Entering the exam room is one of the most frightening situations for school and college students. In fact, it is not uncommon for a person's brain to suddenly feel empty when dealing with exam papers even though they have been desperately studying the material. Do you often feel it? To overcome these fears and help your brain remember the material better, try applying the tips listed in this article! Believe me, you'll be surprised to find that remembering complex concepts is surprisingly easy if you have a good study routine, apply an active study system, and maximize your memory in fun ways.
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Method 1 of 3: Planning for Success
Step 1. Build a positive mindset
If you open a book with a bad mood or a pessimistic mind, chances are that your study will not be productive and effective. On the other hand, if you are really interested in the material you are going to study, you will likely find it easier to understand and remember it later.
- Never say, "I won't be able to learn and master this material."
- Be patient with yourself when learning completely new material.
Step 2. Create a study schedule and stick to it
Think about the best time to study. In other words, choose study times when your brain is most alert and able to concentrate best. For some people, the best time to study is when they just got home from school or university. But for some others, their productivity level will actually increase if they start studying after taking a short break. Whatever your choice, make sure you study for at least 30-60 minutes each day instead of applying the SKS (Overnight Speeding System) system or studying all the material the night before the exam.
- Schedule breaks in between studies! Rest periods allow the brain to digest and absorb the material you have just learned.
- While resting, try taking a short walk or getting some fresh air outside to clear your head.
Step 3. Choose the right learning environment
Study in a quiet, distraction-free place, such as a library or similar private area in your home. By always studying in a special room, your brain will be trained to associate that room with learning activities. As a result, it will be easier for you to focus and absorb the material when you arrive in the room.
- After choosing a study location, make sure you bring all the materials there. That way, your learning activities will not be disturbed because you leave a book or paper containing important material in the bedroom.
- If you need a computer to study or search for information, try downloading a special application to block some sites for a certain period of time. That way, you won't be tempted to check social media or timelines while you're studying.
Step 4. Be a more organized and structured person
In fact, untidy notes or a messy study room are the biggest enemies of your memory! Make the space in your brain more organized and structured by creating a learning environment that is also neat and structured; surely, it will be easier for you to remember the information afterwards.
Step 5. Get enough sleep
During sleep, your brain converts short-term memories into long-term memories. In fact, the same process will also take place at the moment of a short nap.
- If you don't have time to take a nap because you have to study during the day, at least reread your notes or information card before going to bed at night.
- Get at least 9 hours of sleep every night; This duration is the recommended night's sleep time for adolescent adults. For adults, the recommended night's sleep time is 7-9 hours.
Method 2 of 3: Practicing the Active Learning Method
Step 1. Read the material aloud
Utilize all your senses to store more information; one way is to read it aloud and listen to your own voice. Want to read material to your dog? Do it! Don't be afraid to look silly because in fact, this method can help you remember information better.
Step 2. Discuss the material you are studying with others
If you want, you can even try teaching the material to those closest to you. Like reading material aloud, this method is also effective at helping your brain remember information better. Therefore, feel free to study the material with your friends or teach it to others (for example, your parents or siblings).
- Stimulating the brain to figure out how to best teach the material will help you to understand the material more deeply and analytically.
- If you find that you are having trouble teaching someone a concept, it means that you don't really understand the material and need to delve deeper into it.
Step 3. Write down the information you need to remember
Writing, summarizing, or copying the information you need to remember onto paper can help you remember the information better!
- Try to outline the material you need to study. Believe me, the process of compiling material in a visual format is also effective in helping your brain remember information in a more structured way.
- You can also create information cards with important facts, dates, or formulas. This method is believed to be very helpful for you to remember information, especially because the things you write will be more easily absorbed in your memory. Besides that, you can take the information card with you anywhere, right?
- As you read the material, try to summarize each paragraph in your own words. By summarizing and analyzing the material, you are actually teaching the material to yourself.
Step 4. Do the practice questions
If you have practice questions or exam questions in previous years, try reading and working on them to evaluate your mastery of the material.
- After doing the practice questions, find out the material or information you didn't know and test your skills by doing other questions a few days later.
- Don't just study the material that came out in the previous exam questions. Most likely, your exam questions will cover all the material you've studied, not just material that came out on previous exams or practice questions.
Method 3 of 3: Maximizing Memory
Step 1. Master the mnemonic technique
Mnemonics is a technique for remembering information such as names, dates, and other facts by converting the information into easy-to-remember sentences, words, or rhymes. For example, you only need to know the word HOMES (referring to Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior) to remember the names of the major lakes in North America; The first letters of each lake name are used to create new words that are easier to remember.
- Another example of a mnemonic is the name “Roy G. Biv”, which is actually related to the names of colors: red (red), orange (orange), yellow (yellow), green (green), blue (blue), indigo (purple violet).), and violets.
- Be creative. Take the first letter of each word you need to remember and come up with a silly (and memorable) sentence in which each word begins with the same letter.
Step 2. Use the rhyme to remember the information
In fact, rhyme is a form of mnemonic that uses sound to help you remember information. In other words, it is the repeated sound or sound in the rhyme that will stick in your memory. One of the classics is "In 1942, Columbus sailed on the blue sea."
Try compiling information or a list of words you need to remember in a poem
Step 3. Create a mind map
A mind map is a collection of diagrams or pictures that help you to visually remember information. Creating a mind map will help you to understand the relationship between each piece of information; as a result, your brain is able to remember a concept better. Although it may seem like a hassle, making a mind map is actually really effective in helping your brain to understand information and store it in a better and structured way.
- Put the main idea in the center of your mind map; after that, make a branch containing supporting information related to the main idea.
- You can draw a mind map on paper or with the help of a computer.
Step 4. Chew gum while studying
Some researchers believe that chewing gum pumps more oxygen to the brain; as a result, your concentration will increase while doing it. Try chewing a certain flavored gum while studying (for example, peppermint); During the exam, chew gum with the same taste. I'm sure it will help you to remember the information better afterwards.
Step 5. Take advantage of the power of the sense of smell
Indeed, a person's sense of smell has a very close relationship with his memory. Therefore, try to associate the two while studying.
