How To Remember Facts For Exams

Tips to memorise your textbook content quicker

The variety of courses studied by students comprises a curriculum with a mass quantity of information to memorise.

Many students feel overwhelmed with the amount of content they have to learn.

They often find that they do not have sufficient memory skills to retain the studied subjects.

It is a concern that is common among students in Singapore.

The memory tricks that we describe in this article lead to better understanding and higher-order thinking skills in individuals.

Memory technique is a brain-training method to retain information longer and effectively memorise the subjects quickly.

Continue reading about such techniques and their use for you on how to memorise, fast.

Science-Backed Memory Tips, Strategies and Recall Techniques

Use the following verbal and visual memory techniques to help you retain and recall information.

They can help you recall things you haven’t thought about in years – even decades.

And they don’t just help with long-term memory. These techniques can also give your short-term and working memory a boost.

Whether you’re trying to memorize a TikTok script, anime list, or the names of everyone at your new Biology tuition class, here are 11 memorization techniques to help you memorize things fast.

How to memorize things fast: 12 memorization techniques

How to memorize things fast: 12 memorization techniques.

Every moment that we are awake, we use various memory techniques – whether for remembering a recipe, studying for an important assessment or exam, or the path that we take to our school canteen.

There are three main stages and foundations of fast and easy learning: encoding/registration, storage/retention, and retrieval/recall.

Encoding information helps us to convert new information into a format that our brain is able to store. The first step to learning is registering the information in your long-term memory for effective learning.

Storage in our recall memory system can be either long-term or short-term memory. In this step, you try to retain the information in your brain and transfer it from short-term to long-term memory.

Retrieval is also important, because we need to extract information from storage. This is the final stage of memorisation; you use methods to retrieve the information in your brain at intervals.

8 Proven And Effective Memory Techniques for Retaining Information

Below are 8 science-backed memory techniques for retaining information and improving recall memory performance.

Whether you are studying for an exam, preparing a presentation, or getting ready to deliver a speech, you will likely need to memorize key details.

Before you prepare, try several memory strategies to set yourself up for success.

Try to avoid distractions while you’re studying, plan ahead so you don’t need to cram, and take study breaks.

1. Organize Information

Start by outlining the information you will need to recall.

Create a detailed and organized outline of the information to highlight and focus on important concepts.

Chunking (mnemonic device)

A practical application of chunking would be grouping items on your grocery list by aisle.

Or if you’re learning a new language, grouping new vocabulary words together by category.

A useful organization strategy is the chunking method, which breaks down large amounts of information into smaller, logical units that are easy to understand.

For example, when learning a foreign language, list vocabulary words in functional groups such as household items, animals and occupations.

Chunking is one of the most valuable tools among memory recall techniques.

2. Make Associations

Creating associations by drawing on existing knowledge is another one of our memory techniques.

You can form mental images and connect with sounds, smells and tastes to help encode memories.

Ms. Sandy with a beach bucket (for making sandcastles) and Ms Sandy without a beach bucket

The Sandy paradox tells us that if you need to remember that someone’s Western name is Sandy, you are more likely to do so if they picture the person as someone who loves creating sandcastles at the beach (Ms. Sandy using a beach bucket).

This is why developing a story is a powerful tool to improve long-term memory.

For example, if you want to remember that a client’s name is Sandy, you might picture her walking along a beach.

3. Use Visual Cues/Connections (storytelling and linking technique)

Using visual tools such as concept maps, graphs, illustrations and photos can benefit learning.

Graphs and charts also simplify information, making large chunks of data easier to comprehend and recall.

This recall memory method can benefit visual learners, or individuals who better conceptualize information they can see.

It’s also a valuable technique for presenters who can use visuals in their slide deck as retrieval cues.

The use of visual stimuli is a common method used to learn and recall information.

Here are some strategies you can use to enhance your visual memory.

Turn the sound of names into images

If you have difficulty remembering people’s names, try connecting their names with an image.

For example, if a stranger introduces himself as Mike, you might picture him holding a microphone.

Animate the images

Similar to creating visuals for your memory palace, the more animated and vivid you can make your images, the better.

Doing this creates stronger connections in your brain between the word and the image.

4. Create Mnemonics

Using mnemonic devices, such as acronyms, acrostics and rhymes, is a good way for improving long-term memory.

Rhyming Mnemonics (mnemonic device)

Similar to music mnemonics, rhyming mnemonics take advantage of catchy beats and patterns created by ending each line with a rhyme to help you retain information.

For example, do you remember when Sir Stamford Raffles arrived in Singapore?

You likely do if you considered using a creative rhyme, “In 1819, Raffles arrived in Singapore to sign”.

Memory palace (mnemonic device)

The memory palace technique, also known as the Method of Loci, is another popular mnemonic device.

This technique involves mentally mapping out a physical space you’re familiar with (a memory palace) and “placing” images representing the information you’re memorizing in various spots or loci. (Loci is the plural form of locus, which means “place” or “location.”)

When you need to recall that information, simply visualize your memory palace and retrieve it.

Here’s how to create and use your own memory palace: 

Choose your memory palace.

Select a space that you’re incredibly familiar with – for example, your childhood home or the route you take to school – and create a mental map of it.

Identify distinct loci throughout your palace.

Mentally walk through your palace, and pick different locations where you can “place” unique images.

For example, the door to your wardrobe, the vase in your living room, and the dog bed in your brother’s room.

Assign images to specific locations.

Let’s say you’re trying to remember this grocery list: milk, chocolate chip cookies, and bananas.

Place images of each of those items at your chosen locations.

Or, to make it more memorable, create vivid images representing each item and place those at different locations.

The more animated and outrageous, the better.

For example, you could picture a waterfall of milk pouring over your wardrobe door, your living room vase teetering on top of a mountain of chocolate chip cookies, and your brother’s puppy juggling bananas while standing on its bed.

While this technique may sound absurd, it does work.

Basically, a memory palace is an imaginary place (such as a shopping mall, or a familiar venue) where you store mnemonic images.

The idea behind memory techniques like this is you take a journey in your mind to recall the information.

Acronyms and Acrostics (mnemonic device)

You may already be familiar with acronyms and acrostics as a mnemonic device.

This method requires you to create a new word or group of words by taking the first letter of each word and putting them together.

For example, to remember the names of the planets in our solar system, you might use this acrostic mnemonic: my very educated mother just served us noodles. (RIP Pluto’s pizzas.) In this example, the first letter of each word corresponds with the first letter of each planet.

Music mnemonics (mnemonic device)

It’s easier to remember a catchy song than it is to remember a long string of meaningless words or letters, such as a recipe shouted at you while you’re halfway out the door.

The next time you need to remember something, try pairing that information with a tune you’re already familiar with.

5. Write It Down (recital technique)

Do you prefer taking notes on a computer or using a page from a paper notebook?

It turns out that some things are better the old-fashioned way.

Researchers have found that writing down information by hand is more effective than typing for learning concepts.

Because it takes longer to write by hand, you are naturally forced to be more selective with what you write and focus only on the key information.

As far as memory strategies go, less is more when it comes to notetaking.

While typing your notes might be faster and more convenient, especially if you have to take in a lot of information, there are advantages to taking pen to paper instead.

In a 2014 study, researchers Pam A. Mueller and Daniel M. Oppenheimer found that students who took notes by hand had better retention and understanding of the material compared to those who took notes on a laptop.

Why?

The researchers suggest two possible reasons.

First, there are fewer possible distractions, such as checking emails or social media, when writing notes.

Second, generative note-taking (summarizing, paraphrasing, and concept mapping) encourages students to reframe the information into their own words, making it easier to remember and recall later on.

6. Say It Out Loud

When you need to remember new information, one of the more helpful approaches to improving long-term memory is to read it aloud.

One study determined that the dual action of speaking and hearing ourselves talk helps get words and phrases into long-term memory.

Certainly, memory benefits from active involvement and interaction.

7. Engage in Active Recall

Testing yourself forces you to activate your recall memory processes.

Flashcards are a great way to self-test.

Studies show that retrieval practice can enhance recollection rather than simply restudying materials.

8. Rehearse/Spaced Repetition (recital technique)

The human brain tends to forget things when not reminded time and again.

This concept works to counter this trait.

It trains the brain by revising the subject at intervals referred to as “Spaced repetitions” to recall the data until it moves into long-term memory.

Practice does make perfect when it comes to memory strategies.

Rehearse information repetitively, either by writing it down or reading it aloud.

Studies suggest that spaced repetition – spacing out learning over a period of time – is a more effective way to memorize information than trying to cram a lot of information into your brain over a short period of time.

Spaced repetition is a memorization technique that involves reviewing the same information at increasing intervals until that information is embedded into your long-term memory.

Here’s a simple way to apply this technique.

Let’s say you’re learning another language and you need help remembering new vocabulary.

Write the word in your native tongue on a flashcard.

Or, to make it more fun, sketch an image of the word.

Then review the flashcards daily.

As you become more consistent recalling your new vocabulary words, you can increase the time between reviews from daily to weekly to monthly.

9. Share What You Are Learning (storytelling and linking technique)

Let’s say you’re going to a dog training seminar.

Your best friend has a dog, and they want you to share some of your key takeaways after.

So you furiously scribble down notes, ask questions, and scribble some more.

This goes to the heart of the Protégé Effect, which suggests that people put in more effort to learn information when they know they’re going to teach it to someone else.

Then when you share your key takeaways, you are likely to explain the concepts you learned in your own words.

You’ll probably even demonstrate a few of these lessons while explaining the concepts, which will make it more meaningful.

And these acts – paraphrasing and adding meaning to information – all help with encoding.

10. Get More Sleep (physical care)
    
    There is a direct relationship between sleep and productivity – and that productivity extends to our ability to take in new information.

As much as possible, try to get your recommended six to eight hours of deep sleep – the knocked-out-cold kind – every night.

This will help “reset” your brain, allowing you to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world – or, at least, more information.

11. Move your body (physical care)

Just as sleep is important for both your physical and mental health, so, too, is that other pillar of health: exercise.

Moving your body regularly at moderate intensity – whatever that looks like to you – can directly and indirectly boost your memory.

Indirectly, it can reduce anxiety and stress, and improve the quality of your sleep.

Oftentimes, problems in these areas contribute to cognitive impairment.

Directly, it improves the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your brain.

This blood flow keeps your brain functioning properly, which includes processing and storing information.

12. Offload The Information You Don’t Need To Memorize

Human brains can store the equivalent of 2.5 million gigabytes of memory.

So, in theory, you have the capacity to memorize…everything.

But just because you can, doesn’t mean you have to.
Instead of cramming your brain with every detail, give it a break where you can.

How to Remember What You Read?

How can you remember what you read?

It is essential to understand your study patterns.

A strategic memory plan can help you to remember what you read and study for longer.

Understand Your Learning Patterns

Who doesn’t want to have good results for all the efforts they put in?

But it is necessary to understand ourselves to achieve that.

It helps us to know the method of understanding; by which we best interpret and absorb new data.

Generally, there are four main learning styles, referred to by the acronym “VARK”.

VARK stands for:

Visual: People who prefer learning by their sense of sight.

Auditory: Learners who understand and learn better by listening.

Reading (or Writing): These people prefer learning through written notes.

Kinesthetic: These learners best learn by experiencing or doing things.

Analyse and understand the best learning method for yourself.

Here are some additional tips to help you memorise swiftly:

Understand Information First: Understanding the gist of the topic you are studying creates an image in your brain.

It helps you to create a plan to learn the content strategically and retain it longer.

Link it with Already Learnt Information: Linking the studied information with previously studied information helps you retain both concepts better.

Study Before Sleep Time: Research shows that sleeping right after studying allows the brain to process and store it more conveniently.

Take a Test for Yourself: Self-test is a method of active recalling.

Self-test for yourself after a gap allows you to test your memory and revise the subject.

Use Distributed Learning Patterns: Repetition of subjects over time allows your brain to test itself.

This method ensures that the content is well memorised to be recalled whenever required.

Write Everything Down: Writing helps in encoding information and helps to learn as there is a connection between our hands and brain.

Thus, writing helps to memorise better.

Use Visual Tools for Memorising: For visual learners, visual tools such as diagrams, flow charts, and others are the most suitable tool to memorise faster.

Songs and Jingles Help: For auditory learners, songs, jingles, and podcasts of lectures are more convenient sources of memorising and retaining information.

Regular Exercise Schedule: Studies show that exercises such as cardio and weight training can create neurons in areas that help to memorise better.

So, having an exercise schedule can do wonders for you.

How to Learn Long Answers in 5 Minutes?

The common worry of students who have to memorise those long paragraphs to excel in their exams is “How to learn essay type answers?”.

Pen and Paper. The old-school technique for note-taking, has scientific reasons attached. It allows students to memorise faster and retain longer.

Use Daily Life Examples to Understand: Attaching reference of real-life examples with topics make them easy to understand and convenient for learning.

Use Mnemonics: Mnemonics are abbreviations or silly phonetics for words to remember in a specific order. It makes the learning process easier.

To learn essay answers quickly, keep these few things in mind:

1. Read the content first to get a gist of it
2. Don’t try to memorise everything in one go
3. Break the answer into parts (as many as you like)
4. Read the sections aloud to learn
5. Hide it to check if you’ve memorised it or not
6. Repeat this with the complete answer; until memorized
7. Check yourself by speaking the answer out loud
8. Remember, you can learn it after you have understood it instead of cramming it
9. Don’t put yourself under pressure. Be gentle and kind

Choose the method that works for you, and resolve your problems.

Lengthy subjects with varying backgrounds make it difficult for students to memorise and retain information.

Using memory tricks and practising them allows the human brain to adjust to the learning patterns and retain information for longer.

The best way to protect and improve long-term memory is by making good lifestyle choices: exercising regularly, limiting stress, eating healthfully and getting enough sleep.

These healthy habits not only protect brain function but specifically enhance recall memory performance as we age.

You can also keep the mind agile by learning a foreign language or playing brain training games to improve short-term memory.

Exercise Regularly: Being physically active is one of the best strategies to improve and protect memory. Regular aerobic exercise appears to boost the size of the hippocampus, the area of the brain involved in verbal memory and learning. Regular exercise can also help you reduce stress and sleep better, which are related to memory.

Limit Stress: Meditation and mindfulness are great memory techniques to reduce stress and improve sleep.

Be Conscious Of What You Consume: Not surprisingly, what you put into your body can also affect your memory. Consuming a balanced diet that includes healthy fats and natural sugar (glucose) – and limits saturated fat, refined sugar and alcohol – may  be best for promoting and improving long-term memory function.

Sleep: Sleep is critical, as it plays a role in consolidating memories. Also, a lack of sleep can impair an individual’s ability to concentrate.5 You can improve sleep by exercising regularly, engaging in mindfulness/meditation, limiting alcohol and avoiding caffeine in the afternoon and evening.

Applying these tips can solve your concern of “How to memorise fast?” and give you better results.

All of these memory techniques are supported by science, and memory champions can attest to their efficacy.

Even if you aren’t a memory athlete, these memorization techniques can help you at school or at work.