Over the fall break, I was stressing with the PSAT coming up. Even in the first quarter, I found myself struggling to effectively study for my tests and quizzes, causing me to just waste hours of time when my brain wasn’t really holding onto the information.
I finally took time over the break to do some research on how to help my mind retain the things I’ve learned. I looked at academic studies and tips shared by people on the internet, and here are some take-aways:
Space Repetition – This method involves waiting after you’ve learned something new before you test your knowledge. Let’s say the subject is math. First, learn the formulas, then wait five minutes before quizzing yourself. Then quiz yourself a few more times, increasing the interval times— fifteen minutes, thirty minutes, etc. According to scientists who study how brain synapses work, this spaced retrieval helps your brain fight against forgetting new information.
Teaching – One of the best methods to memorize information is to teach it. If you’re not well-versed with what you’re trying to teach, you’ll find out what you don’t know when you try to create a lesson about it. This method is best used after you’ve been studying.
Sleeping – Studies have shown that studying right before bedtime, or when you are in a tired state, may lead to better memory and recall on the subject. Your brain goes over and consolidates information while you sleep. However, researchers say you this work only if you’re getting enough sleep. Studies show that people who spend more time studying and getting a full night’s rest, rather than pulling an all-nighter to study, have performed better on tests.
“Blurting” – This is a trick that has been recommended to me many times, and having tried, I do find that it helps a lot. The process of blurting is where you review your material, then take out a blank sheet of paper and write down everything you can remember, even if you might think the info is wrong. Then, correct it with a red pen or something like that – and repeat the process until you can correctly write down everything.
Pomodoro Technique – This technique requires uninterrupted studying for an amount of time and taking a small break, giving your brain a rest. Put away all distractions, and study for 25 minutes straight. After this, you can take a five minute break, and then continue this cycle for four more times. This will have given you, in total, one hundred minutes of quality study time. The method works because it uses spaced intervals to break down large tasks, and gives your brain time to recharge before having to do more work again. This method gives you a clear “finish line,” because with each cycle you get through, you’re a little closer to being done.
There really isn’t any cheat code to studying well. All methods require time and effort. What matters is how you’re using that time and effort. Your method of studying can greatly affect the outcome of your test or quiz, so it’s important to adopt good study methods that can become good habits.
