exact page, section or permitted bookmark. Check it against the version you will use.
• Purpose. One short phrase that says why this source is useful, such as “definition with two exceptions” or “worked example with different base rates.”
• Check. The condition, unit or assumption most likely to change your answer.

Group related cues rather than indexing every page. Practise following two entries. If your cue leads to a whole chapter, add a heading or page range narrow enough to reach quickly. If a rule prevents bringing the index, use it during preparation to learn where your approved materials cover the concept.

Try a worked 12-minute practice drill

Here is a fictional operations question: “One library desk handled 36 requests in 3 hours. Another handled 48 in 6 hours. Which handled more requests per hour, and what would you check before recommending a staffing change?”

1. Spend two minutes identifying what the question requires. Write “compare rates, then qualify the staffing conclusion.”
2. Spend up to two minutes looking up the relevant definition in your practice materials. For a fictional source map, an entry could read “hourly rate → lesson 4, rates paragraph → divide requests by observed hours → compare like tasks.”
3. Use six minutes to calculate and explain. The first desk averaged 12 requests per hour and the second averaged 8. Check request difficulty and staffing levels before attributing the difference to efficiency.
4. Use the final two minutes to check units, assumptions and whether your response addresses the staffing question. Follow any citation instructions in the real assessment.

The timings are a rehearsal example. If your first attempt spends most of the block searching, make the index more precise and retry with a new question. If you find the formula quickly but cannot explain when it applies, practise the underlying concept before working on faster lookup.

Record what cost time

Keep three notes after the rehearsal: the lookup that took longest, the assumption you missed and the next question you will try. Set aside one study session to fix the biggest delay. After the real exam, an exam wrapper can help you compare your rehearsal with the feedback you receive.

Use the free café for a preparation block before the assessment. Its shared timer follows a 45/10 rhythm, so use a separate permitted timer to rehearse a specific duration. Keep exam material in your own files and follow your course instructions during the assessment.

Frequently asked questions

How should I study for an open-book exam?

Check the rules, learn the main ideas, build a quick map of permitted sources and rehearse applying those sources to a timed practice question.

What should an open-book exam index include?

For each important concept, write a short cue, the exact page or section, and the reason to use it. Check the location in the edition or file you will actually have.

Can I use search, AI or a study website during the exam?

Follow the instructions for your specific assessment. Ask your course team before the exam if any tool or material is unclear. Use the café for preparation outside the assessment.

How long should I spend practising lookups?

Try a short timed rehearsal using the same materials and conditions as the assessment. Adjust the time to your course format, question length and approved accommodations.