Analyse how many things you have to study and try to calculate how much you have to study each day/week to cover everything. You can quickly test how long it takes you to study one page and calculate the amount of time you need to study everything afterward. Try to study over the course of a week, not just one night. Revisiting the information moves it from short-term memory (the kind that disappears almost immediately) to long-term memory, where you can retrieve it for later. [1] X Research source Ideally, take a look at the content a little bit every day.
Organize a notebook and folder for the class. Keep all your papers together when you need to pull them out three months later. Keep your syllabus accessible to use it as a rough outline for the class. Don’t forget to keep up the studying on a daily basis, don’t leave it for the last minute!
Before you go to bed, hit the hardest concepts. Then when you do hit the hay, your brain has hours and hours to let it sink in. The fluff can be tackled mid-afternoon – let the difficult stuff stew overnight for maximum retention. [2] X Research source
In fact, research says that your diet the week before the test matters, too! Students that were placed on a high-fat, high-carb diet did worse than those loading up on fruits, veggies, and complex, whole grains. Do yourself, your body, and your mind a favor by eating right. By eating right, you can get the right nutrients that your body needs, and you will be able to retain information better. [2] X Research source
If you don’t see the logic, believe the science. Studies show that late-night crammers get average grades. [4] X Research source If you’re looking for a C, cram away. But if you’re looking for something a bit better, avoid it.
Research shows that the closer the information is taken in relative to sleep, the more it’ll stay in. So review right before bed! What’s more, it also shows that getting a good night’s rest leads to greater levels of retention. Remember how we said don’t cram? There you go. [6] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
It’s a good idea to spend the first part of your session working on concepts. These often get ignored. Have a discussion on the concepts of that week’s material or the major points on the test. When you have a discussion about it, it’ll be that much more interesting (and memorable). Then, work on specific problems. When you’ve covered the concepts, the problems will be more likely to fall into place.
If you can study where you take the test, do so. If you’ve heard of context-dependent memory, you know what this is about. Your brain is more likely to remember information in the environment it learned it in. [9] X Research source So if you can bring your study group into the classroom, do it! Avoid getting distracted by your environment and use background noise to block out distracting noises.
Remember, you’re only taking a break because your brain needs to set the information it’s already ingested. Your attention will improve, and your recall will be much, much better. You’re not slacking – you’re simply studying the best way for your brain. [11] X Research source Use your breaks to stand up and go for a walk. Go out and get some fresh air, your brain needs oxygen in order to perform best.
Coffee and tea – a little bit of caffeine – doesn’t hurt either. [7] X Research source Staying energized is a big part of absorbing information. Just don’t go overboard and crash a few hours later! Fish, nuts, and olive oil (all things high in Omega-3s) are also brain super foods. Have the meal before your test high in these and your brain will be ready and raring to go. [7] X Research source
You’re also more likely to remember something if you associate it with a crazy story. [13] X Research source Trying to remember that the only war that took place during one president’s term was WWI and it was Woodrow Wilson? Well, Woody’s initials are WW, so imagine him on top of the world with one of those giant foam fingers. Or one giant Wilson volleyball, painted to look like the Earth, bouncing between the US and Germany. You know, whichever. Graphs and pictures are much easier to remember than boring, drawn-out sentences. If you can make it more interactive and visually pleasing, do so. It’ll pay off. Use mnemonic devices too! Your brain can only remember so many things (the magic number is 7, it seems), so if you can lump a whole bunch of information into one word (think Roy G. Biv), you’ll be able to maximize your memory. [7] X Research source
That way, when you study, it should be fairly easy to see the larger concepts versus the finer details. When you’re scanning, just focus on the big stuff. When you’re really getting into it, delve into the details. Studying different types of material in one session has shown to leave a deeper, longer-lasting impression on the brain. It’s the same reason musicians do scales, pieces, and rhythmic work and athletes do strength, speed, and skill drills. So in one afternoon, attack all those colors![8] X Research source
So write up a pre-test and have your friend do the same! Then you can grade it for each other and reap the benefits. And if you can get your study group in on it, all the better. The more real it feels, the more prepared you’ll feel and be when test day arrives.
Only hit up the simple stuff (only revise simple concepts). Trying to wrap your brain around the large, difficult concepts when you have ten minutes on your walk won’t do you any favors. You’ll end up psyching yourself out – the opposite effect of what you want! Just prime your brain for the content.
Consider listening to classical music. Though it doesn’t directly make you smarter, it can improve your memory. If you want to get super specific, listen to music that’s 60 BPM. That’s when the benefits will be highest. [15] X Research source Natural background noise generators that let you play rain, wind, water or a calm fire crackling have the same beneficial effect and help you get in the zone.
The more time you spend on a question, the more time you risk second-guessing yourself. Most of the time, your first answer will be the right one, so trust your intuition.
