Use NotebookLM to study smarter and ace exams

Turn lecture notes, textbook PDFs, and course materials into AI-generated study guides, practice questions, timelines, and audio reviews using NotebookLM.

NotebookLM can turn a folder of course materials into an active study tool. Instead of reading through notes passively, you can quiz yourself with the AI, generate structured summaries, and listen to a discussion of key themes while on the go. This guide shows you how to set that up for any subject.

Set up your study notebook

1. Create a notebook per subject

   Make a separate notebook for each course or exam. Name it descriptively—for example, “BIOL 201 Midterm” or “Bar Exam: Constitutional Law”. Keeping subjects separate ensures the AI’s answers draw only on the right material.

2. Upload your study materials

   Add everything relevant to that course:

   • Lecture slides via a Google Slides link
   • Textbook chapters or readings as PDFs
   • Your own lecture notes from a Google Doc or pasted as text

   The more complete your source set, the more accurate the generated study content will be.

3. Generate a study guide

   Open Notebook Guide and click Study Guide. NotebookLM creates a structured document covering key concepts, definitions, and practice questions drawn from your uploaded materials. Use this as your primary review document.

4. Practice with the AI

   Use the chat panel to actively test your knowledge:

   • “Quiz me on Chapter 3.”
   • “What are the key differences between mitosis and meiosis?”
   • “Explain the significance of [term] as if I haven’t studied it yet.”

   The AI tests you using only your course materials, so its questions and answers align with what your instructor actually assigned.

5. Listen on the go

   Open Notebook Guide and generate an Audio Overview. NotebookLM produces a podcast-style conversation that covers the main themes in your sources. Listen while commuting, working out, or doing chores to reinforce material without sitting at a desk.

6. Identify gaps in your notes

   Ask the chat: “What topics from [syllabus doc] are least covered in my notes?” Upload your syllabus as a source first, then use this question to find areas where you need to find more material or review your notes more carefully.

Generate a timeline for history and narrative subjects

For courses with chronological content—history, literature, case law—open Notebook Guide and click Timeline. NotebookLM extracts events, dates, and sequences from your sources and arranges them in order. This is useful for:

• Tracking the progression of historical events across multiple readings
• Mapping the sequence of a legal case or legislative process
• Seeing how a scientific field developed over time

You can ask the chat follow-up questions about any point on the timeline to get more detail.

Add past exam papers as sources. Once uploaded, ask the AI: “Based on these past exams, what topics am I most likely to be tested on?” or “Generate five questions in the style of these past papers.” This turns your exam history into a targeted prediction tool.

Use the FAQ generator in Notebook Guide to produce a set of potential exam questions and answers. The AI draws the questions from your actual course material, so the FAQ reads like a self-contained revision sheet. Copy it to a Google Doc and work through it before the exam.

Related guides

Notebook Guide

Generate study guides, timelines, FAQs, and more from your sources.

Audio Overview

Turn your sources into a podcast-style audio discussion.

Adding sources

Learn how to add PDFs, Google Docs, slides, and YouTube links.

AI chat

Ask questions, get explanations, and test your understanding.