Don’t tell yourself, “I’m never going to learn this. ” Be patient with yourself as you try to master new material.
Remember to incorporate breaks into your study schedule. Breaks give your brain a chance to absorb what you just studied. During your break, it is helpful to take a short walk or get some fresh air to help clear your mind.
Keep a set of materials near your study space, such as books, paper, pens, highlighters, a calculator, and so on. If you need a computer for your research or studies, you can utilize an app to block specific websites for a certain period of time. That way, you won’t be tempted to check social media accounts or news feeds when you should be studying instead. [4] X Research source
If you study in the afternoon and don’t have time for a nap then, review your notes or flashcards at night before going to bed. Aim to get 9 hours of sleep each night, the optimal level for adolescents. The recommended sleep range for adults is between 7 and 9 hours. [7] X Research source
If you’re in the library or somewhere else you can’t speak aloud, try mouthing the information.
Using your brain to figure out a way to teach the material to someone else causes you to think about the material more in-depth and analytically. You will be able to figure out which materials you need to further study if you have a difficult time teaching the concept to someone else.
It can also be helpful to write out an outline of the materials you are trying to learn. Just the process of organizing the materials in a visual manner can help your brain recall the information in an organized manner. You can also write out flashcards with important facts, dates, or formulas on them. This is doubly helpful, since the act of writing will help you remember, and the flashcards are a portable tool you can review while riding on a bus or waiting for an appointment. If you’re reading, summarize each paragraph in the margins. You are in effect teaching it to yourself when you summarize and analyze it. [10] X Research source
Once you finish the practice test, research the material you did not know and try another test again in a few days. Remember not to limit your studies to only those items found on the practice exam. Odds are, your test will include all of the information you’ve been assigned to study, not just questions you found on a previous or practice test.
Another example of a common mnemonic is the name “Roy G. Biv,” which correlates with the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. [13] X Research source Be creative. Use the first letter of a group of words you’re trying to remember and make a silly sentence or phrase with words that start with the same letters.
Try to organize the information or list of words you’re trying to remember into a rhyme.
Place the main idea in the center of your mind map, and use connected branches to add related information. You can create a mind map on paper, or there are computer tools to help you create them digitally.
Try this experiment: smell a perfume or scent while studying. Then, smell the same scent right before your exam. You may be able to better recall the information you studied.
