LAUREN MAIN
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The Best Study Secret for Your Memory
by Lauren Main
Every student has experienced a moment where they draw a complete blank. You’ve been rereading, highlighting and summarising key ideas – but now that the exam is in front of you, the memories just aren’t coming back. Did you know that some of the most popular revision techniques may be wasting your valuable study time? Here is some revision advice for committing those theories and formulas to memory so you can feel your most confident for exams.
The secret weapon: Active Recall
Don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to help you memorise effectively. One of the best techniques is known as Active Recall. Active Recall works to commit a topic to your long-term memory by encouraging you to actively retrieve the information you have studied from your brain. This is essentially what you are doing when you sit an exam or test, so it makes sense to practice this to strengthen that skill.
3 Ways to make Active Recall work for you
1. Flashcards
The first strategy is flashcards – an underrated study technique for memorising content. Apps such as Quizlet make it easy to create customised flashcard decks or if you prefer, you can use the classic paper version. As an extra tip, sort your flashcards into categories: questions that were easy, challenging and difficult – this way you can know what you need to practice more.
2. Closed-book Mindmaps
Another strategy is closed-book mindmaps. Once you have learnt a topic, simply close your books and begin writing down as much as you can remember on that topic in a mindmap style. Afterwards, open your books and fill in any information you may have missed. This technique can also help to ease exam nerves as it allows you to relax and feel confident without your books in front of you.
3. Q&A Notes
The final Active Recall strategy is for those who still enjoy making notes. A question and answer format could be a better option than repeating information from a textbook or lecture. Dividing your page into two columns, use the right column to write down key ideas from the information you’re studying, then use the left column to create questions for yourself based on that content. This still allows you to write notes, but the added element of questions encourages your brain to recall the knowledge.
Studying for exams can be stressful, but with the right memorisation techniques, it's easier to feel confident and relaxed. Active Recall is a great strategy for strengthening your memory so you can ace that exam! For extra help, get in touch with your Student Advisors, or chat with other students on Connect, found on the home page of your Student Portal.
