You know the drill: Cram, test, repeat. But if you’re a serious student, that’s not good enough. You’re here to learn, not just pass exams. When you buckle down and study, you want to retain the information, both short-term and long-term.
In the short term, you need to pass your tests to graduate. In the long term, you’ve got your whole career ahead of you, and preparing for that career is the whole point of your education. If you learn how to hold on to all the important knowledge you’re acquiring now, you’ll be a lot better off later, when you’re on the job.
There are some powerful techniques you can use to help your study material stick, and there are some habits you might have now that you should break. Knowing what to do, and what not to do, can make a big difference in learning retention.
This Study Buddy session is about study skills for memory. We’ve compiled a list of six evidence-based best practices to help you better retain information when studying:
1. Use Active Recall: Test Yourself Constantly
One of the most powerful study techniques confirmed by decades of research is active recall, which is the practice of retrieving information from memory rather than simply reviewing it.
Why it works: When you force your brain to retrieve information, you strengthen the neural pathways associated with that knowledge. Research shows that students who test themselves retain 80% of material after a week, compared to only 34% for those who use passive review methods like rereading.
How to implement active recall:
- Flashcards: Write questions on one side and answers on the other. Apps like Anki or Quizlet can help automate this process
- Practice questions: After reading a chapter, close your book and write down everything you remember
- The “blank page” method: Start with a blank page and write out everything you know about a topic from memory
- Self-quizzing: Create your own practice tests and take them without referring to notes
Pro tip: The struggle to remember is beneficial, it’s called “desirable difficulty.” When retrieval feels challenging, you’re building stronger memory connections.
2. Apply Spaced Repetition: Review at Strategic Intervals
Instead of cramming all your studying into marathon sessions, spaced repetition involves reviewing material at increasing intervals over time. This technique exploits how your brain naturally consolidates memories.
Why it works: Your brain has a “forgetting curve鈥 where newly learned information fades quickly unless reinforced. By reviewing material just as you’re about to forget it, you dramatically improve long-term retention.
The optimal spacing schedule:
- Day 1: Learn the material
- Day 2: First review (24 hours later)
- Day 4: Second review (3 days later)
- Day 11: Third review (7 days later)
- Day 25: Fourth review (14 days later)
How to implement spaced repetition:
- Use digital tools: Apps like Anki, Quizlet, or RemNote automatically schedule reviews based on your performance
- Create a review calendar: Schedule review sessions for each topic at increasing intervals
- Combine with active recall: Don’t just reread during reviews鈥攖est yourself
Important: The first review within 24 hours is critical. Don’t skip it!
3. Teach Someone Else the Material
We’re used to studying as an exercise in incoming information, but flipping the switch and directing the material outward can help you learn it better and hold onto it longer. This is called The Prot茅g茅 Effect, which means that you learn something better when you’re going to be expected to teach it later.
Why it works: The mere expectation of having to teach instructs your brain to organize and consolidate information more comprehensively. It’s a challenge to understand material well enough to explain it cohesively, and your brain wants to be prepared. Studies have shown that students who implement this technique perform better on tests.
There鈥檚 one more upside to frequent practice tests. In addition to improving recall, you鈥檙e also getting a grip on exam-day anxiety. Doing several low-stakes dry runs of the testing experience can help you fear the actual test less, so you can relax, recall, and score high.
How to teach back the material:
- Study groups: Take turns teaching concepts to each other. If your partner doesn’t know the material, they can ask questions that might lead you to think more critically or identify gaps in your understanding
- Rubber duck method: Explain the material out loud to an inanimate object (software developers often keep a rubber duck on their desk for this purpose!)
- Write explanations: Create study guides as if you’re teaching someone who’s never encountered the material
- Record yourself: Explain concepts into a voice recorder, then listen back to identify areas that need clarification
This is a great exercise to do with your study group or study buddy if you have one. If your partner already knows the material, they can quiz you on the fly.
4. Use Relational Learning: Connect New Information to What You Already Know
Put whatever you’re studying in the context of something you already know. You can connect it to something you’ve learned previously on the same subject, or you can relate it to something else entirely.
Why it works: When you make associations between new and familiar information, you create learning connections called transposition. This can be as simple as comparing one fact or set of facts to another, but the process significantly strengthens retention.
How to apply relational learning:
- Compare and contrast: As you learn each new concept, think about how it’s similar or different from something you’ve already studied
- Use analogies: Relate complex concepts to everyday experiences (for example, comparing the circulatory system to a highway network)
- Create concept maps: Draw connections between related ideas
- Build on prior knowledge: Explicitly ask yourself, “What does this remind me of?” or “How does this connect to what I learned last week?”
Example: When learning about different organs in anatomy class, compare each new organ to ones you’ve already studied. Note similarities in structure, function, or location. You’ll reinforce old knowledge while learning new information鈥攄ouble the benefit!
5. Write by Hand: Put Down the Laptop
Research consistently shows that writing notes by hand produces better learning outcomes than typing on a computer or tablet.
Why it works: When you write by hand, you’re forced to be more selective about what you record because handwriting is slower than typing. This “desirable difficulty” means you’re actively processing and summarizing information rather than transcribing verbatim. Brain imaging studies show that handwriting activates regions associated with thinking, language, and working memory more than typing does.
How to implement handwriting:
- Take lecture notes by hand during class, then type them up later for better organization (this gives you two passes at the material)
- Write out practice problems rather than typing solutions
- Create handwritten flashcards for important concepts
- Draw diagrams and concept maps on paper
Bonus benefit: The act of typing up handwritten notes later provides another opportunity for active recall and review!
6. Avoid Multitasking and Cramming
Let’s address two common but counterproductive study habits:
Multitasking Is a Myth
Think you’re a master multitasker? The truth is, multitasking is biologically impossible for focused cognitive work. What we call “multitasking” is rapid task-switching, which is inefficient and increases errors.
Instead, practice “monotasking”:
- Choose one topic or exercise and truly immerse yourself
- Turn off notifications and put your phone away
- Study in blocks of focused time (try 25-50 minutes, then take a break)
- Close unnecessary browser tabs and apps
Note: This doesn’t mean you need to dedicate a full day to one subject. There’s value in studying different subjects in the same day because you’ll create connections that give you a deeper understanding. But make sure you’re sincerely moving from one subject to another, instead of constantly switching back and forth.
Avoid Cramming
The pre-exam cram might seem unavoidable, but coffee-fueled all-nighters do more harm than good.
Why cramming doesn’t work: During a cramming session, your brain is focused on the act of learning as much as the material itself. You think you’re laser-focused, but you’re splitting your attention. Additionally, your brain needs sleep to consolidate memories鈥攕taying up all night prevents this crucial process.
Think of it like exercise: If you want to run a half-marathon, you can’t train by running 26 miles the day before. You need to build stamina over time. Even if you’ve trained properly, running two half-marathons the day before the race would leave you exhausted and possibly injured.
The better approach:
- Start studying weeks in advance
- Use spaced repetition to review regularly
- Get adequate sleep, especially the night before an exam
- Trust that distributed practice will serve you better than last-minute panic
Bonus: Support Your Brain
These study techniques work best when your brain is functioning optimally. Support your cognitive function by:
- Getting 7-9 hours of sleep (sleep is when memories are consolidated)
- Exercising regularly (physical activity improves memory and focus)
- Eating well (your brain needs proper nutrition)
- Managing stress (chronic stress impairs memory formation)
- Staying hydrated (even mild dehydration affects cognitive performance)
Ready to Test with Confidence?
Stick to the tips above to maximize your retention, and you’ll not only be able to walk into exam day with more confidence, but you’ll set yourself up for the all-important longer-term retention of material for when it’s time to put your studies to use. After all, that’s what your education is for!
Remember: The best study method is one you’ll use consistently. Start with one or two of these techniques, build the habit, then add more. Small, consistent efforts compound over time into significant results.
Helpful Resources:
- Spaced repetition apps: Anki, Quizlet, RemNote
- Focus timers: Forest app, Pomodoro Timer
- Note-taking: Cornell method, concept mapping
- Study planning: Create a semester-long review schedule using the spacing intervals above
WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.
WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.
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