Rather than learning it just well enough to pass the test.  If you’re like most students, you’re probably tempted to study material until you get a single error-free recitation of it.  But to really memorize it well enough to ensure that you know it for the test, you need many error-free repetitions.

More about Repetition

Start with Repetition – End with an A

This is good for memorizing information which is difficult to visualize.  For instance, the word thermodynamics could be turned into the two words, Thermos and dynamite. Now you can create a visual image of a piece of dynamite carrying its Thermos to work–to remind you that thermodynamics is the conversion of energy and heat to do work.

Did you ever wonder why your instructors give you handouts with maps, outlines, diagrams, etc.?  It’s because visual aids help solidify information in your memory.  So even if they don’t give you the necessary handouts, you can create the same effect by making your own handouts.

Your textbooks are not collector’s items; they’re made to be used and abused.  So underline, highlight and jot down important key words as you read through the chapters.  Just don’t go overboard with it.  Remember:  emphasizing everything emphasizes nothing.  How to Study from your Textbooks

How do YOU study from textbooks?  A quick Survey

Color your Notes

I have always been a very visual learner. I must see and then preform it physically to learn it and later master it. Using this method, I began writing my notes in colors. Every other page, or category, I would change the color. This technique is very useful when I study medications and drugs. I will usually write the category of medication, such as pain medications, in a certain color. For example, Morphine, Fentanyl, Ketorolac and Ketamine are medications which can be used for treating pain. I would write out all the information for these medications in red. In contrast, I would write antiemetic medications, Gravol, Maxeran, Zofran, in blue and so on and so forth. This strategy has been very effective when recalling which medications belong to certain classes. This strategy could be used in a variety of different areas of study.

This does more than to check if you’re ready for the real exam.  It’s a known fact that your memory is enhanced when you engage in retrieval practice (recalling data from your long-term memory).  And taking a test is an excellent retrieval practice.

Set an appointment with a friend, preferably from the same class, when you will teach him some challenging material from the unit and when he will teach you something else challenging.  Knowing that you have to teach it to someone else makes the information more important to you.  And it’s a known fact that we remember the things we consider important.

There are other things you can do to improve your memory, but these six should do a lot to make sure that your study time is effective time.

Whenever two things are connected – write them down together, draw arrows or whatever – remember the connection!  It is easier to remember two things when there is a connection.