Study Guide Template
In short: a free, editable study guide you print on one page. Pick a layout (classic exam guide, Cornell notes or comparison chart), type your key terms, main ideas and practice questions, or leave sections empty to fill in by hand. Print or save as PDF. No download, no sign-up.
Key terms, main ideas, formulas, practice questions, summary. Fill in what you have; anything left empty prints as writing lines.
How to make a study guide in 6 steps
- Step 1
Collect your sources
Notes, slides, the syllabus and any review sheet. The review sheet tells you what the test covers.
- Step 2
List key terms
One term per line with a definition of under 15 words. If you cannot shorten it, you do not know it yet.
- Step 3
One line per main idea
Summarize each lesson in a sentence. These become the backbone of your answers.
- Step 4
Pull out what to memorize
Formulas, dates, names, steps of a process. These go on flashcards next.
- Step 5
Write practice questions
Phrase them the way your teacher does. Answer them from memory, not with your notes open.
- Step 6
Summarize in your own words
Five sentences on the whole unit. If it is hard to write, that part needs more review.
Which study guide format to use
| Feature | Classic exam guide | Cornell notes | Comparison chart | Flashcards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Unit tests and finals | Lecture-heavy classes | “Compare and contrast” questions | Terms, dates, formulas |
| How you review | Answer the practice questions | Cover notes, answer the cues | Fill the empty cells from memory | Flip and recall, spaced repetition |
| Time to make | 30–60 min | During class + 10 min | 15–30 min | Seconds with AI |
| Here | Template above | Template above | Template above | AI flashcard maker |
Example: a filled-in study guide (Biology, cell respiration)
Key terms
- Glycolysis – splits glucose into 2 pyruvate in the cytoplasm
- Krebs cycle – breaks down pyruvate in the mitochondria, releases CO₂
- ATP – the molecule cells use to store and move energy
Practice questions
- Where does each stage of respiration happen?
- Why does aerobic respiration make more ATP than fermentation?
- Write the overall equation for cell respiration.
Short on time? The AI study guide maker writes a guide like this from your notes, and the practice test generator turns it into a timed mock exam.
Study guide template FAQ
How do I make a study guide?
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Gather your notes, the syllabus and any review sheet. List the key terms with short definitions, write the main ideas of each lesson in one line each, add formulas or dates to memorize, then write practice questions the way your teacher asks them. Finish with a summary in your own words. The template above has a section for each step.
Is this study guide template editable?
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Yes. Type into any section and it appears on the printed page. Anything you leave empty prints as ruled lines, so you can also print a blank template and fill it in by hand.
Can I save the study guide as a PDF or open it in Google Docs or Word?
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Click “Print or save as PDF” and choose Save as PDF as the printer. The PDF opens in Google Drive and Word. You do not need a Docs or Word template file.
What is the Cornell notes layout?
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A page split into a narrow cue column on the left (questions and keywords), a wide notes column on the right, and a summary strip at the bottom. To review, cover the notes column and answer the cue questions from memory.
When should I use the comparison chart?
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When the exam asks you to compare things: mitosis vs meiosis, the causes of two wars, three economic systems. List the things across the top and the criteria down the side, then fill each cell. Gaps in the chart show what to study next.
Can AI make the study guide for me?
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Yes. Paste your notes into the free AI study guide maker and it writes the overview, key concepts, likely exam questions and common mistakes for you, and turns them into flashcards in one click.