Study Habits: How To Knock Out Your Test With These Memory Tricks

DO

• Use study guides and study buddies
• Read and review your course material
• Allow plenty of time to study
• Study when well-rested
• Study in a quiet and comfortable environment
• Make sure there is light where you are studying

DON’T

• Wait until the last minute
• Study on the bus or in a car
• Cram
• Study when tired
• Study in a noisy environment

*Remember: All habits can be formed or broken.

Long-term Memory

Memory in which associations among items are stored long term. Here are some tips for shifting information from short to long-term memory:

• Repetition of information (write or listen to the information over and over)
• Group information
• Forget less important information and try to remember the most recent things

Short-term Memory

Short-term memory stores information for only around 20 to 30 seconds and can be recalled easily. Other things include:

• Notes the teacher writes down and you try to remember without studying
• Things that you are told to do before class

The Processing Theory

• Maintenance rehearsal: Process information shallowly so we can use it for a short time and forget it
• Elaborative Rehearsal: Make the information meaningful and rehearse it until the information is right at your fingertips at any given point; requires writing the material down, organizing the material, or personalizing it