The short answer
Use the slides as an index into your course, then check them against the assessment brief, learning outcomes and required reading. Build questions from those requirements, fill missing explanations, and practise the format you will face. Slides can be a useful starting point without being a complete syllabus.
- Slide count and lecture length do not establish how many exam marks a topic carries.
- Check coverage against official assessment guidance, not a prediction from AI.
- Match practice to the task: calculations, diagrams, arguments or recall.
- Inspect past papers early for format and coverage; save some unseen questions for later practice.
Explore this guide5 sections · jump to what you need
Find out what the slides leave out
Collect the assessment brief, module outcomes, reading list, tutorial sheets and any sample paper. Make a row for each assessable outcome, then link the slides or reading that teaches it. Mark gaps explicitly. A topic absent from a deck may still be required reading.
Do not infer marks from the number of slides. A long lecture may introduce background; one short result may be needed across several questions. Ask the module team if coverage or weighting is unclear.
For example, “evaluate two explanations of inflation” requires more than definitions of those explanations. Your row should point to evidence, assumptions and limitations as well as the introductory slides.
Turn the material into questions with checkable answers
| Material | Useful practice | Check against |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Define it and distinguish it from a similar concept | Course definition and counterexamples |
| Formula | Choose when to use it, calculate an example, state assumptions | Worked solution and units |
| Diagram | Redraw it, label it and explain a change | Original figure and legend |
| Theory or argument | Plan an answer to a specific question with evidence and an objection | Reading, rubric and seminar feedback |
| Worked problem | Solve a variation without following the original steps | Official solution or tutor feedback |
Put the answer source next to each question. If AI helps draft it, check the answer before practising: a plausible question can be ambiguous or out of scope. You need a manageable set of questions, not one for every decorative slide.
Repair the gap that stops you answering
Attempt a question, then identify the first missing step. Use the relevant recording, textbook section, worked solution or office hour. An AI explanation can help, but cannot establish what your lecturer meant when the original context is absent.
If you are stuck on a calculation, record more than the correct number. Was the problem choosing the method, rearranging the equation or interpreting the result? Those lead to different next tasks.
For help using AI carefully, our student prompt guide includes a checked statistics example. LectureParse is our own tool for this workflow; it is optional, and its output still needs verification.
Use an error log instead of another read-through
| Question | Error | Next attempt |
|---|---|---|
| Select the appropriate statistical test | Chose by a keyword; ignored paired observations | Two new scenarios: paired and independent |
| Explain a market shift | Moved along the curve instead of shifting it | Draw a fresh example and name the changed assumption |
| Evaluate a theory | Listed claims without evidence | Plan two supported points and one limitation |
These are illustrative entries. Keep the record brief enough that you will maintain it. Revisit a corrected question after a gap, then use a fresh one to check whether you can transfer the idea. Our active recall guide explains how to choose that next question.
Use past papers early, then practise under the right conditions
At the start, inspect instructions, question types and any marking guidance. Attempt a small part to identify gaps; you do not need to wait until you feel ready. Check that the syllabus and exam format have not changed.
Later, complete a representative section under the actual time and resource rules. For an open-book exam, practise locating information and applying it quickly. For essays, check whether your answer addresses the command word and builds a supported argument.
If there is no mark scheme, compare with the rubric and ask for feedback on a specific uncertainty. Neither matching a slide’s wording nor receiving an AI score tells you the mark an examiner would give.
The University of Sussex revision guidance includes planning and exam techniques. Use our timetable example to reserve time for practice and corrections.
Frequently asked questions
Are lecture slides enough to pass an exam?
It depends on the assessment. Check outcomes, required reading, tutorials and official guidance. Slides may omit evidence, demonstrations or detail that the exam expects.
How many times should I read the slides?
Use reading to orient yourself and repair gaps, then check progress through relevant questions. There is no universal number of read-throughs that proves readiness.
Should I use past papers before finishing revision?
Yes, to understand the format and diagnose gaps. Save some unseen questions for later practice and check whether older papers still match the current syllabus.
