Our Top 14 Best Memorisation Methods to learn content (for that Grade 9 😉):
1. Pomodoro – A tried and tested memorisation technique:
Break larger chunks of content into smaller, more manageable pieces – pomodoro technique. Revise for 25 minutes, take a five-minute break. After 2 hours, take a 30-minute break and then start over. The reason for this is that your brain will retain a certain amount of information input. After 25 minutes, your information retention decreases, so taking a break and doing something else for five minutes gives yourself a chance to reset and take in more information again.
2. Create your way:
Use popular mnemonic devices such as acronyms, rhymes, and visual images to help you remember information. Music mnemonics can enhance memory retention by making it easier to remember ‘all the words’ of catchy songs compared to mundane information like grocery lists. These can be as silly as you want, as long as they help you remember key information!
Do you spend more than 10 minutes looking in the mirror each morning, fixing your hair or doing your makeup? What if you had flash cards or post-it notes with information that you always forget, stuck to the side of the mirror? This could be as simple as a key definition or as complex as a flow diagram of the cell cycle. Consider how long you will be in that area, because there’s no point putting up a load of content that takes longer to read than it does to brush your hair!
3. Timing it with spaced repetition
In 2024, use spaced repetition, where you review the material at increasingly larger intervals of time. Fit it into your study routine so eventually you know the content like the back of your hand!
4. Branching and connecting- An underrated memory palace technique
Connect the material to other topics and ideas that you know because contextualising the content to make it make sense means that you not only remember the content, but you understand it more deeply. A bit like a ‘memory palace’ hence the name! Understanding your learning style—whether visual, auditory, or experiential—can significantly enhance the speed and efficacy of memorization. Create a memory palace / mind palace for each topic you need to memorise in 2024!
5. The Go-to for cramming:
Use flashcards to help you test yourself and retain the content. Cramming isn’t recommended but sometimes you may end up in a situation where you’ve left yourself short of time.
6. Summarise in your own words:
Create summaries of the content, such as mindmaps or a single sheet of bullet points on A4. Summarizing content in your own words enhances understanding and retention by encouraging you to rephrase information. This helps you identify areas of weakness in your knowledge, as well as build confidence in yourself after you realise how much you really know about a topic!
7. Cross-learning:
You are more likely to recall information if you have actively used it in different contexts. The memory palace technique can help you memorize lines by associating them with familiar locations. Instead of reading and re-reading the same sentences, try rephrasing the information and writing it down – blurting? Your chances of recall are much higher if you interact with the information so discuss it with your friends! If you’re unsure of how something is applied then Google it! Apply what you have learnt into different scenarios. Maybe try teaching your sibling about meiosis or the meaning of a quote from Macbeth.
The memory palace technique involves visualizing a journey or location and linking items to specific spots within that space to facilitate easier recollection. This method, used historically by Greek politicians and modern memory athletes, enhances retention by associating information with a familiar physical space.
Basically, just try teaching the material to someone else. A 5 year old, 15 year old and 25 year old is a good shout.
8. Mix it Up: Engage Multiple Senses for Better Retention
When it comes to memorization, engaging more than one sense can help you visualize information better and retain it for longer. Visual memory is a big part of human cognition; we can create images in our head that are easier to recollect later. By mixing up your study methods and using audio and visual aids, you can make learning more fun, engaging and effective.
Visuals
Visuals such as diagrams, whiteboards, flowcharts and videos can help you process and retain complex information by linking it to specific images. For example mind maps are a great tool for visualising information. You can create branches for different topics and see the unique features of each concept and how they are related.
When you visualise information, your brain creates mental images which can be easier to recall than abstract facts or numbers. For example if you’re learning about the cell structure you could use color coded diagrams to represent the nucleus, mitochondria and cell membrane. By linking these unique features to specific colors or shapes you give your brain a framework for quicker recollection.
Audio
In addition to visuals, incorporating audio into your study routine can engage different parts of your brain. Listening to podcasts, recorded lectures or even explaining the content out loud can help you understand better. Auditory learners can benefit from hearing information multiple times which helps them to visualise information in a new way and link it to what they already know. For some people, reciting information in the form of rote learning helps too, in terms of improving memory. However, this is an old-fashioned way to memorize something.
Writing Notes – aka Kinaesthetic
Another way to build sensory memory is to write notes by hand. Writing activates different parts of the brain than typing or reading alone. This kinesthetic learning allows you to integrate information through motor memory and sensory memory which can help retention big time. As you write you have to process and condense information into your own words which helps active learning and makes it easier to visualise later.
By writing down key points your brain starts to notice the unique bits of the material, the key terms, concepts or patterns. Writing slows you down and gives you time to think critically about the content and helps you to recall later. With audio and visual aids writing becomes a sensory tool that engages multiple pathways for better memorisation.
Change Your Study Environment
Another way to keep your brain engaged is to change your study environment. Studies show that when you study in different locations you’re less likely to rely on environmental cues (like a particular desk or room) to remember information. This means you’re more likely to recall that information in any setting – like during an exam. Changing your environment forces your brain to memorise information independently of the setting making it easier to recall later.
9. Don’t overdo it for long term memory:
Take regular breaks during your study time. Burnout is a possibility too, so ensure you’re taking time to rest and refresh as this helps with consistency in the long-term. Although it may seem beneficial to prioritise revision ahead above everything else, your ability to revise is affected by your health. Therefore, make sure you have a good amount of sleep (6-8 hours), exercise frequently and eat healthily! Use the support of your family and friends as fuel to carry on going and don’t forget to treat yourself to a hot bath or evening strolls.
10. Understanding Memory – How Memory Works:
Understanding how memory works is crucial to developing effective memorization techniques. Memory involves three main stages: encoding, storage, and retrieval. Encoding is the process of learning new information, storage is about retaining that information, and retrieval is recalling that information when needed. There are two types of memory: short-term memory and long-term memory. Short-term memory acts as a temporary storage system, holding information for brief periods, while long-term memory is a more permanent storage system, retaining information for extended periods. By understanding these processes, you can develop strategies to improve your memory and retain information more effectively. For instance, knowing that repeated exposure helps transfer information from short-term to long-term memory can guide you to use spaced repetition in your study sessions.
11. Working Memory: The Secret to Learning
This type of memory is how we process and manage information during learning. It’s like a mental workspace where we hold information temporarily while we interpret it, solve problems or complete tasks. It’s the part of your memory that helps you follow along in conversations (ones that you’re actually listening to 😆), work out complex maths problems or remember instructions long enough to act on them (e.g. OTP codes to reset your Instagram password for the 4th time).
Unlike long term memory which stores information for long periods, working memory is for holding small amounts of information for immediate use. For example when you’re trying to solve a math problem your working memory allows you to hold the numbers in your head while you calculate the answer. This temporary storage helps you keep track of information until the task is complete.
Why Is Working Memory Important?
It’s important for all learning because it allows you to work with multiple pieces of information at once. It helps with:
Problem solving: By holding the relevant information in your head, numbers or rules while you figure out the solution.
Reading comprehension: It helps you hold the meaning of previous sentences or paragraphs while you read the next ones.
Note taking and summarising: It allows you to hold onto key points from lectures or readings long enough to summarise them.
But working memory has its limits. Most people can only hold 5-9 pieces of information in their working memory at a time. That’s why techniques like breaking tasks into smaller chunks, taking breaks and using memory techniques are essential to prevent overload and improve retention.
Strategies to Improve Working Memory
Improving it isn’t just about practice – it’s about using the right strategies. Here are a few to boost your working memory efficiency:
Chunking Information: By grouping information into smaller, more manageable sections you can hold and process the information better. For example instead of trying to memorise a 10 digit number as a whole, break it into chunks (e.g. 123-456-7890).
Visualisation: If you’re a visual learner or visual person in general, creating mental images of what you’re trying to learn can help you hold onto information in your working memory. Diagrams, flowcharts or mind maps can help you see the relationships between concepts and reduce the load on your working memory.
Rehearsal and Repetition: Repeating the key information to yourself is a great way to keep it in your working memory. For example when you’re trying to remember instructions or key points recite the information back to yourself so it doesn’t slip away.
Mnemonics and Acronyms: Mnemonic devices like acronyms or rhymes can help you organise and recall more complex information. Since working memory has limited capacity using these tools allows you to retain more by associating larger chunks of information with a simple word or phrase. For example, ‘Raging Martians Invaded Venus Using X-ray Guns’ for learning the Electromagnetic spectrum in GCSE Physics!
Spaced Repetition: Spacing out your study sessions gives your brain a break and helps transfer the information into long-term memory. Reviewing material at intervals rather than cramming improves retention and recall.
12. Mnemonic Devices – Acronyms and Acrostics:
Mnemonic devices are powerful tools for improving memorisation. Acronyms and acrostics are two popular types of mnemonic devices that can help you remember information more effectively. An acronym is a word or phrase formed from the first letter of each word, while an acrostic is a sentence or phrase where the first letter of each word spells out a word or phrase. For example, the acronym “ROY G BIV” can help you remember the colors of the rainbow (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet). Similarly, the acrostic “Every Good Boy Does Fine” can help you remember the musical notes on the treble clef staff (E, G, B, D, F). By using acronyms and acrostics, you can create memorable associations that help you recall information more easily. These techniques are especially useful for memorizing lists, vocabulary words, or sequences like the periodic table.
13. Taking Care of Your Body – Sleep and Exercise:
Taking care of your body is essential for maintaining good memory. Sleep and exercise are two critical factors that can significantly impact your memory. During sleep, your brain processes and consolidates information, transferring it from short-term to long-term memory. Lack of sleep can impair memory and cognitive function, making it harder to learn and retain new information. Exercise, on the other hand, improves blood flow to the brain, boosting memory and cognitive function. Regular exercise has been shown to enhance memory and reduce the risk of age-related cognitive decline. By ensuring you get enough sleep and incorporating regular exercise into your routine, you can improve your memory and maintain good cognitive function. So, make sure to prioritize a healthy lifestyle to support your learning and memorization efforts.
14. Green Tea, Meditation and Wellbeing to Reduce Anxiety
Anxiety will disrupt your focus and stop you from remembering information, especially important points. Stress management is key to better learning outcomes. Green tea is a natural stress reliever that contains L-theanine an amino acid that promotes calmness and improves working memory without the drowsiness. The gentle caffeine in the tea helps you stay focused during study sessions without the jitters of coffee.
And incorporating meditation into your daily routine will reduce anxiety, increase mindfulness and improve cognitive function. Just a few minutes a day of meditation will relax you, improve concentration and support long term wellbeing. Together green tea and meditation is a balanced way to manage stress, keep your mind calm, focused and ready to learn.
