We’ve scoured our brains and the internet for the best study hacks to help your brain remember information quicker and easier and ultimately help you do better in your exams. 1. Walk Before An Exam It’s been proven that exercise can boost your memory and brain power. Research conducted by Dr. Chuck Hillman of the University of Illinois provides evidence that about 20 minutes exercise before an exam can improve performance. 2. Speak Out Loud Instead of Simply Reading Although this may make you look a little crazy, give it a go! You will be surprised how much more you can remember when you’ve said it out loud. Warning: Don’t try this in a crowded library! 3. Reward Yourself With A Treat There are many ways to integrate a reward system into your study habits. Here’s a simple way to motivate yourself to study with Gummy Bears: 4. Teach What You Have Learned The best way to test if you really understand something is to try to teach it to someone else. 5. Create Mental Associations The ability to make connections is not only an easier way to remember information, but it’s the fuel of creativity and intelligence. Steve Jobs famously said “Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something”. Mind Maps are an easy way to connect ideas by creating a visual overview of different connections. 6. Draw Diagrams Drawing diagrams will help you to visualise information which would be hard to describe. This creates a visual memory in your mind which can be recalled in an exam. You may even be asked to draw or label diagrams such as the human heart in your exam so get practicing! 7. Times New Roman is the Fastest Font to Read Simply put – there’s a reason why Times New Roman is the default font on most applications! 8. Use Apps to Block Distracting Sites The SelfControl app helps you to avoid distractions by blocking websites for a certain amount of time. 9. Watch a Documentary on the Topic Documentaries are an entertaining way of compacting an entire story into a short timeframe. This will help you remember key details from a story plus you may even get extra credit for mentioning that you took the initiative and watched a film about the topic! 10. Search Google Like a Pro Save time when researching sources online by mastering the biggest search engine in the world; Google. Follow the tips in this image to find what you need at your fingertips: 11. Create Flashcards for Quick Memory Buzz Quickly test your knowledge of key concepts, definitions, quotes and formulas with flashcards. 12. Take Regular Study Breaks When your brain is working, you need to take regular study breaks to help your brain absorb more information but also to keep you motivated and focused when you are working. Take a short break after 45-50 minutes study as your focus and concentration will become impaired after this period, anything new after 1 hour 30 minutes does not get assimilated. 13. Listen to the Correct Type of Music The correct types of music can lead to more productive studying by elevating your mood. 14. Make Your Study Space Portable We may be creatures of habit with favourite seats in the library but information retention actually improves when you vary the places where you study. 15. Practice, Practice, Practice… Practicing sample answers to past exam questions can help train your brain to retrieve information. 16. Don’t Stay Up All Night Before an Exam Make sure to get adequate rest the nights leading up to your exams. When you sleep, your brain assimilates the information you have learned when studying so getting a good night’s sleep will help you remember those pesky maths formulas you need for your exam! Don’t make this your sleep schedule: 17. Discover News Ways to Learn Trying new methods of studying can help you find what really works for you. Use technology to your advantage by watching educational TED Talks or downloading useful dictionary apps for example. 18. Use Scents or Gum to Jog Your Memory This may seem a bit random but spraying an unfamiliar scent while you’re studying can help jog your memory when you spray it again just before an exam. Chewing a strange kind of gum will work the same way. 19. Study in a Group Studying in a group can help you collect new insights to enhance your learning experience. 20. Meditate Studies say that meditation can help students stay focused when studying. Not only will meditation help you concentrate when studying but it will help reduce pre-exam stress as it improves both mental and physical health. Source
