It's really simple: read the syllabus. The syllabus tells you so many things: - what the lecturer considers fundamental; - what is optional; - what you will be

It's really simple: read the syllabus. The syllabus tells you so many things: - what the lecturer considers fundamental; - what is optional; - what you will be asked about in the exam. The syllabus is better than any revision notes. At the end of the term, and at least twice in the month before the exam you should read through it and put each part into three categories: 1) stuff I know well 2) stuff I don't know well 3) stuff I don't need to know Then, spend your time moving stuff from category 2 to category 1. By the time the exam comes everything should be in first category. This system has two advantages: 1. you learn what you need to pass the exam; 2. you learn what the lecturer considers important. It's not cheating. If you trust your lecturer to put the important stuff in the syllabus and you focus on the important stuff then not only are you showing respect to your lecturer but you are also learning the fundamentals for the next step. Do it.