How to Learn & Remember for #Exam Success?

I prepared test very well, I knew everything. When I got test, my mind became blank.”

This is very common sentence that many teachers hear in their career. Most of the student complain about forgetting large part of information during tests and exams.

Humans have two types of memories like calculators.

• Short term
• Long Term

— The things that you put in short term memory just stay with you for a short time and then they are over written by something else after some time like short term memory of your calculator.

— Anything that you send in your long term memory can be recalled when you need it.

In my previous post I have written some tips to prepare for exam. Today I will suggest you some keys to send information related to your test in long term memory.

How information can be send to long term memory?

There are many methods but normally it is done by two basic methods;

• Rote Learning
• Learning by understanding

— By rote learning you can send information to your long term memory. You have to repeat the information several times. With little understanding or no understanding. Like you remember the tables of numbers or dates of events.

— In learning by understanding; you try to understand the concepts and remember them. When you understand then you can remember for a long time.

According to Edward Bolles -

"We remember what we understand; we understand only what we pay attention to; we pay attention to what we want."

Today I want to share some tips with you that can help you remember test in a way that you will not go blank.

The Keys to Remembering:

These tips will help you to learn and remember more effectively. You can enter information into your long term memory by following these methods. 

— You have to make up your mind first. #Motive yourself that what you have to remember; you really want to learn, understand and know it. You have to pay full attention to the topic and try to create interest in subject what you are learning. You may have experienced anything in which you are interested in, you learn very quickly and remember for a long time.

— When you want to prepare for e.g; final exam you know all your topics. First of all organize information in a sequence. Put all related information in one sequence and learn it all together.

— Try to relate the ideas. When you will be able to relate the ideas with each other. You will understand and remember effectively. When you will move on to next topic try to relate it with previous information, in such a way you will create a chain on information in your mind. So grouping of ideas and relation of information helps to remember quickly and for a long time.

— Try to create an image or picture or any sequence of information. When you will create a picture  related to anything it will easy for you to interpret and remember it.

— Try to visualize what you are learning. When you will be able to create an image in your mind for the information, try to visualize it for some time with closed eyes. When you will be able to see the data you have put together in your format it will help you remember and recall it anytime when you need it.

— You have to repeat the information over and over again. Until you are confident enough that you know it properly. Explain to yourself or friends in your own words. As much time you will spend to learn any information it will be easy for you to recall quickly and completely.

— Try to avoid stress. #Stress will damage your performance and learning ability. In my last post about fear of math, I have mentioned about a research that tells that stress effects our ability to learn. Any exam is not the end of world or life. Few years from now, you won’t remember why you were stressed. Instead try to #relax. It will help you remembering quickly.

— Try to study in groups and explain the concepts to your friends or class fellows. It will help you in many ways. It will clear some concepts in a better way. May be you are good in one topic and your friend knows a better explanation or method about next topic. So you will develop a mutual understanding and you can compare many ways and come up with best idea about any topic. Try that you avoid distractions and don’t waste time while talking to friends about unnecessary things. Try not to study with any friend or group that is stressed out. It will drive you crazy and add to your stress and affect your ability to learn. As many fellows will be talking about same concepts again and again so any particular information in going in your mind by repetition by different people. Such information will stay in your memory for long time. 

— Try to test yourself. When you will be done with one topic or chapter. Take your test. Remember test yourself with honesty. As in exams and tests, no clues and help is allowed. If you forgot any point or concept during your own test do not open the book. First finish your test and then check for the mistakes or forgotten concepts. Try to understand them again and remember. Write them many times so you can recall late in exam.

— If possible try to write the information in your hand writing. Writing with your own hands is very important. Always try to write important points in your writing and prepare a review, you will understand your own hand writing in a better way. Highlight all hard concepts to repeat them many times.

I have written some tips to improve mathematics solving skills and you can also visit to learn how to solve your exams properly to avoid mistakes. 

These are few tips that will help you to store information in your long term memory. Try them I hope they will experience a remarkable change in your learning process and ability.

TIP: Do not think that #notyetdone. You have done as much as you could. When there will be exam-time  #staystrong get up your #confidence and believe in yourself. 

What methods you normally use to remember any information for a long period of time?