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: cramming, Long term memory, memory retention, short term memory, studying, Test taking
