PR is a great method to get an overview about something quickly so that one notices the connections between different things and sees “the big picture”. Still, many tests require very specific knowledge. I myself am taking part in an entrance exam of university in June and that exam requires both managing the whole and the details.
I guess the answer is to have many activation passes. First you do the basis and then you complete piece by piece, as building a house, so to speak… 
I myself am preparing to the exam so that I PR the books every now and then, I attend to lectures and do exercises. I have a full-time job so I have time to study only in evenings and weekends.
