Exam prep can be an overwhelming and stressful experience for students and parents alike. You not only have to focus on remembering and understanding the study material, but also staying on schedule and organized so that you’re ready for the big day (or days). Microsoft 365 offers apps and services, including Microsoft Copilot, an AI reading assistant, and OneNote, that can assist you with preparing for these major school milestones!
Manage your materials, time, and anxiety with Copilot
Microsoft Copilot can act as your own personal study assistant when it comes to creating a tailored and manageable study schedule, breaking down complex topics for better comprehension and retention, finding reliable sources to read or cite, tracking key dates, and building healthy habits that support learning. Copilot can also generate quizzes, recommendations, or other materials based on your age or education level, preferences, and needed accommodations, and provide feedback on your responses that can improve how and what you learn. Get started with Copilot today from your personal account at copilot.microsoft.com, or your school account at M365Copilot.com.
As you draft your own prompts, use these tips to improve their effectiveness:
- Be specific: Instead of asking, “How do I study for the AP exams?” you could ask, “How would I go about prepping for the AP exams if I only have a month to prepare and 10 hours a week to commit to studying outside of school and activities?”
- Provide context: If you’re asking for study materials, explain whether you have any learning disabilities or difficulties: “What are some of the best test study practices for students with dyslexia?”
- Ask clear questions: Instead of a broad question like, “What should I focus on for a standardized test?” try, “What should I focus on in preparing for the math section of the ACTs?”
- Break down complex requests: If you have a multi-part question, break it into smaller parts: “First, come up with a study guide for the reading portion of the SATs. Then, explain which days I could tackle each of these assignments.”
- Use keywords: Include specific keywords related to your query: “What are the ACT test dates and registration deadlines in Illinois in 2025?”
- Specify desired format: If you need a list, summary, or detailed explanation, mention that: “Can you put together a bulleted summary of the sections of the ACT?”
- Indicate your preferences: Let Copilot know if you have a preference for the type of information or tone. “Can you describe what each of the SAT subject tests cover as if talking to a teenager?”
- Provide examples: If you’re looking for creative ideas, give an example of what you like: “I need ideas for staying motivated after studying for several hours that won’t cost a lot of money, such as rewarding myself with candy, except something healthier.”
- Ask follow-up questions: If Copilot’s initial response isn’t quite what you need, ask a follow-up question to narrow down the information: “Can you give more details on how the IB exam scoring works?”
- Be patient and iterative: Sometimes it takes a few tries to get the perfect response. Feel free to refine your prompt based on the initial answers you receive.
Sample prompt #1
Hey Copilot, can you recommend the best books to study for my SATs? I’m looking for resources that cover all sections comprehensively and offer practice tests and strategies.
Copilot’s response
Sample prompt #2
Hey Copilot, can you help me create a manageable study schedule for the ACTs? I’m a student with school and extracurricular activities scheduled between 7 AM and 5 PM. I need a study plan that fits around my busy schedule and includes breaks or self-care ideas to prevent stress and burnout. Thanks!
Copilot’s response
Refine your reading skills with Reading Coach and Immersive Reader
Reading Coach is a free learning accelerator that uses AI to offer personalized, engaging, and consistent feedback on reading skills and development. It can be a particularly useful tool for learners who tend to struggle with reading assignments, are multilingual (it covers up to 81 different languages and dialects), or require accommodations or assistance for a disability. With Reading Coach, you can choose (or create from scratch!) a story that resonates, such as fiction or nonfiction, receive coaching on challenging words, and track progress with badges, streaks, and other incentivizing stats. As you read a story out aloud, speech-to-text artificial intelligence will also analyze your reading fluency, detect words you might need to practice more, and record your accuracy, speed, and time spent reading.
Reading Coach can be used in the classroom or at home at coach.microsoft.com with a Microsoft account. Immersive Reader is also available with Reading Coach, enabling you to select the font, background, line spacing, and more that’s most comfortable and accessible to you.
Keep everything organized with OneNote
OneNote offers a variety of features that can streamline the study process. You can create different sections and pages for each subject or test section, ensuring all your study materials are neatly categorized and easily reachable, and even insert multimedia elements such as audio recordings and videos for a more interactive learning experience that you can also take and access on-the-go. Additionally, you can share your notebooks with peers or educators to receive feedback or guidance, collaborate on topic areas, and enhance group study sessions, while the ability to annotate PDFs and highlight important information can further increase your efficiency.
Best of luck, you’ve got this!
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