Read the Abstract to get an overview of the research. A general orientation to the article and specific aspects your instructor wants you to concentrate on are presented below. 

How do you study for exams?  Many students write out study notes from the text and for the lectures and other parts of the course.  Some students work through the Study Guide (either in print or electronic form), completing the study test questions.  The goal of this study was to determine whether taking practice tests has any effect on exam performance.  Balch argues that taking the practice exam helps students realize how (un)prepared for the exam they are and, therefore, modify their study behaviours.

As you read this report of empirical research, think about your study behaviours, what seems to work for you, and why what works works.