In classrooms, oftentimes the terms “review guide” and “review problem set” are used interchangeably. That being said, the two terms actually mean different things and have different purposes. This article helps to remove this misnomer by defining what each term really means.

A review guide, as the name suggests, is designed to give students a methodology for studying for an assessment, giving one possible progression for remembering information. The information is usually provided in a well-organized way, perhaps in the same order that the information was taught the first time. The review comes in the form of statements, rather than questions. It typically summarizes the information provided in a greatly condensed form. Note that these are just outlines and students will need to refer back to notes or their textbooks to look for specific details.

A review problem set, on the other hand, allows students to review by answering questions. This type of handout gives students an idea of what types of questions to expect on the actual test. Unlike review guides, review problem sets may also be accompanied by an answer key. Suggest that students work through the problems on a review problem set for a day or two, and then distribute an answer key so they can check their answers. If you worry about students just looking at answers once you distribute the answer key, you can also have them turn in completed review problem sets before you hand them answer keys on an individual basis. However, this can be logistically tricky in larger classes, so be sure to keep track of who has shown you a completed problem set.

Either a review guide or a review problem set can be a helpful tool for students to study for tests, and in some cases it may be wise to create both. Cater your decision to the age of your students and the subject/topic you are teaching; review problem sets translate to open-ended questions for a history class, for example. Just make sure you’re clear on what you’re asking for when you hand the paper(s) to your students.