Question:
“Dear Kantis….When I study right before the test I tend to get a good grade, however after the test I don’t remember any of the information. Awkwardly, when I study a week before the test it seems like I don’t remember anything and I end up with a bad test grade. Kantis, what should I do? ” - C. Williams (Decatur, GA)Answer:
“Well, it sounds to me that you are studying and retaining information in your Short Term Memory; where it needs to be transferred to your Long Term Memory. (Especially if it is a subject that you will use over and over again.
Here are three things I practically advise for information retention:
- Study weeks and months before the test (not at last minute). Study about 35-45 minutes on the subject and take a break. Do this consistently weeks ahead of test. Make sure you are getting good sleep and eating well too
- TEACH yourself, TEST yourself, and TALK to yourself. Just like remembering the lyrics to your favorite song ( read the lyrics, sing the lyrics, and rehearse the lyrics) – the same should be true for your class work.
- Discuss your studies with others. If you can openly talk about it with simplicity, that is a sure way that you have it in long term memory.
To shed more light on this question, see How to Cram Your Way to Academic Success.
Tags: memorization, School Grades, Study skills
Leave A Reply (3 comments So Far)
TIS
611 days ago
Dear Kansis
i study but i forget almost everything..i can gv tests of individual chapters easily but in final exams, i just get mixed up in the end or i remember half of everythin.what bothers me is that one year back, i used to be a topper and now i’m just average or even below average.i dont understand whats going wrong.my self confidence is gone, my health is deteriorating and i’m unhappy.please give me a solution.