While almost every student has dreamed of how amazing having a photographic memory would be, we quickly shrug that off and go back to hitting the books (or laptops) to prepare for our next test. Whether you just started a term or your final exams are just around the corner, every student could use a little review on some practical memorization tips. Here are a few ways you can go about effectively storing necessary information in your head to have it ready for your next exam: 

1.Understanding

Before taking the dive to start memorizing a large pool of information, ensure you understand what it is you want to remember. Don’t try to blindly commit information to memory, but instead consider how the information is linked to other ideas you already have a grasp on. This will link the information to other concepts you already have stored in your brain, helping your mind to more easily retain it. If you are unable to make sense of the information you are trying to store, the brain has a difficult time holding on to it. The more bridges you can make to the information, whether it be real life applications, examples you have witnessed, or similar topics you are familiar with, the easier it will be to recall. If you are unsure whether you actually understand a concept, try to explain the idea in your own words. If you can only repeat the information in the phrases and terms given, you may want to spend some more time fleshing out what it is you are studying before trying to commit it to memory.

2. Chunking

This is the “divide and conquer” technique applied to memorization. Break information into smaller chunks and memorize a little at a time. When presented with a lot of information at once, it is difficult to focus your mind enough to memorize everything. So, instead, break it down into chunks. If you are trying to memorize 50 definitions, start with just memorizing three. After you have those memorized, memorize three more. Then, review all six together. Then, keep adding little bits at a time until you have it all mastered. You can’t swallow the whole meal in one gulp, so organize the information into bite-sized portions. Your mind can only take in so much information at one time, so make sure you break it down into digestible chunks to ensure you are able to retain it thoroughly.

3. Graphic Organizers 

Use charts, graphs, webs, or diagrams to help visualize and organize what you are learning. This method is especially helpful for visual learners, but can be beneficial to all as it reformats the information making it easier for the brain to hold. Certain information can be better organized in pictures, lists, or other means of visual structuring so as to help your brain more easily absorb the information. If ideas are only written out in paragraphs or heard through a lecture, it could increase the difficulty for some students to retain the information, but if the information is reorganized with visuals, it could help some students process the information better.

4. Mnemonic Devices

Mnemonic devices use acronyms and word associations to help one recall information. Mnemonic devices are especially helpful with lists, but can be used for a variety of other purposes as well. Often people take the first letter of each word of the list they want to memorize, and then create a sentence utilizing those same letters. “Some Boys Will Work For A Glossy, Little M&M” is a sentence that can help you remember the seven original members of the justice league: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman, Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter. These are great for remembering the number, order, and first letters of a list (but hopefully you will use your mnemonic devices to memorize a bit more important information than comic book characters). 

5. Feynman Technique

This is the Feynman Technique: study the information as though you are going to teach it. After you believe you have a decent grasp on the subject matter, practice teaching it without looking at any notes. This could be to yourself in the mirror, or better yet, to a study partner. When you are done, review your notes and see if you made any mistakes or forgot to include something (or have your study partner tell you what you missed). After reviewing again, practice teaching it again, and then compare how you did. Continue this cycle until you can teach the information without any mistakes. This not only causes you to explain the concepts in your own words, but it helps you become aware of where you may be lacking. It also familiarizes you with how you would feel during an actual assessment of the material as you practice recalling information without relying on your notes. 

6. Spaced Repetition 

Space out the times that you study a topic. It is more effective to study a topic for a little bit every day as opposed to spending the same amount of time all at once. Cramming is not effective and can cause information overload. To increase your retention rate, continue to review the material more consistently, rather than studying for long periods of time. So if you know you have an exam in two weeks, it will be more beneficial to study 30 minutes everyday, than 14 hours the day before. To get a better understanding of how spaced repetition affects your memory, check out this graph by lifehacks.org. 

3 Things to Avoid…

While the previous are some tips to try, the following few pieces of advice are things you should try to avoid in order to make sure your study time is effective. 

Information Overload

If you try to cover too much information at one time, your brain won’t be able to handle it all. Study what you’re able to wrap your mind around, and then continue to review it before adding in new information. Overexposure to new ideas without nailing any of them down will only result in information overload and do little to help on a test. In fact, it could even add stress, and end in even worse results. If our brains are like a sponge, remember that it takes time to absorb information, splashing a cup of water on a sponge won’t allow the sponge to take it all in; you want to pour the water on slowly to ensure you absorb it all.     

Multi-tasking

Some say that multitasking is a myth, and the brain can actually only focus on one thing at a time. So while you may think you are doing two things at once, your brain is just quickly switching between multiple tasks. If you are attempting to memorize information for an upcoming literature exam while also working on a paper for your community development class, it will negatively affect how much you will remember because you are not giving your brain enough time to process the information as it keeps shifting focus between the two subjects. Focus on one, and then when finished (or when you need a break), then switch to the other. 

Distractions

This one may seem obvious, but is often what we don’t want to do. We want to be comfortable when we study, which may include surrounding ourselves with things we like such as our favorite music, the perfect cup of coffee, a location with a cool vibe, some snacks, and maybe even a friend or two. However, each of those comforts can also be a distraction. The more you rid your environment of distractions, the more you will be able to focus. This allows the brain to put more effort into locking down the information you are studying. So, before you begin reviewing information you’ll need to recall for an exam, clear out anything that could keep you from focusing on your subject. Otherwise during your test, you may recall the invigorating taste of your spicy ranch Doritos instead of the answer you were supposed to be studying. 

Sources: 	

Linda Bress Silbert, Ph.D. And Alvin J. Silbert, Ed.D. “12 Great Memory Strategies for Better Grades.” Waynesburg. edu. (visited 27 March 2022) 

https://www.waynesburg.edu/sites/default/files/2019-12/12_Great_Memory_Strategies_for_Better_Grades.pdf 

Schoder, Will. “How to Remember Everything You Learn.” Will Schoder. Youtube Video: 13:21.  30 June 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-UvSKe8jW4  

Ho, Leon. “How to Use Spaced Repetition to Remember What You Learn.” LifeHack. (visited 27 March 2022)

https://www.lifehack.org/851026/spaced-repetition 

Sébastien, Ricard. “The Fallacy Of Multitasking.” Forbes.com. 31 January 2020 (visited 27 March 2022). https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2020/01/31/the-fallacy-of-multitasking/?sh=7fd7fb6c6ba4