Do you feel that you are smart enough to do well in school, but when it comes to testing, do you realize that you cannot remember all the things you have studied? The study is actually very complex, just like your brain and science has shown us that there is a "right" and a "wrong" way to do it. With some help from wikiHow, you too will remember what you study. Whether you are improving your study habits, learning to use mnemonics or employing various cognitive tools, you will pass all the exams before you even know it.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Prepare your Brain
Step 1. Get plenty of sleep
The first thing to do is to make sure you are sleeping properly. When you don't get enough sleep, your brain doesn't work as well and all the study in the world won't make a difference. You will have to avoid parties and going out for a while until you feel better about studying.
- New scientific studies have shown that when we sleep, our body goes through a sort of cleansing cycle where our brains are emptied of all worries that shouldn't be there. When you don't get enough sleep, this junk builds up and makes your brain function worse.
- Some people need eight hours of sleep, for some it takes six, while for others it may take nine or more. Each body is different - do some rehearsal to see how you feel.
Step 2. Eat balanced meals
Eating a healthy and balanced diet is also important. The body needs many different nutrients in order to work well, and when these nutrients are not introduced, it can be difficult to focus and absorb information. Eating balanced meals isn't just about eating lots of kale (even if it's really good for you). It mostly means making sure you are eating lots of different foods in healthy proportions. You have to adjust to your particular lifestyle, but a good balance to start with consists of:
- 30% of vegetables. Go for dark green ones, such as kale, chard, spinach, and broccoli, as they contain more nutrients.
- 20% fruit. Try choosing nutrient-rich fruits, such as citrus and kiwifruit, or fiber-rich fruits, such as apples, pears, and bananas.
- 30% whole grains. Choose nutrient-rich grains, such as brown rice, oatmeal, and quinoa, and look for whole grains whenever you need to eat carbs.
- 20% protein. Try to choose lean protein when you eat meat (turkey, chicken and fish) and a full protein intake when you eat other protein-rich foods (you will need to mix foods like nuts, lentils and beans to get complete protein or eat whole soy, such as soy nuts and edamame).
- Limit your consumption of dairy products. Most of the nutrients you get from dairy products can easily be taken from other sources. Dairy products tend to be very fat, so you better choose low-fat ones. You'll want to make sure you're getting enough calcium, though, so eat calcium-rich foods like kale, kale, and sardines.
Step 3. Drink lots of water
You probably know that the body is made up mostly of water, so you probably won't be surprised to hear that drinking enough water will be very important in helping you focus. Dehydration will cause you to have trouble concentrating, and if you can't concentrate, you will have a really hard time remembering.
A good rule of thumb is that you will know that you have taken in enough water when your urine is pale or occasionally clear. Eight glasses of water a day is a good starting point, but each person needs different amounts of water
Step 4. Wear comfortable clothing
When you study, you need to do what you can to wear comfortable clothes. This will allow you to focus all your attention on your work, instead of interrupting your concentration to worry about the heat, the cold or the pants that bother you in the groin.
Step 5. Use caffeine carefully
Coffee and caffeinated drinks… whatever your poison, be careful when taking it. Sure, caffeine helps you study, but only if you take it after studying. If taken before studying, it can make you too nervous to concentrate properly. Caffeine has many other downsides as well, so try not to rely on this substance in general.
Negative side effects of caffeine include caffeine addiction, headache, dehydration, fatigue, anxiety, and disruption of the sleep cycle
Part 2 of 4: Identifying Learning Styles
Step 1. Evaluate the way you learn
There is a theory that each person has their own way to learn best, and if you can find the method that works for you, it will be easier for you to study. There are studies that show that learning styles may not work, but, by applying them, many people perceive a clear difference in learning. You should feel free to experiment, because what matters is that it works for you.
You can find a number of tests online that can help you understand your learning style. Each of them is as reliable as all the others and can give a lot of different results. The best way is to pay attention to how you feel and what things work for you
Step 2. Work with a visual learning style
Have you ever noticed that you learn best by looking at charts or graphs? When you think about classroom lessons, do you remember that the Powerpoint slides sounded better than the actual words spoken by the teacher? These could be indications that you are strongly attracted to visual learning. Try to find ways to visually render the information you study in order to help yourself remember better.
For example, try using different colored highlighters and colored cards to mark important information in your textbook
Step 3. Adapt to an auditory learning style
Have you ever noticed that you find it easier to remember what your teacher said than the information written in your textbook? Do you feel that you absorb information better when you listen to music while you study (sometimes, you are even able to remember the information simply by "playing" the song in your head)? These could be indications that you are strongly attracted to auditory learning. Try to find ways to render the information you need to study as an auditory representation to help yourself remember it better.
Try recording the lessons and listening to them while driving or just before or after your study
Step 4. Facilitate a physical learning style
Have you ever noticed that you are happier when you do manual work? Maybe tap your foot or wave your hands while in class. These could be signs of kinesthetic learning or of someone learning best when physically moving. This learning style is rarer than the other two, but it's important to use it if it's yours.
Try taking breaks to run around the block or to do other short physical exercises while you study. This can help you process information better and prevent you from becoming too tense
Part 3 of 4: Committing to School
Step 1. Find things you like
It will be easier for you to remember the information you have studied if it is something that interests you or excites you. Some school topics will naturally be interesting to you, but other things may seem really boring on the surface. When this happens, you will need to find a way to get interested in the subject. There are many different ways to do this, but you can try:
- Find a reason why the information will be useful to you later in life. For example, learning math can help you calculate how much money you will need to save to retire. Be smart - you may even be able to figure out how to go into early retirement.
- Compose the information into a story. For example, if you are studying history, find a way to adapt what you are learning into a personal episode of your favorite fantasy series. If you are studying science, think of a way in which science could be used to explain the origin of your superhero.
Step 2. Listen actively
If you pay close attention during classroom lessons, not only will it be easier for you to remember information, but you will also be able to study more efficiently, because your brain will have easier access to the notions you have learned. Try to learn by asking questions and actively participating in lessons.
Step 3. Take notes
Another effective way to "follow" the lesson is to take notes. This will help keep your attention, but it will also give you a lot of material to study later. Remember that, when taking notes, the important thing is not to write down everything your teacher says, but only the most important points. Write down the lesson outline and fill it with facts and explanations for those difficult concepts that you know are tough for you.
For example, if it's an article, you should take notes for each section and write a few meaningful words for each step
Step 4. Do your own research
You can help yourself to remember what you learn and also to take a greater interest in what you are studying by taking ownership of your training and looking for more information outside of what your teacher explains. This can help you understand the concepts better, but it will also offer you a more solid support on which to put together the information you had in class. You may even discover interesting things!
For example, suppose you are studying chemistry and your teacher is talking about the discovery of many new compounds in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. You might stop and think, "What have people been doing with all this new stuff?" If you've done some research, you'll find that all those new compounds have been used to make new and colorful paints. These new colors were responsible for an artistic revolution that gave us painters like Van Gogh and Monet
Step 5. Look for a context
If you find it difficult to understand what your teacher is saying, try creating a little more context for the information yourself. Sometimes, when you can more clearly visualize what is being discussed, it will be easier for you to understand what is happening and keep track of new information.
For example, if you are studying history but find that you cannot keep track of everything that is happening, try going to a museum or watching a documentary that deals with that topic. This will suggest something to imagine as you learn and may also explain some ideas to you differently and better than your teacher
Part 4 of 4: Using Tricks and Tools to Memorize
Step 1. Use a mind map
A mind map is a great way to help you remember information better. To create a mind map, you collect the information you need to learn into categories and then into individual ideas. Jot down all these ideas on sticky notes and then pin or stick them on a large wall, with the ideas grouped by category. Then you can link similar ideas with colored postcards to convey more information.
This means that (if you learn your mind map), when you go to take an exam, all you have to do is mentally visualize the map so that you can "find" the information you need more easily
Step 2. Create your own mnemonic techniques
These are songs, phrases or words that act like a shorthand code to remember much more complicated information. You can learn the most commonly used ones or create your own specific ones for what you are trying to remember.
For example, there are phrases commonly used to remember notes on a staff and others to remember the list of essential amino acids
Step 3. Study in a group
When you study, try to do it with other people. This works really well for many different reasons. Most importantly, it can involve many different learning styles, and most people will find they understand information better when explaining it to someone else. Studying in a group also means that if one of you doesn't understand something very well or was absent from a particular lesson, there are other people who can help you get back on track.
Talk to your classmates about studying in groups, but remember this is not the most appropriate time for socializing. You shouldn't choose study mates based on friendships. You should try to study with people who take school seriously and are as committed as you do
Step 4. Focus on one task at a time
When we interrupt our attention, it can often take up to 20 minutes or more before we are able to regain it, according to studies. Our brains also have a limit on how much attention can be paid at any given time, no matter what our basic physical limits are. That's why it's best that you sit in a place with as few distractions as possible and study until you're done.
Also avoid music or TV. Focusing on one activity means avoiding watching TV or listening to songs while studying. Studies have shown that they almost universally do more harm than good, because the brain has to work too hard to listen to music and focus intensely on the task
Step 5. Make connections
When you are studying, try to make connections between the content you are trying to learn and what you already know. By making connections you will not only understand the concepts better (making them more useful in your daily life), but you will also have an easier time remembering them. You shouldn't even feel limited by the subject: if you see a connection between your favorite history subject and your new math test, try by all means to make it firm in your mind.
For example, you may notice that there are some weird words and syntactic structures in English. This can be linked to the various cultures conquered by England (and also because of the colonies) over the course of history
Step 6. Start studying as soon as possible
The best and least complicated thing you can do to help yourself remember what you have studied better is to start studying as soon as possible. The sooner you start, the more chances you will have of going over the information repeatedly and really blocking those facts in your brain. By studying the night before, you won't be doing yourself a favor; at most you will earn two or three correct questions on a test. By studying briefly every other day for a month prior to the test, you will likely earn a perfect score or at least that great rating you hope for.
Advice
- Chew gum when studying and also when taking tests / quizzes, etc. Chew gum of the same taste. Your brain will then create some connections that will allow you to remember what you have learned while studying. It is a weird method, but very useful!
- If you have to remember a short definition, write it down at least 6 times, chew a gum and create a flashcard that you will consult every 10 minutes by reading its contents.
- Make flashcards (sets of cards with information on both sides). They will help you memorize by seeing the topic on one side and details and definitions on the other.
- Writing down the information you learn will help you better memorize the things you do as you listen or read. The greater the number of transcripts, the less likely you are to forget what you wrote.
- Review the highlighted concepts just before the exam.
- The more you practice, the easier it will be for you to memorize.
- Try shaking hands - it will help improve circulation and pump blood to the brain.
