> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://google-40.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# 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

<Steps>
  <Step title="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.
  </Step>

  <Step title="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.
  </Step>

  <Step title="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.
  </Step>

  <Step title="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.
  </Step>

  <Step title="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.
  </Step>

  <Step title="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.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## 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.

<Tip>
  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.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  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.
</Tip>

## Related guides

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Notebook Guide" icon="book-open" href="/features/notebook-guide">
    Generate study guides, timelines, FAQs, and more from your sources.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Audio Overview" icon="headphones" href="/features/audio-overview">
    Turn your sources into a podcast-style audio discussion.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Adding sources" icon="file-arrow-up" href="/sources/adding-sources">
    Learn how to add PDFs, Google Docs, slides, and YouTube links.
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI chat" icon="message-bot" href="/features/chat">
    Ask questions, get explanations, and test your understanding.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>