1. Chunk the Information
Make meaningful connections to group the information. Create groups based on similar concepts.
2. Create Mnemonics
Try creating an acronym like “OCEAN”. The first letter of each word in “OCEAN” is one of the Big Five Personality traits (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism).
Create a visual story. For example, Green Bananas Dance For Apples is a story that helps you remember the line notes for the Bass Clef. The first letter of each word gives the order.
3. Engage in Self-referent Encoding
Make your learning personally relevant. Ask yourself:
- How does this connect to me?
- How do I relate to this?
4. Practice and Overlearn
- Solve problems without help
- Summarize key points in your own words
- Engage in study groups
5. Use Distributed Practice
Having eight 30-min study sessions before a test is more effective than cramming one four-hour study session before the day of the test!