Might sound a bit strange at first, but one way to help yourself understand the work you have to learn is to try and explain it to yourself, in your own words, as if you are the teacher. If you don’t want to do it on your own, you can also do it in a group or with a study partner.  Saying the material aloud will point out where you are confused and need more information. Doing this will also help you remember what you have to learn! As you are explaining the material, use examples and make connections between ideas (just as a teacher does). 

You could even make a quiz!
Quizzing yourself is a highly effective study technique! Identify the questions that you don’t know and quiz yourself on only those questions. This will help you to retain the information and make corrections where they are needed. Learning the material in this way actively engages your brain and will significantly improve your memory (Craik, 1975)!