College Study Skills: Reviewing And Repetition To Aid Memorizing

Students in colleges and universities face seemingly endless mountains of coursework, not the least of which is the sheer amount of information that they are expected to memorize for tests, quizzes and exams. Taking the time to study, revise and review the information through the term can make a huge difference in success on quizzes and exams. A little time spent every day can be far more effective and less stressful than cramming suddenly right before tests. When it comes to memorizing information, even with a good schedule and system, there are ways to make retaining material easier.

There are many tips on how to be most effective at studying, from selecting a quiet, accessible location and creating good study habits and routines that include breaks and time away from studying to far more precise systems of studying, and all of this can also be applied to memorizing, which is really nothing more than a subset of study skills.

The very first step, before you even begin to memorize anything, is to be very sure that you have a solid understanding of the material you are reviewing. If you don’t understand the context, information, processes or material, than none of the lists, dates, or formulas will make any sense, and memorizing will be an exercise in futility. If you are at all unsure about the coursework, take the time to clarify with the professor or instructor, teaching assistant, a classmate or a tutor.

It is hugely important to create a study schedule, and to stick with it, right from the outset of the school year. While it is never too late to start, there comes a time when reviewing becomes cramming, which is far less effective and efficient. Cramming doesn’t work for retaining information long term, and causes confusion in the short terms as well. It is far better to start reviewing materials from the beginning of the class.

Rather than simply re-reading the information and class material, it is important to find alternate ways to process and retain it. Writing notes out can help, and an excellent way to do this is to make flashcards. Don’t buy them pre-made but write them yourself, and then use them to review, and to quiz yourself, with a classmate or friend if possible. Other ways to re-write work is to create mind maps or study sheets. Different techniques work for different people – experiment to see what works best for you.

By: Jon Ginsburg

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