How do you study? What are your methods of memorizing big amount of text? (page 2)

cantleave

I know such students who are telling everyone how they didn't study anything and still scored high...........................are total bullshitters.

A few years ago I studied for another state's bar exam. We were told we only had to know the material for the testing date. There was a lecture in the morning. Some of my law school profs. actually knew their material for bar review purposes. I hate memorizing material. In real life I would never rely on mememorization. The material was already outlined and presented to us in bound books. The company was upset that I was studying so soon. They warned me about peaking to soon.

Towards the end we were told to make our own 3x5 cards. Only a single point per card. The physical act of making the study cards helped us memorize the material. If I went grocery shopping, saw a film, rode on the subway, I would bring 10-15 cards with me. It was easier to prepare before I had practice experience. I felt bar review was destroying knowledge I acquired in law school. Indeed, I was correct.

We had memory aids. All I can recall now is contracts involved aardvarks with handbags. You can see that the bar review information and study techniques only worked for short term memory. We had a rule of never discussing the details of a final once you turn your exam in to be graded. There is nothing you can do to alter your grade. The students most assured that they alone were correct turned out to be wrong 98% of the time. My testing site was within walking distance of my law school so I walked back after I finished. Every sidewalk cafe was full of bar exam takers debating the correct responses. NYC scheduled a performance with Pavaraotti for free in Central Park. Fireworks were set off. My assigned task was to hold seats for people working during the day. I had no recall of the exam only three hours later.

I do recall the essentials I was taught in law school. We were on a long march. My professors never covered material beyond the Middle Ages in Merry Old England for the most part. I am surprised at my recall of French. I tested well in school. Others were brighter. Knowing content and testing well are two separate categories.

Found Sheep

I read my lesson quickly then took a break and went back and read it slow. It worked for me. I like cards. Take them every place you go and read them over and over again. This is one advantage being an ex-jw. reading, and remembering is hard core

villagegirl

Memorization of material by rote depends on what kind of a learner

you are. Grouping and organizing information and having students memorize

is a rote method. As you have already observed it has nothing to do with

anaylsis or critical thinking. Triggers can be helpful, color keys, associations,

sounds or patterns.

James Brown

When i had to study for something that had the reward of a job or money.

I would immerse myself in the material, use mnemonics.

And also participate in study groups.

Study groups of 2 maybe up to the whole class.

If you sit around with others trying to master the material, you talk with them about what they know vs what you know

vs what you need to know.

KateWild

I agree with the Chemistry point. It's a linear subject so we can work things out like nomenclature, moles, chemical reactions, we can draw pictures of atoms and molecules. But learning a bunch of unrelated facts is much harder indeed.

We had a module about alchemy and it was just the facts and medicines. I struggled with that. Repetition for me was the key, writing it out over again.

Good luck, let us know how you get on

Kate xx

jgnat

SQ3R http://www.studygs.net/texred2.htm

ON THE DAY of the test, don't keep studying the material. Rather do a puzzle like a crossword or sudoku. You want your puzzle-busting part of your brain relaxed and engaged during test day.

rip van winkle

Marking*

Hope to utilize some of these ideas!

*As I will forget about this thread in less time than it took to write this. :(

Coffee House Girl

I found when I needed to memorize a lot of info (I did take a geology course in college so I can relate to the material)...I would write the terms down (multiple times on a piece of paper)...I would say the term out loud after I wrote it...and then also have flash cards with a pictures of the mineral or rock-

I find that using writing, speaking, and visual cues together work the best for memorizing/cramming short term information I need for an exam...I find this method works best one to two days before a big exam (and I do like to do this the day of as well)

unfortunately I tend to dump 90% of the info out of my brain as soon as the test is over :(

good luck

CHG

snare&racket

Alchemy?

Kate, forgive me....can you remind me again what course/degree you did, which uni? I am sincerely not being rude, just don't remember.

Alchemy is very.....odd...to study as a module. Sure Newton would love a chin wag with you.

I hated learning organic chemistry....all the curly arrows drove me insane!

Chemistry is very similair to math functions and physics equations. All such topics are like sports, practice and exercise is the key, Practicing over and over.

How do you study? What are your methods of memorizing big amount of text?