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How do you study? Do you use memorise facts? Or do you review past papers? Or do you sit for hours and hours rewriting and revising notes? All of these methods are useful and you have most probably utilised them before, but they could also result in failure after many long hours of studying.
For example, memorising facts may be a useful method when you are cramming for an exam the night before, but it is an ineffective method in the long term. This is because when you are solely memorizing things, they are only committed to your short term memory, meaning that you won’t be able to recall this information for future learning purposes. Rather than memorising, it is better to understand concepts as it helps us gain knowledge and appreciate our education. On the same note, sitting down for hours and rewriting or reviewing your notes is also a waste of time. Although this method may be useful to some (depending on what you prefer), it is “classed as an ineffective, time-consuming study technique that does little to significantly improve memory retention and academic performance”.
That more efficient method is called active recall. Active recall is a study method in which you are retrieving information from your brain and using it to actively learn and understand concepts, which ensures you actively learn a concept rather than passively reading about it. Scientists have proven that active recall is the “most effective, high-yield” learning technique. Here are some techniques:
- Flashcards
Many of us already utilise flashcards when studying, and although it may be time-consuming and unmotivating to make the flashcards, they have been proven to be one of the most effective active recall techniques. Before practising with the flashcards, it is recommended that you become somewhat familiar with the material that you are reviewing as it will be easier if you have a basic understanding. Then you can start using the flashcards to actively retrieve information from your brain that you have learned about the concepts and apply them to help you review.
- Whiteboard/paper recall
Start by writing what you need to know on the whiteboard/paper and then read the information out loud. Then, turn away from the whiteboard/paper you have written on and attempt to verbally recall the information. After this, you can face the whiteboard/paper and check if you have gotten the information correct. Then repeat this method until you are familiar with the concepts.
Another similar method is mind-mapping. It is recommended that you use a big sheet of paper so that there is more space to write. To start off, write down the topic that you are currently studying and then start to write sub-branches of everything that you know about the topic. Do not use any outside sources and try to only retrieve the information from your brain. Once you have written down everything you know about the topic, then go back to your resources and fill in and check what you have written down. Repeat this process until you can retrieve all the information from your brain instead of using sources.
- Practice problems
This last method is no lie, especially when it comes to topics like math and science which require you to solve problems. First check all the resources your class has given you regarding the topic, and then do those practice problems under test conditions. This means a quiet environment that is timed, without any distractions (ie. your phone). If you don’t have any more resources then try going online to find practice problems and exams. This is one of the most efficient methods because it is the closest information to the test.
