remember what you study + Feel Confident your study strategies will lead to success
Are you frustrated because you are putting in regular study time and yet still don’t know how to remember what you study?
You’re not alone.
So many of my students share they are putting in the time, working hard to go through their learning materials, and still coming up short at exam time, struggling to remember what they studied. It’s frustrating, embarrassing, and sucks the motivation out of you.
The good news is this big problem has a very simple solution and it has a major impact on how quickly you are able to do on your exams.
The Problem With Only Working Forward
Image this…
You have been studying every single day for three weeks, working on your textbook reading. There is an exam coming up covering the readings from the past three weeks. You start working on the practice tests and realize you don’t remember most of this material. WTF? You did the readings. You even took notes. Why can’t you just remember what you studied?
You may not only be able to imagine this, but you may also be living it. And if so, you are in the right place, my friend!
I feel your pain, I’ve lived your pain, and unfortunately, this is the way most of us study. We stay focused on the next task in front of us, always working on the next and new information. This keeps us on schedule to complete assignments but doesn’t do a good job of preparing us for exams. When you are learning new material (aka, going to college) it is unrealistic to expect that you can read it once and it will stick in your memory.
Unrealistic, but somehow we all think it should work this way. 🙂
And that’s why you were just Googling how to remember what you study, no?
Here’s the truth: we only learn something new through repetition and practice.
How many times did you have to practice a song on the piano to play it effortlessly? How many times do you use a new app or program before you remember how it works?
I did a little research, er, Googling, trying to understand how many times we need to see a new fact to remember it. It depends. Factors like our previous knowledge and the ways we embed information have a big impact. This also backs up why the four steps to master memorization are so effective because they embed information in different ways. This article suggests you need to see a fact at least seven times to remember it.
how to remember what you study
To remember what you study you need spaced repetition, which is simply saying you need to revisit the material many times. You know I like an easy-to-implement system, so here is what I suggest:
- Study new material and take awesome notes. You want to focus 90% of your efforts on moving forward and learning new material
- Put 10% of your effort towards looking back at what you have previously studied. This means:
- Schedule a 15-minute cumulative review each day.
- Schedule it at the same time to help the habit stick.
- During your cumulative review, look at your notes from all of the previous material. Don’t forget to close your eyes and recall what’s on the page to challenge yourself to recall it and not just recognize it (which is what we do when we read something over and over).
- Taking effective notes is the key to doing this review quickly, and remember to always refine your notes.
By practice this simple 15-minute review practice you see amazing results in what you are able to remember over the course of a week. This small daily commitment is going to add up as well. When it is exam time you find much of the information is already in memory. Whatever details are left you haven’t yet memorized can quickly be added so you are ready to slay the test.
Try It Yourself: 15-minute Challenge
- Start today! Set aside fifteen minutes and review your notes.
- Repeat tomorrow.
- And the next day.
- Leave a comment below and let me know how you remember what you study with this strategy.
- Ace the exam.
Chennai English says
We all know that memory plays a very important role in study. There are many ways to improve memory power and time table management may help in this. Thanks for this information with us. Subscribed your blog.
Lissa says
Thanks i will definitely be using this advice which i hope will help me as we are now writing exams in 1 month
Serry says
Thank you, the simple method is so appealing — and that is very helpful!
One might add a suggestion that it works if one reviews less often any material that becomes well known, to make more room to continue reviewing daily things less well known — in case the accumulation becomes too much for the 15-minute review time.
(From online reading, I gather that the main thing is to have spaced repetition; it doesn’t matter whether the spacing is constant or increasing, or what method is used. I mention this because it’s all too easy to get side-tracked by seeking the “best method” when research on that has been mixed and incomplete — cf. Wikipedia, “Spaced repetition”.)
I daresay you’re right about working only forward, though a few of us get stuck in the opposite direction! Balance is the key.
Jessica says
Balance is definitely key, and there isn’t a “perfect” way to approach your studies. I have found small and consistent review time much easier to maintain long-term than longer sessions, which makes the daily 15-min study perfect to keep going all term.
Grace says
I’ll start today, thank so much ❤️ God bless you all
Perla Martinez says
Hi, my name is Perla and school to me has been pretty interesting but have gone through several health issues and I am now ready to get back to the routine of school am in school at this moment college but I had to go back to the hospital for other issues but I am now totally ready for this and I am a great students I just need the motivation I guess I am pretty independent I just need guidance that’s about it
Jessica says
Welcome, Perla! It’s great that you are back in school and working to improve your studies. You can do this!
Kolapo says
These tips are awesome and thanks so much for sharing. I’ll personally try it out myself and share with friends.
Jessica says
Sounds fantastic!
Sam says
I was target of that situation
I use to study regularly
But while exam everything gone 😬😬😬
And the result is nega
This article is helpful for me
I’m improving my studies
LaChay Moses says
Holy sh** this worked for me
Shehu baraya says
I am very happy to fine your profile at this moment also I need help ‘ the problem I have in English sometime I fine some very difficult for
me to knowthe meaning of they words, and speaking with confidence I am 0 qualification pls if making mistake guide me
Jessica says
Then it sounds like you are a great student because we all mistakes as we learn! Through practice, you will get better. Learning languages is not my specialty, but if you want to focus on the meaning of words, I suggest you work on both memorization (https://collegestudysmarts.com/tag/memorization-tips/) and also apply what you memorize by using the words in context. More practice speaking will mean more confidence in speaking.
Juan Azakpoe says
kindly for updates
R.K.lashkenari says
Hello.
How would I turn up the classes?
Jessica says
Can you explain a little more?
Mercy says
Thank you very much for sharing these tips for recalling previous studies.it’s amazing.
Jessica says
I am so glad they have been helpful for you!
Devanjali Pillai says
It worked dude!
Jessica says
Hooray!!
Khushi says
I’m font of it… This article solve many problems… I appreciate it 🙂
Jessica says
Wonderful!
Harris says
very nice article . I love your style of explaining ,its to the point and simple .er ( by the way you have a nice smile ).
i am going to go over this article several times and start using the tips .a big thumbs up!
Jessica says
Thanks for the feedback, Harris. I’m so glad the tips are helping!