I just had my last exam for this semester and I'm afraid that I will fail it.

My problem is that I feel that I know something, just because I understand a lot of it, but I still forget some key elements, so my answers are just shitty. I'm so disappointed in myself now.

Is there a good way to memorize and learn thing better? By better I mean faster, and that the information is stored longer.

VIB

Brazil3567 Posts

June 06 2011 09:41 GMT

Yea there were a pretty good method for memorizing that I learned. But I forgot what it was.

emperorchampion

Canada9496 Posts

June 06 2011 09:46 GMT

What subject?

For Math I just memorize the simplest things and then go from there. Otherwise, I think it's kind of a personal thing, like try to come up with stuff you will remember and link it to the material. Of course studying more never hurts :/

seiferoth10

3362 Posts

June 06 2011 09:55 GMT

If it's something relatable to other material, do that. Ex: D-Galactose is a C-4 epimer of D-Glucose. Remembering that fact, I only need to know the structure of D-Glucose and can derive D-Galactose from it.

I've also had some success with mnemonics, like for the cranial nerves: "Oh, Oh, Oh, to touch and feel virgin girls' vaginas and hymens."

If it's something really obscure like remembering drug interactions, you just gotta pound that into your brain. I don't think there's a fast way to get that information down, have to use sheer repetition.

Existential

Australia2107 Posts

June 06 2011 10:00 GMT

On June 06 2011 18:41 VIB wrote:
Yea there were a pretty good method for memorizing that I learned. But I forgot what it was.

Rofl
But yeah as emperor said, it depends on what subject you're trying to study/remember for.

Stratos

Czech Republic6104 Posts

June 06 2011 10:04 GMT

It depends a lot on the test itself. If it's multiple option and you chose, I always only read as much as possible on the matter regardless the source or 100% relevance to the subject (ppts, recommended books, online articles). That way you get used to all the terms included, thinking about them and when someone asks you what they mean, that's just no problem to deal with. I never make any notes, so that saves some time.

If you're supposed to write something by yourself, like an essay, I find it very helpful to practice - sit and make yourself write something down on the matter. If you know you can write a whole list you can stop caring about the matter or only occasionaly review it. When you get to the test and you're presented with a subject you already wrote down, you know you already did it and will most likely be succesful.

I'm studying biology though, so I don't know if this is of any help.

Ryps

Romania2740 Posts

June 06 2011 10:05 GMT

Best method

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Method_of_loci

writer22816

United States5775 Posts

June 06 2011 11:21 GMT

Depends on what subject. For subjects like Math, Physics, and Chem, I always prefer to understand concepts rather than memorizing. If you are forgetting key elements then you probably don't understand the concepts as well as you think.

iNbluE

Switzerland674 Posts

June 06 2011 11:23 GMT

My mother used to say: "If you wanna know something, learn it 5 times". I've never done it, but it is supposed to work :D

Vlare

748 Posts

June 06 2011 11:25 GMT

#10

On June 06 2011 20:21 writer22816 wrote:
Depends on what subject. For subjects like Math, Physics, and Chem, I always prefer to understand concepts rather than memorizing. If you are forgetting key elements then you probably don't understand the concepts as well as you think.

This. Being a chemistry major myself, I cannot stress the importants of having an extremely strong understanding of concepts rather than memorizing. However, if it's more artsy-buisinessy stuff, then your best bet is to read it over a few times, maybe re-write it, and try to explain it to someone else. Once you can do that, you should know your stuff well.

DarkPlasmaBall

United States46060 Posts

June 06 2011 13:32 GMT

#11

Chunking helps.
Remember things in chunks or groups. Like phone numbers- instead of remembering every digit individually, remember groups of two-digit or three-digit numbers.

Come up with acronyms for long lists of things.
Often times, taking the first letter of each word (and re-arranging them to spell out a new word) can help you remember a long list of items.

Good luck!

shinosai

United States1577 Posts

June 06 2011 14:46 GMT

#12

Anki is supposed to be pretty good for this sort of thing over the long term, if that's what you're looking for.

Arnstein

Norway3381 Posts

June 27 2011 05:46 GMT

#13

Forgot about this thread, lol.

I'll check out your tips! More tips are appreciated as well

Divinek

Canada4045 Posts

June 27 2011 06:22 GMT

#14

check out the book moonwalking with Einstein

SenorChang

Australia4730 Posts

June 27 2011 06:31 GMT

#15

I find writing things out as I read them helps me better ingrain it into my brain, as I'm focusing on 2 inputs, reading and writing - harder for the mind to wander. But that's just what works for me (and can take longer depending on how slow/fast you write)~