I have a horrible memory. How can I study so that I remember things?

Make flash cards on 3×4 or 4×6 cards. They are great for this type of study and easy to carry around.

For me, it depends on what you are studying and the way you learn.

In history courses, I always completed the reading and took notes during class. I wrote everything (and I mean everything) our instructors said. This forced me to pay attention and absorb information. I made flash cards for key terms, important events. If I ever needed to remember dates, I made sure to do those the night before. I can’t retain that information for a long period. If I study it for a long time the night before, then review it the morning before an exam, I was more likely to recall it for the test.

I was terrible at science. Even if I used the same studying method, I just couldn’t get myself to study. Maybe make a schedule and force yourself to stick by it? Use a similar method of note taking, flash cards, and repetition.

A few of my friends used visual aids too. On one side of the flash card they would have the term and a picture to help them remember. If work well with images, this might help you remember these types of things better.

things get easier when you enjoy learning…they feed off each other and grow… I was good at math and science in school… because I found the knowledge useful, meaningful…and entertaining…

It’s been proven that retention is strong just before sleep.

Study sober and in a relaxed but highly aware state an hour or so before bed. Subliminal programming.

I did a search on google using “How to Study” in quotes as I typed it here and I found so many good resources. There are just too many for me to sort through. I recommend that you look through them and find one that suits you. The key is consistent effort throughout the term. Try different techniques until you find what works for you for various types of material. You can do it!

repetion, the flash cards write the knowledge into you, and then you review
dont expect it to come easy. work hard. achieve success

memorization never worked for me ever. The only thing that would get the material to sink in was to actually understand it so it made sense to me. This is so much easier if the subject interests you but can be a drag if you’re indifferent to it. Hopefully your teacher has a way to make things fun and interesting so you can get into it more.

The best way to memorize is to first think find out what type of learner you are. You can go to this site to find out what type of learner you are:
http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.htm
I’m a visual leaner, so if I see the things I have to study in a notebook, or draw a picture I can remember it much easier. When you study make sure that you are in a room without distractions, that means no tv, no music, just quiet. Think of the time of day when you are most alert, and try to study then. Some other things you can do are make flash cards out of index cards. Another thing that really helps me is to associate an object with the thing i’m trying to remember. (ex: June 12 as well as a war was also my dad’s birthday) Do not forget to repeat!! Repetition is the key to memory, and it causes what you learn to go from your short-term memory to your long term memory. (The part you use on tests) Good luck with your studying :)

I found that if I took notes while the teacher was going over the lesson, it was much easier to study, and I didn’t have to study so much. But asking questions to clarify the points you don’t understand really works too. That was the only way I made it out of highschool, and the only way I could memorize anything.

All the suggestions already mentioned are good, and helpful, I think, if you’re trying to determine how you learn first, and then use that information to better help you to retain information. However, personally, regardless of exactly whether you’re a visual, audio, hands-on, or rote memory learner, I find that teaching yourself as if your knowledge is meant to teach others is the best method. For you will find that if what you learn you can actually share as with others, it will usually mean that you, yourself, have learned something, that is RETAINED something new!

On that note, when attempting to teach yourself something this way or teaching others what you’ve learned, it truly helps if you can find a logical method whereby you can apply your new knowledge accordingly. For instance, in the case of history, if you learn something that happened in the past (ie: is historically accurate) figure out how it is being mirrored now or in the recent past and how that has affected you. This really isn’t that difficult to do, since, if you learn about history, you will find it does repeat itself many times over centuries. That’s actually, to me, anyway what makes it so valuable a knowledge, and interesting as well. So this new knowledge, you can tell yourself you know by way of sharing it with another person. And this can also be simply done, the same way you “taught” yourself; by demonstrating and discussing with the person you’re trying to teach the information to, how such information is relevant to their lives as well.

Hopefully, I’ve not lost you by this point, because in the case of science, it’s even easier. Since science IS a science; or as one definition explains it Science is “any systematic knowledge-base or prescriptive practice that is capable of resulting in a correct prediction, or reliably-predictable type of outcome.” For this reason, Science is something that comes with proof, rather than simple opinion. That means that for the logical mind, this knowledge is tangible and therefore “share“able. Again, as with the history knowledge, Science can be applied to your world as it is right now. So then if you’re following my methods of teaching what you’ve learned, you can share this information by re-applying it to your new pupil’s own life, so it becomes relevant information to you both.

Hopefully, that made sense. Memorising will likely get you through exams, but the proof of your knowledge will only ever then be in your grades. Actually learning the information will allow you to apply it when called upon to do so in your own future… like for a job or promotion.

Thanks for asking this question, i’m exactly the same, in school i used to panic and sometimes get upset because i couldn’t remember something i’d learnt a day ago.

It always helped me to explain something to someone else. Even it it was the dog.

When I was in college, we were required to take a studies class our first semester. One of the things that they said was that for every hour in class per week, you should be doing 3 hours of study or assignments. For a 3 hour class each week, you should be spending 9 hours in reading and writing assignments, recopying notes, and studying. Make sure that you are putting in adequate time to master the material.

Me, I take notes and make a note of what I think may be important later on. Then, when it comes time to review, the stuff is fresh in my head.

@SeahorseisYay ‘s link is a site that first tests you, then charges a minimum of 9 bucks to view the results. Beware; first decide whether you want to pay for it before you answer the questions for nought.