Studying the day of the test is usually my go to. The material stays fresher in my mind that way.
I haven't failed an exam yet doing that.
I always try to bundle information together if I can help it. Grammar rules get bundled in one section, idioms in another, punctuation goes together, etc. And yes, these are also written down so I can memorize them better.
Here are some tips that may help:
All the best with your exam! Good luck :)
For memorizing Chinese characters it is much better to identify the radicals and components of a character than individual strokes. The more characters you learn the easier it is to practice.