With reading week upon us, mid-terms and assignments mounting, and exams fast approaching, we could all do with a refresher on the most efficient ways to study and maybe even try out a new approach to avoid those dreaded December cramming sessions. Tried and tested techniques are relied on to get us through exams, but knowing the science behind why such methods work can allow students to better take advantage of them to make studying easier and more efficient.
“pathways are not permanent and are gradually lost if they are not being used, making way for newer and more frequently used information.”
When we study, we rely on a mechanism called synaptic plasticity. This is your brain’s ability to learn and adapt to new information by creating neural pathways, which can be thought of as trails through your memory connecting pieces of information you have previously learned. It is these neural pathways that allow us to be constantly able to learn new things. However, pathways are not permanent and are gradually lost if they are not being used, making way for newer and more frequently used information. This is especially true when trying to study for multiple exams in different subjects at once. Thankfully, the pathway connections can be strengthened through repeated use.
The gradual loss of memory due to disuse was first categorised by Hermann Ebbinghaus in 1885 and has been continually studied to find the most efficient methods of combatting it. One of these methods is spaced repetition. Spaced repetition involves revising information you have learned at increasing time intervals. For example, if you had an exam in a week, you would learn the information on Monday, revise it on Tuesday and Wednesday, revise it again on Friday and then a final time on Sunday. This is called the 2, 3, 5, 7 method and can be very useful to learn things on short notice very efficiently. When using this method, you must focus each time you revise on the parts you didn’t remember or understand. This method can be extended over days, weeks or even months across multiple topics to improve information retention.
While spaced repetition can be useful for planning when and what to study, it doesn’t provide much insight into how you should study. One of the most effective study methods is active recall.
“ By testing yourself, you force your brain to retrieve information rather than trying to relearn things you may already know. ”
Active recall can be used to great effect when trying to revise and retain information. It involves testing yourself rather than simple passive learning methods like re-reading notes or highlighting. By testing yourself, you force your brain to retrieve information rather than trying to relearn things you may already know. This method not only highlights what you do know but, more importantly, can help identify what you don’t know. This method was found in a 2021 educational review by Pooja Agarwal and team to have a medium or large impact on 57% of students who tried it.
Another helpful technique for students knuckling down on coursework is the interleaved practice method. This involves breaking up long studying sessions into alternating sequences of different topics: for example, studying two topics on the same day rather than doing one each day. Doing this with related subjects can also align with another technique called elaborative interrogation, which encourages learners to ask why something is true or how it was discovered to deepen understanding and draw links between different topics, both of which help with memory.
“ It appears that handwriting engages more cognitive processes than typing out notes does”
There is, however, one ever-present debate when it comes to learning: is it better to handwrite or type when studying? While both have their merits, it appears that handwriting engages more cognitive processes than typing out notes does, and many other techniques such as mind maps and brain dumps can be easier to do with good old-fashioned pen and paper. Although there is the potential to use many digital learning aids to help with study, such as the addition of pictures and graphs to notes, it is the fact that typed notes are less time-consuming that often makes them more preferred to hand written notes.
Overall, the most important factor in determining how successful your study sessions are is you. Health, both physical and mental, is vital for concentration and memory. It is important to get regular exercise and have a healthy diet to help manage stress and improve energy and focus. Sleep has recently emerged as possibly the most crucial factor in memory, so it’s best to avoid late-night studying and stimulants like caffeine late in the day to make sure you’re getting a full 8 hours of quality sleep. The techniques discussed in this article can help you study more effectively, but it is important to remember that everyone is different, and trying things out to see what works for you is the best practice.
If you want more information or need some personal advice, Trinity’s Student Learning Development service is open to all students and regularly runs workshops on everything from time management to essay writing. Lastly, exam season can be a stressful time for everyone, so if you are struggling or feeling overwhelmed the student counselling services are always there to help.
