With mocks and exams approaching very closely, many students have fallen into the habit of procrastinating and attempting to cram hordes of information last-minute the night before the exam.
If this is you, here are some of the most efficient science-supported study techniques to help you retain as much information as you need to for your exam:
Blurting:
This is an active recall technique which requires that you pick a topic or subtopic, and write everything you can remember about it without looking at a textbook or any additional notes.
After this, use your notes/textbook to write down everything that you missed in a different colour.
This will help you identify your weaknesses in the topic, so that you can effectively practice them before your exam.
The Feynman Technique:
The Feynman Technique is a technique where you simply learn a topic and speak about it in such a simplified manner that you would easily be able to teach it to a child.
This ensures that you aren’t simply repeating what you have learnt, but that you have an actual and complete understanding of it.
Once you have begun to speak, you may find certain points difficult to explain - these are the gaps in your knowledge.
You should then review the topic and explain it again once you have understood it.
This technique not only increases understanding, but also your retention, as breaking information down to simplify it will help transfer it from your short-term to long-term memory, which will make it easier to apply on your exams.
Pre-made Flashcards:
Flashcards rely on active recall to help you store the information you need to remember.
Quickly skim through your deck (which can be physical or online) and test yourself on the questions or key terms, and set aside/star the ones you get incorrect and repeat going over them until you have learnt everything.
This method is extremely effective for helping you understand key concepts, as the information is condensed into smaller points making it easier to understand the main points and concepts.
These are simply a few out of many learning strategies and techniques, and by following them you will be able to make the best use of your limited time, and maximise your knowledge and understanding in order to increase your overall exam performance.
