exams: Memory tips techniques and strategies

[DevRaj80]

How to apply active learning to your studies

Don't just read your course materials, do all the activities as well.

Note the things in your course materials that you already know.

Identify the main points in the material you're reading and highlight them or write them down.

Make notes. Try different ways of writing notes – on paper or cards, in pictures, perhaps put them into a table, a mind map or a list, or record them.

Think about how what you are reading fits with what you already know.

Think about how you might use the new information not only in your studies but also in your daily life – at work or at home.

[DevRaj80]

Log onto the online forum for your course regularly. Ask questions and discuss your ideas with your fellow students.

Tell a friend about what you’re learning about. And use your own words to do this. (If you don't have a friend who'll listen, try an imaginary friend, or the family pet.)

Think of three or four questions you could ask your lecturer/tutor. Then try to answer them yourself.

Imagine you had to set the exam - what questions would you include? How would you answer them?

[DevRaj80]

How to use the

SQ3R strategy

This para explains how to use SQ3R to help you focus on, understand and remember what you're reading or studying.
What is SQ3R?

SQ3R is a tried and tested study strategy. It not only helps you understand and remember but can also help you identify the information you need to write an assignment.

[DevRaj80]

SQ3R is an acronym which stands for

Survey (or Skim)

Question

Read

Recite (or Recall)

Review

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The reason why SQ3R is so popular is because it works!

Try it and see for yourself..

[DevRaj80]

How to use SQ3R

Before starting to read or study, break down the task into manageable chunks, i.e. a chapter or topic.

Then survey or skim the section you're going to read/study.

Page through the text to get an overall impression.
Look at headings, bold or italised print, graphics, boxed text.
Do you see anything familiar? Do you see anything new?

[DevRaj80]

Question - think about the topic and ask yourself the following questions.

What do I already know about it?
What do I want to know about it?
What do I expect to learn about it?
What must I remember about it?

[DevRaj80]

Read – you’ll most likely have to read the text a number of times to make sure you understand it and can remember what it’s about.

First read right through the text and see how much you understand.
While reading, note the most important parts but don’t mark the text at this stage as you may not have fully understood it or be able to identify the most important parts.
Read the text again! This time, mark/underline the keywords in the text (as long as it’s yours!). Use a pencil at this stage as you might change your mind about the key words and what's most important.
Stop occasionally as you are reading and put what you have just read into your own words.
Re-read any parts that are still not clear.
Try to link what you are reading to what you already know.
If there are any new words/jargon/technical terms that you don't understand, look them up. If you can't find the meanings, check with your lecturer/tutor. And if you need to remember them, write them down, together with the definitions. (Try using flash cards to help you remember them - when you open the link, scroll down.)

After reading, recall or recite what you have just read. In other words: try to remember what you have read without looking at the text or your notes. You should also:

Decide what the main points are.
Write down the main points, using your own words to explain what they mean.

It might help to tell another student or a family member what you have learnt.

Alternatively, pretend you have to teach the topic - think about how you'd explain it to someone who knows nothing about it. Remember, teaching is one of the best ways of learning!

And last but definitely not least, you need to review the work you've learned. This step is very important as it helps 'fix' the information in your long-term memory.

[DevRaj80]

How to




Remember Things



You Study Better

[DevRaj80]

Do you feel like you're smart enough to do well in school but find that when it comes to test time, you just can't remember all the things you studied? Studying is actually really complex, just like your brain, and science has shown us that there is a "right" and a "wrong" way to do it. You might be doing it the wrong way! With some wikiHow help, you too can remember the things you study. Whether you're improving your study habits, learning to use mnemonics, or employing various cognitive tools, you'll be nailing tests and dancing your way through classes before you know it.