Hacks for Exam Preparation: 10 Powerful Tips to Help You Memorize What You Study

Exams can be a tough time for you, especially with the heavy pile of books and a long list of subjects to study. The overload of information and data can be daunting, especially when exams are around the corner. With rising competition and the never-ending drive to achieve bigger and better, it has become imperative for students to retain and deliver the right amount of information in the final examination. There are several methods to improve your retention power, especially when you need it the most. Some of them are:

1) Be focused: It is important to be attentive to what you are studying at a particular moment in time. Even if you study for just one hour in a day, it is important for you to focus all your energies towards understanding and processing the information you gather. Try to attain that focus by removing all distractions near you.

2) Avoid mugging up: Often, students end up cramming up information a day before the examination to complete the syllabus. It is always better to study regularly and make notes and complete the syllabus at its own pace. This will improve retention power and will enable students to perform better.

3) Visualise theories: While understanding concepts, it is important to imagine and create a structure in your mind. Visualising charts, graphs, diagrams etc can help retain information more easily. One may also use highlighters or sticky notes to remember important points.

4) Read it out: Often, reading out the information aloud can help students to understand subjects better and retain them. Especially, if a concept is new and complicated, it is easier to simplify and retain it by teaching them to others by reading it out loud.

5) Take out time to rest: Amidst all the hectic schedules and time table, it is imperative to take out time to sleep and relax. It is often said that sound sleep is necessary to ensure a good memory and enable better learning. Taking a nap after a long study session, can help you retain information and recall better.

6) Alternate study patterns: Sometimes monotony can be a deterrent to better retention and focused attention. Therefore, it is also advisable to keep on changing routines in order to make studying interesting as well as fruitful. For instance, one particular location, say a study table, can be monotonous every day. One may shift to a different spot during the next session.

7) Restructure and reorganise: Often, information can be laid out in a confusing or complicated manner that may make understanding a difficult process. In order to overcome this, extra time should be given to difficult topics in an attempt to restructure and rehearse the information better. Ensure extra hours for a tough topic in order to remember and retain the information.

8) Provide reference: In an attempt to retain a new theory or information, it is important to relate it to a pre-requisite information or memories. Relatability and building relationship between a new concept and an already established thought can help retain the information better, especially when it is absolutely new or unfamiliar.

9) Understand deeper: While studying a particular term, theory or definition, it is important to elaborate more on the details. A detailed understanding of the term and its application can enable better retention of the concept.

10) Use Mnemonics: Often when a concept is subdivided into various categories which are sub topics, it gets difficult to memorise and remember everything. Creating Mnemonics can help to associate certain terms with a more familiar topic or item. A positive or humorous take on such topics can ensure better retention.

All the best for your coming CBSE/ICSE/ISC and State Board Exams!