Read it well in advance and take notes as you go along. Then study the notes. I never found highlighting to help because everything is important. You just need to take notes that will help make it all make sense and remind you of facts you may easily forget. Hopefully you can remember enough of the details so that just studying a summary or some reminders will bring it all back to you… which is why it’s important to take your time and read slowly, and think about the subject matter. On more trivial and factual subjects, it’s important to quiz yourself to make sure you’re 100%. Study your notes consistently, and the day before the exam, scan through the book one last time quickly just to gather up a few last details that didn’t make it to your notes.

Sounds like a pain, but if you want to get an A, this is the way it’s done. Otherwise, you’re really taking your chances on grasping enough of the material to nail the test.

Study in short bursts and take a break for every 10-20 minutes of studying.

If you have time re-read it again and take notes and write down words you dont know. But if you dont have time think about the most important parts and re-read them.

Also a good way to remember important stuff is to write it down.