Exam preparation: how to easily memorize more

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

If learning all tickets the night before the exam is not your option, this article is for you. We've put together tips to help you memorize the material better and do your exams perfectly without any supernatural effort.

Define your learning style

We are all different, so our exam preparation strategies will be different. Build on your individual characteristics. If you are an auditor, read textbooks and notes aloud, if you are a kinesthetic, write cheat sheets based on your notes and make an answer plan.

Another effective method is mind mapping. This is a great way to structure information, refresh knowledge and quickly grasp the essence of a subject even after a long time. More details on how to draw up mental maps and how to work with them, we talked here.

What are the first questions to learn? If during the semester you have a good understanding of the subject, proceed to questions about which you have at least some idea.

If each new block cannot be understood without the previous one, then there is only one option: learn everything strictly in order.

It also makes sense to start with tricky questions, allowing enough time to study them. It's best to deal with them before you get tired and lose concentration. Leave easy questions for later.

And be consistent. Stick to your chosen strategy, even if you start to panic as the exam approaches.

Strive for understanding, not memorization

Delve into the ticket, and do not try to memorize it. Memorization is notoriously a losing strategy, which also takes more time. Find logical connections in questions, come up with associations.

Of course, in every subject there is information that you need to know by heart: dates, formulas, definitions. But even memorizing them is easier if you understand the logic.

On the exam, tell the material in your own words, conjecture so that the answer is more detailed.

Method "3-4-5"

A good method when you need to prepare for an exam in a short period of time. It will only take three days, but there is a lot of work to be done. Every day you need to work through all the material, but at a different level, constantly deepening.

On the first day, you read your entire synopsis or training manual to refresh your knowledge of the subject, roughly speaking, to get involved. We conditionally believe that you can already pass the exam for the top three.

On the second day, you deal with the same questions, but already according to the textbook to learn more details and subtleties. If you prepare diligently, you can already count on a four.

On the last day, you bring your answers to perfection: repeat, fill in the blanks, remember. After the third day, you are ready to pass the exam perfectly.

Two days to study, one to review

The system is very simple: all the material needs to be split into two identical parts and learned in two days. The third day is devoted entirely to repetition.

Set a time limit

You can delve into each topic indefinitely, so do not try to remember all the subtleties. From a large chapter in a textbook, highlight the main points: structured material with a small volume is easier to perceive.

In our university years, we divided all the tickets between classmates and each prepared a short synopsis for his part. If your group is not well developed, you can ask senior students for materials and cheat sheets.

Don't get stuck

If you feel like you've been sitting on one question for too long, skip it. The best motivator when preparing is a timer. Decide how much time you can devote to one ticket, for example 30 minutes, and after the expiration, move on to the next. Take a few hours before the exam to sort out the missing questions.

Plan your ticket response

Any, even the most extensive question can be described in a few words. Moreover, each thesis should evoke associations.

This plan can be quickly reviewed before the exam to get in the mood for work. The method of three sentences is known: write down the problem, the main idea and the conclusion for each question.

Study depends on the subject

Individual characteristics are not only for you, but also for the subject being studied. For example, the exact sciences - mathematics, physics - require practice. For the humanities, it is important to be able to process large amounts of information, memorize dates, names, definitions.

But, I repeat, you need to actively approach the study of any subject: delve into the issue and strive for understanding.

The format of the exam is also important. If you are studying for an oral exam, say your future answers out loud. My favorite tactic is to retell the material to someone at home or, when they are not enthusiastic, to myself in front of a mirror. It is even better if someone will not only listen to you, but also ask questions when something is not clear.

If you are preparing for testing, it is worth solving a dozen of typical tests, writing down your mistakes, repeating problematic topics and solving everything again.

If the exam is written, you need to think over the structure of the answer in advance.

Get ready for two or three

Write down the most difficult topics in your opinion - the collective intelligence will help to deal with them faster. It is better to cooperate with classmates who are determined to study, otherwise preparation for the exam can turn into an ordinary pleasant meeting with friendly conversations.

No, this does not mean that joking and relaxing is prohibited. Just keep in mind the main purpose of the meeting.

A few more recommendations for preparing for exams

1. Take breaks. This will help you relax and sort out new information on the shelves.
2. Turn off your phone, do not go to social networks, do not go near the TV. If you can't handle temptation, read about how to deal with distractions.
3. Get enough sleep.
4. Do not forget about food: it will give additional strength to your body. However, overeating is not worth it. Usually, after an overly hearty lunch, he begins to feel sleepy, and he does not want to study at all.
5. Avoid stressful situations and negativity from other people. The atmosphere during classes should be as favorable as possible.
6. Don't rely too much on cheat sheets and cheat sheets. And if you don't know how to cheat well (you must admit that you also need to be able to do this), you shouldn't even start.
7. Set up your study space: bright, comfortable, with all the necessary materials at hand. The bed is not the best option: there is a high probability of falling asleep on a boring topic.
8. Make bulleted lists easier to remember.
9. Sports activities will help to distract and stretch the muscles that have become numb during prolonged sitting. Also, while running, cycling, or similar physical activity, you can take your time thinking about difficult questions.
10. If you feel that you are not in the mood to study, start with the topic that seems most interesting to you. This will help get you back on track.
11. Go for walks in the evening. During preparation, the nerves are usually on the alert, so you need to relax a little.
12. Make a clear preparation plan.