das weiß ich nicht, aber mir fällt das Wort "selective" ein. "Selective preparation"?

or
selective learning

Perfunctory Learning :)

@AndreasS

Would this work?

@Jill: I'm afraid it does not. "Mut zur Lücke" sounds a bit like gambling, but if you know how to gamble that might be the best choice you have.

One of the teachers of my third son who did his Abitur with an exellect grade asked me at the Abiturball how my son managed to know just all the answers that he, the teacher had asked him in the oral examination. I didn't know, but I asked him later and he replied, "Well, that was not all that difficult. I just knew the favorite subjects of the teacher and could imagine what questions be would like to ask." Mut zur Lücke. Just study what your examiners will ask you. This is not about being superficial, not at all.

@AndreasS
So, "Mut zur Lücke" is neither "Perfunctory Learning" or "Selective preparation" or even "selective learning" and sounds a bit like gambling.

I'm sure someone may have a better translation.

Pons-Collins:
Mut zur Lücke - (hum) the courage to admit when one doesn't know something


Cf.
  related discussion:Kein Mut zur Lücke
  related discussion:Mut zur Lücke
related discussion

I think we've pretty well established that there isn't a direct translation. Pons's suggestion is more like an explanation. To reflect the sense of the German, something like 'head/aim for the gap,' 'full speed ahead for the gap,' 'concentrate on the gaps,' etc. might (barely) work.

But as for what we would actually say in English to someone preparing for a challenge and feeling overwhelmed, I can only suggest something like 'Learn what you can and don't worry about the rest,' or (my first choice) 'Just hit the high spots.' It's obviously not an exact equivalent, but I think it might work at least some of the time.

@hm -- us

Thanks:)

I have been trying to remember what these small(A8) yellow paperbacks are called that contain the highlights of different subject/story studies. They were not cheets, and were frowned upon by teachers because of just that.
I know as soon as I hit "send" It will come to mind:)

Cliffs Notes, probably.

Could German speakers possibly give other examples? Is it always in connection with a test?

@AEler
Exactly!:)

How about something like: "look for the loopholes"?

That sort of describes what AndreasS's (!) son did, I think....
Knowing what the teacher's favourite subjects are and concentrating on them as the ones most likely to come up, is what one might call:

"creating a psychological loophole for oneself by having the courage to rely on one's observations and instincts"

Oder?!