How to Learn Without Forgetting

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Learn to read and retain new knowledge without forgetting it
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A common fear among students is to enter the exam room and immediately experience your brain emptying itself of every fact you’ve studied. To overcome this fear and really help yourself remember what you’ve learned, it is useful to use a wide range of study tips and tricks. You will be surprised to see how easy it can be to remember difficult concepts and multiple dates once you establish good study habits, use some active learning tips to really cement the information in your brain, and use memory tricks to help make remembering easier.

Why You Can’t Remember Anything You Study

Sometimes stress, anxiety, or working in too-short intervals between studying sessions makes it harder to retain new information. To help you remember your notes, try reading your notes aloud or discussing what you’ve learned with a peer.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Planning for Success

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  1. If you crack open the books while in a bad mood about having to study, you won’t have an effective study session. However, if you are motivated about what you are about to learn, you will have an easier time learning it and remembering it come test time. [1]
    • Don’t tell yourself, “I’m never going to learn this.”
    • Be patient with yourself as you try to master new material.
  2. Take the time to think about when you are most alert and able to concentrate. For some, this may be immediately after school. Others may be more productive if they take a break after school and relax a bit before opening the books. Regardless of when you choose to study, you will retain more information if you study a bit each day (for 30 to 60 minutes at a time) rather than cramming at the last minute. [2]
    • Remember to incorporate breaks into your study schedule. Breaks give your brain a chance to absorb what you just studied.
    • During your break, it is helpful to take a short walk or get some fresh air to help clear your mind.
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  3. You need to find a quiet space free of distractions, such as a library or an isolated area of your house. By having an area devoted to studying, your brain will become used to calming down and absorbing material once you get there. [3]
    • Keep a set of materials near your study space, such as books, paper, pens, highlighters, a calculator, and so on.
    • If you need a computer for your research or studies, you can utilize an app to block specific websites for a certain period of time. That way, you won’t be tempted to check social media accounts or news feeds when you should be studying instead. [4]
  4. Disorganized notes or a messy study room can be enemies to your memory. By creating order in your environment, you foster order in your mind, so you can better memorize facts and recall them later. [5]
  5. When you sleep, your brain converts facts from short-term memory to long-term memory. Even a short nap can help with this process. [6]
    • If you study in the afternoon and don’t have time for a nap then, review your notes or flashcards at night before going to bed.
    • Aim to get 9 hours of sleep each night, the optimal level for adolescents. The recommended sleep range for adults is between 7 and 9 hours. [7]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Practicing Active Learning

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  1. Using multiple senses can help you retain more information, so even just saying the words out loud and then hearing them can be helpful. Don’t worry about looking foolish reading your biology notes to your dog. You’ll be happy if it helps you ace your next exam. [8]
    • If you’re in the library or somewhere else you can’t speak aloud, try mouthing the information.
  2. Similar to reading your notes out loud, talking about what you are learning can also help you retain the information better. You can either study with a friend and quiz each other, or you can try to teach the material to a parent or younger sibling.
    • Using your brain to figure out a way to teach the material to someone else causes you to think about the material more in-depth and analytically.
    • You will be able to figure out which materials you need to further study if you have a difficult time teaching the concept to someone else.
  3. Putting pen to paper and either taking notes on what you’ve read or simply re-writing over and over a formula or concept you’re trying to master can really help. [9]
    • It can also be helpful to write out an outline of the materials you are trying to learn. Just the process of organizing the materials in a visual manner can help your brain recall the information in an organized manner.
    • You can also write out flashcards with important facts, dates, or formulas on them. This is doubly helpful, since the act of writing will help you remember, and the flashcards are a portable tool you can review while riding on a bus or waiting for an appointment.
    • If you’re reading, summarize each paragraph in the margins. You are in effect teaching it to yourself when you summarize and analyze it. [10]
  4. If you can locate a practice exam or one used in the past, this can be a good tool for figuring out what you have mastered and which topics you still need to study. [11]
    • Once you finish the practice test, research the material you did not know and try another test again in a few days.
    • Remember not to limit your studies to only those items found on the practice exam. Odds are, your test will include all of the information you’ve been assigned to study, not just questions you found on a previous or practice test.
    EXPERT TIP

    Joseph Meyer

    Math Teacher
    Joseph Meyer is a High School Math Teacher based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is an educator at City Charter High School, where he has been teaching for over 7 years. Joseph is also the founder of Sandbox Math, an online learning community dedicated to helping students succeed in Algebra. His site is set apart by its focus on fostering genuine comprehension through step-by-step understanding (instead of just getting the correct final answer), enabling learners to identify and overcome misunderstandings and confidently take on any test they face. He received his MA in Physics from Case Western Reserve University and his BA in Physics from Baldwin Wallace University.
    Joseph Meyer
    Math Teacher

    When doing practice problems, promptly check to see if your answers are correct. Use worksheets that provide answer keys for instant feedback. Discuss answers with a classmate or find explanations online. Immediate feedback will help you correct your mistakes, avoid bad habits, and advance your learning more quickly.

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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Utilizing Memory Aids

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  1. These are memory tools that help you recall things such as names, dates, and facts through turning that information into a memorable rhyme, word, or sentence. For instance, you can remember the names of the Great Lakes (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior) by remembering the word HOMES. The first letter of the name of each lake is used to create that new word. [12]
    • Another example of a common mnemonic is the name “Roy G. Biv,” which correlates with the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. [13]
    • Be creative. Use the first letter of a group of words you’re trying to remember and make a silly sentence or phrase with words that start with the same letters.
  2. Rhymes are a type of mnemonic device that use audio (sound) information to help remember things. In other words, the rhymes are easily linked together for us by their sound. Think about this classic rhyme: “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.”
    • Try to organize the information or list of words you’re trying to remember into a rhyme.
  3. Mind maps are diagrams or pictures you can create to help you visually organize information. They help show relationships between pieces of information so you can better understand the connections between different concepts or groups of data. By better understanding how different ideas connect together, you can better remember them and recall them at test time. [14]
    • Place the main idea in the center of your mind map, and use connected branches to add related information.
    • You can create a mind map on paper, or there are computer tools to help you create them digitally.
    • Alternatively, you might decide that a different study format may work better for you, like flash cards or a summary sheet!
    • Reader Poll: We asked 216 wikiHow readers and 52% of them agreed that the most effective study guide format is a summary sheet . [Take Poll]
  4. Some researchers believe that the act of chewing gum actually allows more oxygen into your brain, which helps you concentrate better. Furthermore, if you chew a particular flavor of gum while studying, such as peppermint, you may be able to better remember information you studied if you also chew that gum during your test. [15]
  5. Smells are often associated with memories, so you can use this to help you remember what you’re studying. [16]
    • Try this experiment: smell a perfume or scent while studying. Then, smell the same scent right before your exam. You may be able to better recall the information you studied.
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Supercharge Your Studying with this Expert Series

Do you want to make your studying more efficient, learn more quickly, and remember more information? Check out these expert articles.
1
Study For Exams
2
Study So You Can Remember Everything
3
Make a Study Space
4
Create Good Study Habits for Exams
5
Learn Without Forgetting
6
Retain Information when You Study for a Test

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Will lack of sleep reduce the performance on my exam, even though I have studied well?
    Alexander Peterman, MA
    Test Prep Tutor
    Alexander Peterman is a Private Tutor in Florida. He received his MA in Education from the University of Florida in 2017.
    Alexander Peterman, MA
    Test Prep Tutor
    Expert Answer
    Hi there, It can! Some students perform better on less sleep than others. Making sure you get enough sleep can help improve focus and energy when studying, and this, in turn, will help you commit things to memory.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 15 Helpful 128
  • Question
    How can I memorize faster?
    Bryce Warwick, JD
    Test Prep Tutor, Warwick Strategies
    Bryce Warwick is currently the President of Warwick Strategies, an organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area offering premium, personalized private tutoring for the GMAT, LSAT and GRE. Bryce has a JD from the George Washington University Law School.
    Bryce Warwick, JD
    Test Prep Tutor, Warwick Strategies
    Expert Answer
    Use a systematic approach to tackle each problem. Take some time to develop a standardized method of approaching questions. Once you have a system of learning and approaching questions, it's a lot easier to build on extra information rather than, for example, memorizing a bunch of facts without any logical way of organizing your approach.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 5 Helpful 16
  • Question
    How can I get good grades for my final exams that are in a few weeks?
    Community Answer
    Try studying in the afternoon and then study first thing in the morning when your house is still quiet. This will help you remember.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://alis.alberta.ca/succeed-at-work/make-your-work-life-more-satisfying/a-positive-attitude-will-help-you-learn/
      2. ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/studying-101-study-smarter-not-harder/
      3. ↑ https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2011/11/study-smart
      4. ↑ https://www.open.edu.au/advice/insights/10-best-study-apps
      5. ↑ https://www.oxford-royale.co.uk/articles/memory-tricks-exam-success.html
      6. ↑ https://students.dartmouth.edu/academic-skills/learning-resources/improving-sleep
      7. ↑ https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need
      8. ↑ https://summer.harvard.edu/blog/top-10-study-tips-to-study-like-a-harvard-student/
      9. ↑ https://www.usa.edu/blog/study-techniques/
      1. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/happiness-in-world/200911/eight-ways-remember-anything
      2. ↑ https://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/study-and-training/help-with-study/how-to-study-better/top-10-study-tips
      3. ↑ https://www.utep.edu/extendeduniversity/utepconnect/blog/november-2017/4-memory-techniques-for-successful-study-sessions.html
      4. ↑ https://www.uwa.edu.au/seek-wisdom/seekers-space/study/study-tips/2023/09/7-exam-tips-to-help-you-succeed
      5. ↑ https://www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz/current-students/study-tips-and-techniques/study-skills/mind-mapping/
      6. ↑ https://sites.psu.edu/siowfa15/2015/09/17/does-chewing-gum-while-studying-help-you-remember/
      7. ↑ https://studentlife.uiowa.edu/news/2023/04/preparing-finals-9-tips-help-you-succeed

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To learn without forgetting, start by reading the material out loud to help you retain more of the content. After you’ve read it, try writing out the most important information as a way to cement it in your memory. If you’re still having a hard time remembering something specific, try using a mnemonic device or rhyme to help you, such as, “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” Then, take a practice test and specifically review the answers that you didn’t get right. For tips from our Education reviewer on how to use your sense of smell to help you remember things for a test, read on!

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