It really depends on the nature of the exam. If it's like the Oracle Java exams, for example, you can expect syntactical "trick" questions, eg. questions that

It really depends on the nature of the exam. If it's like the Oracle Java exams, for example, you can expect syntactical "trick" questions, eg. questions that appear to be about one thing, but are actually testing your knowledge of some unrelated syntax error. In this case, you only have repetition at your disposal. Whatever works best, whatever is most time-effiicient, do it again and again until you are seeing success numbers that you're happy with. Actual coding is best, but there might not be time. On the other hand, if it's a school exam, written by a professor it (probably/possibly) will be about understanding, and syntax won't be as heavily tested/scored for. This would be more like a physics test where you only loose 1 or 2 points for an algebra error early on. In this case, the answer is coding. Dream up challenges for yourself and solve them. Guess what will be on the test and solve them. Read examples from your book and extend them.