Studying for the PMHNP exam can feel like staring down a never-ending stream of material. Even with a solid schedule, pages start blending together, and it becomes hard to tell what’s worth revisiting and what’s just filler. That’s where the way you mark up your study materials comes into play. Done right, marking up books, printouts, or digital resources can help you stay focused, remember key facts, and actually understand what you’re reading instead of just skimming through it.

Highlighting, underlining, writing notes in the margins—these might seem like small things, but they can seriously improve how you connect with the content. It’s not just about making your pages look colorful. When used the right way, these strategies turn passive reading into active studying. That means fewer distractions, better recall, and a stronger grasp of material come test time. So instead of overwhelming your pages with random colors and sticky notes, take a look at how to make marking up your materials work better for you.

Choosing the Right Tools for Marking Up

Not all study tools fit every learning approach. Some students need bright cues and physical movement, while others prefer to keep things tidy and accessible across devices. Choosing the right tools can stop you from wasting time and help you get more out of the study session.

Here’s a breakdown of common tools and how they serve different styles:

• Highlighters: Great for visual learners who want quick ways to spot key info. Stick to two or three colors and assign each a purpose like vocabulary, main idea, or action steps. Too many colors can confuse your future self.
• Sticky Notes: Perfect when you need extra space to write a summary or ask a question without scribbling all over the text. They’re easy to move around and replace.
• Pens and Pencils: Underrated but flexible. Try writing margin notes, circling terms, or adding arrows between connected points.
• Digital tools: Apps like Notability, GoodNotes, or OneNote let you type, highlight, and draw directly on digital notes or PDFs. Ideal if you like studying across devices or need everything in one place. They also usually have a search function.
• Index Tabs: Handy to keep track of major sections or mark pages you want to return to later. These work especially well in textbooks or notebooks.

Think about how you study best. If you find text-heavy books hard to look at twice, bright color-coded pages might help. If keeping track of physical notes is tough, digital tools can help you stay organized without carrying a backpack full of loose paper.

Effective Highlighting Techniques

It’s easy to go highlighter-happy and color every sentence on the page. But the truth is, too much highlighting works against you. The point isn’t to decorate a paragraph but to call attention to the most helpful parts you’ll need to come back to.

Here are a few ways to make highlighting worth your time:

1. Pick key info only

Focus on definitions, main points, and anything the exam is likely to test like diagnostic criteria or side effects of medications.

2. Use color with purpose

Assign meaning to each color. For example:

• Yellow = Definitions
• Blue = Case study clues
• Pink = Remember for exam

This can take a little practice but improves how fast you scan and refresh later on.

3. Highlight after reading

Read the whole paragraph first, then go back and highlight. This makes it easier to tell what’s actually important instead of just marking things impulsively.

4. Avoid entire sentences

Aim for phrases, key terms, or short points. The more you highlight, the less helpful it becomes. Stick to the parts you’d want to read again the night before the test.

5. Review what you highlight

The highlight isn’t the final step. It’s like a flag signaling, “Come back here.” Plan to spend time weekly flipping through highlighted parts and testing yourself on why they stood out.

One example: when reviewing therapeutic communication techniques, instead of highlighting a full paragraph about open-ended questions, mark the term “open-ended,” write a quick “builds trust” next to it, and move on. That kind of focused markup helps during last-minute reviews without pulling you into rereading entire pages.

Using Annotations and Marginalia

Highlighting alone isn’t enough if you want a deeper understanding of your study material. Writing short notes in the margins, underlining sections of a sentence, or even drawing simple symbols can help you connect with the content in a more personal way. These small visual cues jumpstart your memory when you revisit a topic.

Not sure what kinds of notes to write? Here are some quick ways to use annotations to your advantage:

• Rephrase hard concepts in your own words
• Jot down short definitions or symptom lists beside important terms
• Write questions like “How would I use this with a patient?” or “Could this show up in a case study?”
• Use abbreviations like Dx (diagnosis), Tx (treatment), or AE (adverse effects) to save time
• Draw arrows between related points to get a clearer picture

For example, say you’re reading about mood disorders and you come across bipolar I vs. bipolar II. Instead of just highlighting the definitions, you could write “mania vs. hypomania” in the margin, followed by a note like “watch for hospitalization.” That small reminder will help jog your memory and pull out the key difference quicker.

You can even use symbols to save space. Things like a star for an exam alert, a question mark for points you need to research more, or a lightbulb for concepts that finally clicked can help organize your notes visually without much extra effort.

Integrating Digital and Physical Notes

Many students flip between handwritten notebooks, printed study guides, and digital apps without really connecting them in a smooth way. That split can waste your time during review sessions. Figuring out how to blend both formats helps make your material easier to manage and quicker to access.

One method is to use physical notes during active studying, like while reading textbooks or attending coaching sessions, then snap a picture of those notes and upload them into a digital notebook. Apps like Notion, OneNote, or GoodNotes let you combine handwriting, typed text, and screenshots in one spot, which means less time digging in backpacks or chasing down missing info.

If you already use a binder or notebook, try matching your digital files to the same layout. Keep section names the same. For example, make sure both your digital and physical folders include headings like “Antipsychotics” or “Therapeutic Communication.” That way you don’t have to reset your brain each time you switch study formats.

Here are a few more tips to help bridge the gap:

• Add screenshots of digital notes or sample test questions to flashcards
• Record voice notes during online sessions and listen during transport or while cooking
• Match digital folder names with notebook tab labels
• Use cloud backups so you have your notes on any device, whenever needed

Using both physical and digital formats doesn’t need to feel messy. With a little planning, it can make your process smoother and your review sessions faster and more useful.

Mastering Repetition and Review

Marking up your materials is a great first step, but just as important is the review process that follows. That’s where the real learning sticks. Even great notes won’t do much if you don’t go back and interact with them again and again.

Set aside time to build review into your schedule. Repetition helps shift important material into long-term memory and builds confidence for test day.

Try this weekly plan to keep it simple:

• Day 1: Read the material and do your markups
• Day 2: Go back and review notes, highlights, and margin comments
• Day 4: Quiz yourself with flashcards or a quick discussion with a study partner
• Day 7: Reread only the highlighted sections and test yourself with practice questions

Stick with fast, low-pressure reviews instead of marathon cram sessions. Use flashcards, quiz apps, or even record your notes so you can listen while commuting. Short but steady study blocks tend to work best.

If you have someone to study with, take turns asking questions about each other’s notes. Talking out your thinking helps reinforce your memory and makes it easier to explain concepts on the test.

Turning Smart Markup Into Studying Success

When your markup tools support your learning style, study time goes smoother. Good highlights and strong notes aren’t just extra work. They help you actually learn the material instead of just reading over it again and again. That kind of active learning sets you up for a stronger PMHNP exam performance.

The goal is progress, not perfection. Maybe you start with color coding but notice you’re not really remembering anything. Scale it back. Try fewer colors and tighter highlights. Or if writing long notes gets tiring, use symbols and short phrases. Adjust as you learn more about what works for you.

Once you make smarter markups part of your regular routine, the content starts to click more. Review time gets easier, and confidence builds. Stick with it, give yourself time to learn your rhythm, and keep building that strong foundation. You’ve got what it takes to do this right.

Looking to level up your reviewing game? Strengthen your prep with our comprehensive nurse practitioner study guide that reinforces the strategies we’ve covered. NP Exam Coach is here to give you the tools and guidance you need to study smarter and feel confident heading into your exam.