History is full of dates, names, and places that make your head spin. Try making reading cards to remember a lot of information. You can also use mnemonic methods to help you learn in a somewhat silly way. In addition to remembering facts, you must also be able to relate the facts. Taking notes every time you sit in history class and creating study guides, timelines or other visual aids can help you see the bigger theme. To increase your chances of passing, study the material bit by bit and don't cram all the information overnight. Rest and eat well before the test starts.
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Method 1 of 4: Memorizing Information
Step 1. Make reading cards for important words, names of characters, and dates
Studying history means remembering many important dates, names, events, and other facts. Look through your notes and textbooks for key words. List and create reading cards with keywords on one side and definitions or explanations on the other.
If you're having trouble making lists, try asking your teacher about important dates, figures, and other information that might appear on the exam
Step 2. Read the information aloud as you read and write notes
Seeing, hearing, speaking and touching at the same time helps your brain relate information and remember it more easily. Try reading your textbook aloud as you study and saying what you wrote while making reading cards.
You can also record your voice while reading a textbook or reading card. When you listen to a recording, follow it using notes or reading cards
Step 3. Use mnemonic tools to memorize facts
Memorizing is boring sometimes. Mnemonic tools can be a slightly silly way to remember facts and can make memorizing fun. This method also helps you remember correctly.
For example, the mnemonic tool "Fire Dragons Have Opponents Who Don't Like Women" can help you remember the names of the British Royal Family in the right order: Norman, Angevin, Plantagenet, Lancaster, York, Tudor, Stuart, Hanover, and Windsor
Method 2 of 4: Connecting the Facts
Step 1. Read the course syllabus to identify the overarching theme
Your syllabus is a paper that lists the topics for each meeting and required reading. Refer to titles, units, and other information in the syllabus for clues to the major themes of the lesson.
Ask yourself, “How does the syllabus organize the facts and information? Does the syllabus mention or hint at key questions? What is the relationship between the individual material presented in each session?”
Step 2. Gather the information by creating a summary or study guide
You can create study guides after reading the syllabus and understanding how a subject is organized. Use the syllabus as a map to create a study guide.
- Your study guide won't do much good if it's just a copy of your class notes. Look for key themes in your notes, select important information, and write them in a summary.
- For example, if you're summarizing the War of the Roses, write the names of the key characters (with their dates and titles) from the Lancaster and Yok Families in one section. After that, write down the cause of the conflict. At the end, write down the important battles and their dates, temporary truces and breaches of this truce, and resolution of conflicts.
Step 3. Create a chart or map to relate the facts
When studying history, diagrams, pictures, and maps are sometimes the best way to understand the relationships between information. As well as being a great study tool, creating visual aids like timelines, family trees, and flowcharts helps you understand the overall theme.
For example, creating a family tree and timeline will be very useful when you are preparing for the exam on the War of the Roses
Step 4. Ask your teacher for help
Your teacher is ready to help! If you are not sure about your teacher's wishes, ask.
For example, ask what format the exam will be given, what the main theme of the exam is, and what information is most important
Method 3 of 4: Creating Learning Strategies
Step 1. Study the material as you get it
Study early – it can be very difficult to learn the whole material in one night. Read the notes of each session while you do your homework. You can study more intensively ahead of the exam, but by then, you already have a solid foundation and don't need to cram in a lot.
Step 2. Find out the exam format
Find out as much as you can about the form of the exam. Ask your teacher if you should prepare for multiple choice questions, essays, or both.
- Multiple choice and short answers emphasize memorization so you should use reading cards to study.
- If your exam contains only essay questions, you should be prepared to analyze historical facts or compare two interpretations of certain concepts.
Step 3. Try to guess the question
Imagine you are a teacher and try to guess what questions will arise. Practice writing essays and get ready to answer multiple choice questions. Ask your friends to help you test your memorization using reading cards.
Study groups can often create potential questions because everyone can ask questions and test each other's abilities
Step 4. Do the practice exams
If you're practicing for an exam at school, create test practice materials and swap them with your classmates or ask your family for help to help you practice. If you're taking standard exams, such as the AP History and SAT, you can find practice materials on CollegeBoard.org.
You can also find tips, sample answers, and other material on CollegeBoard. Just look for the standard exam that you will face
Step 5. Rest and eat well before the test
Don't sleep too late and cram all the material the night before the test. Try to go to bed as you normally would, calm down, and sleep well. On exam day, don't forget to have breakfast and if your exam is in the afternoon, don't forget to eat lunch.
If you feel the need to study the night before a test, just read your summary and important facts. Try to feel confident and avoid overwhelming yourself with information or doing something that makes you too nervous
Method 4 of 4: Learning How to Face Specific Types of Exams
Step 1. Learn how to deal with multiple choice
Mnemonic tools, card readings, and other memorization techniques are good ways to learn to deal with multiple choice. If you have a study group, you can ask each other and exchange practice questions.
When you take an exam, make sure you read the questions carefully and try to eliminate at least half of the available answer options
Step 2. Don't stray from the topic of the question
If your exam is a short or long essay question, make sure you can answer the questions without adding irrelevant stuff. Answering briefly and clearly is very important when dealing with short essays which often require you to answer in only a few sentences and often ask about definitions.
- When studying, use lists of important words and concepts and make sure you can give concise definitions of all of them.
- Ask someone to help you test your memorization using reading cards. Keep practicing until you can give complete, but concise answers without asking for any hints.
Step 3. Use the main idea to learn to deal with essay questions
Refer to the syllabus or textbook for the main points. The thesis or main idea is the best way to predict the questions that will appear on the exam.
Understand the main concepts of the material and use facts and other information you have memorized to support the main points. Remember that in history, you are not allowed to have an opinion in your essay
Step 4. Read the essay questions in full
Long essays can have a large share of value. So, make sure you answer the essay questions correctly. During the exam, take the time to understand what the essay question is asking.
