(2) What are the best study methods?

- Quora

02-06-2015

Home

Search

Write

Notifs

Swaminathan

Add Question

What are the best study methods?

3.8K WANT ANSWERS

Anything, from not having distractions to using flash cards... Real advice that
you have found actually works to help in obtaining and maintaining
information.
Want Answers 3.8k

Latest activity: 9h ago

QUESTION TOPICS

Comments 1+ Share 39 Downvote

90 ANSWERS

There's more on Quora...

Pick new people and topics to follow
and see the best answers on Quora.
Update Your Interests

ASK TO ANSWER
RELATED QUESTIONS

Needs A Good
Answer Wiki

Swaminathan Natarajan
Edit Biography Make Anonymous

What is the best method for studying

theory paper?

Study Method
Study Tips and Hacks

How can I find the best study method for

me?

Study Habits

What is best method for self-learning?

Write your answer, or answer later

Self-Teaching

Ahmad Ali, Break every chain

14k upvotes by Amir Hamza, Ronak Jain, Anudeep Rentala, (more)

Learning New Things

This is my personal research on how to study over two years. I succeeded to

get a distinction in 8000 students from many colleges. I did not spend more
than two months in my college.

Learning
Studies and Studying

There are two important concepts worth sharing before I describe my study
method. The first concept is about memory graph and the second one is about
concentration span.

Best of X
Edit Topics

1. The Human Memory Graph

The concept is when you read something, your memory of what you read or
heard is almost alive. If we represent this with graph it is horizontally at
100%, and it slowly declines over time. When you review it after one day,
memory connections are strengthened. Now its declination is very slow as
compared to without review. This speed decreases with every review of the
thing you want to remember. It is explained in the graph below.

SHARE QUESTION

Twitter
Facebook

QUESTION STATS

Views
Aliases
Want Answers

What is the best studying method for

freshmen studying Aerospace Engineering
in University?
Which is the best method to study theory
books for exam?
What is the best study method for
someone who is lazy?
Which is best method to study Computer
Science subjects, theory or video
lectures?
What are some of the effective methods
of studying?
What is the best study method for the
B.Tech semester examination?
What is your personal favorite method of
studying?

938,501
More Related Questions

2
3817

Edits

(picture source : Link )

Instead of memorizing, try setting a review plan without any tension and be
relaxed. Read with concentration, and then leave it. Read again in the evening,
then again the next day, and then again the next week. Test yourself on the
15th day, and then review after one month. You'll notice that your memory, of
what you heard, read, or listened, will not decline so easy now plus you
remember most of it including subtle details related to or within the material.
2. The Human Attention Span

http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-study-methods-1

1 / 13

(2) What are the best study methods? - Quora

02-06-2015

(picture source : Link )

As it's clear from this graph, the human attention span is at 30% after 45
minutes. Mostly, that is the length of one class for schools below university
level. In universities it is increased to one hour or more. You can improve
your attention span by increasing the time slowly, but it is better to take a short
break (~5 minutes) after about an hour of focused study. The short break will
allow you to regain about 90% of your attention span.
Another important thing regarding memory is reading a topic from many
sources. It has two benefits, less boredom and many different aspects of the
same scenario. Later one increases latency of information from different areas
of mind when required. The more connections your brain makes with the
information, the more likely it will stick in your mind.
Another important consideration is the productive hours. It may be
different for few people but mostly early morning is the most productive
time.
Remember to keep the room temperature a little warm. It will help in
focusing.
After a lot of study about how to study, I devised a plan, which was refined
over time according to the results. Now here is a refined plan, is a refined plan,
in which are inherent many researches and experiences I have come across
during or after that 2 year study period. I have always been interested in
education, human evolution and psychology.
When you want to be confident about some topic or field of study first read
about the input and output, end results, its uses, how it works and why you are
into it and then dive into.
Planning and managing your study
Define a Study Schedule; I scheduled 11 hours for study per day. It is the
first step to success. I was studying, and interested in it, so I was giving
most of my time to studying. You may schedule less than 11 hours of
course. It just shows my dedication towards academics and the dreams I
had after graduation. I was in a poor family. I knew that without hardwork, I would not be able to reach the level of success I was striving for.
After getting a winning position in exam results of thousands of
participants from many cities of my province, I was able to continue my
education for free with the help of Govt. I also received a scholarship from
the government, grand cash prize and special training plus trips which
added to my motivation. Yes, I also got a Talent Award (2009) from Chief
Minister of my province.
Humans can concentrate for 40 minutes on a subject, or maximum 1
hour. Do change your study material/subject after eve...
(more)
Upvote 14k

Downvote Comments 149+ Share 312

Bob Ashley, gov2.0, public administration, local ... (more)

529 upvotes by Maja Mandi, Vijayakumar Ramdoss, David Alizadeh, (more)

I graduated from university, first in my class, with a near perfect grade-point

average. I'm not particularly smart. I know how to study, however. Here's a
few things I did to propel my academic performance ahead of my peers.
1) Immersion through multiple, different sources. Don't rely solely on repeated
encounters with the assigned text(s). Get a bunch of input from different
sources. The basics will be redundant, helping to solidify your learning
foundation, but because the delivery of info is varied, you're much more apt to
remain an attentive audience.You're looking for "resonant" descriptions that
leave an imprint on you, like that oh-so-special teacher you had in grade
three. This is important because so many textbooks suck at delivery, but not
all in the same ways. A particular (or peculiar) diagram in a book you found
on your own at the library could be the answer to your dream of an intelligible
exposition/illustration of Concept 'X'.
2) MInd maps. Sketch, doodle, devise insane visual or auditory or tactile
correlations. A series of dry interrelated concepts could become a banana tree
http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-study-methods-1

2 / 13

(2) What are the best study methods? - Quora

02-06-2015

whose hanging fruit are yellow trucks, high heels, jewels, and oak saw horses.
Absurdity makes abstractions memorable.
3) Frequent re-visits. Like with your sick friend, or mom, frequent, but brief
touchdowns signal the importance you place on the nearness of your interrelationship, in this case, with knowledge.
4) Sit in the room where you'll be examined...ahead of the scheduled exam
time, with your material. Connect details of the material with the room's
character, its blinds, paint chips, ceiling tiles, light switches, colour, ambience.
Entering the examination room ought to be a metaphorical return to the cozy
comfort of the womb. Your material, will "be" the room and it will feel "warm"
because you took the time to make it so...ahead of time. You've prepared your
relation within the environment for your very best performance.
5) If in university, pick courses as early as possible, and start doing light, but
frequent readings on the subject every day through the summer, before fall
semester starts. You might even find a favorite author! Your relaxed
familiarity with the upcoming material, on day one, class one, will deliver you
huge momentum to help carry you throughout the term. You're on your bike,
accelerating well before the foot of that big hill you're about to ascend. Get a
running start.
Written 29 Jun, 2014. 89,749 views.
Upvote 529

Downvote Comments 10+ Share 9

Prasanna Madhavan, PhD in Knowledge Mgmt, IIT Kgp

357 upvotes by Weihao Zhang, Levi Van Zele, Vandana Sharma, (more)

One of the most difficult aspect while studying is 'self-diversion'. Generally,

we are good starters but we don't finish what we start. We tend to divert
ourselves by inventing frivolous reasons inside our head. Some reasons that
comes to mind are:
Checking the clock and telling oneself that we will study at a particular
time (rounded number 15/30/45)
Reading little and feeling dejected if the concept is tough.
Reading little and feeling very satisfied as if the whole chapter is easy.
Checking some diagrams/pictures and getting diverted.
Hearing some tv noise, mobile phone call, listening to what others talk,
feeling hungry, drinking water, making frequent trips to fridge/loo....and
so on...
Hence, I wish to share a small advise my grandfather used to repeatedly tell
me. He would ask me to take "Sankalpa" ( Sanskrit : : means
conception or idea or notion formed in the heart or mind, solemn vow or
determination to perform, desire, definite intention, volition or will ). In
practical terms, the word, Sankalpa, means the one-pointed resolve to do
something from beginning to end. That is to harness the will-power and the
tool to focus and harmonize the complex body-mind apparatus (Sankalpa
(Hindu thought) .)
SANKALPA MUDRA*

In short, it is a commitment to start an activity with a "self promise" that

one will continue till the end of it. (Image: Sankalpa Mudra Source:
http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-study-methods-1

3 / 13

(2) What are the best study methods? - Quora

02-06-2015

Internet).
Hence, the biggest challenge would be to take "sankalpa". Without
committing to oneself, however small and easy it might seem, one cannot
finish anything.
Having said that about the right attitude, here are two effective Psychologically
proven study methods:
PQRST method (Preview, Question, Read, Self-recitation & Test)
SQ3R method (Survey, Question, Read, Recite and Review)

The PQRST Method of Studying

PREVIEW an assignment by scanning it. Read the chapter outline at the
beginning of the chapter. Pay attention to the headings of the sections and
subsections. Read the summary. The point is to get an idea of the main topics
and sections of the chapter.
(Numbers 2, 3, and 4 are done at the same time)
QUESTION yourself by making questions of the headings of each section and
subsection.
As you READ the assignment, look for the answers to the questions you have
made.
SELF-RECITATION requires that you try to remember the main points of
each section and that you say them out loud (if possible) to yourself.
You TEST yourself after you have finished the entire chapter. How many of
the main ideas from the chapter can you remember?
Now you are really starting to store your studies into long-term memory!

The SQ3R Method of Studying

If you're looking to be a more efficient reader, try the SQ3R Method. It's
designed to help you read faster and retain more. SQ3R stands for the steps in
reading: Survey, Question, Read, Recite & Review.
Survey
Before reading, survey the material. Glance through the topic headings and try
to get an overview of the reading. Skim the sections and read the final
summary paragraph to get an idea of where the chapter is going. Only spend a
few minutes surveying the reading to get a background knowledge, an initial
orientation that will help you to organize the material as you read it. It eases
you into the reading assignment
Question
Look at the first heading in the chapter. Turn it into a question. Ask questions
to be answered in your reading. This step requires conscious effort, but is worth
it as it leads to active reading, the best way to retain written material. Asking
questions focuses your concentration on what you need to learn or get out of
your reading.
Read
Read the first section of your reading assignment to answer your question.
Actively search for the answer to your question. If you finish the section and
haven't answered the question, reread it. Read reflectively. Consider what the
author is trying to say, and think about how you can use that information.
Recite
Once you've read an initial section, look away and try to recite the answer to
your question, using your own words and examples. If you can do this, it
means that you understand the material. If you can't, glance over the section
again. Once you have the answers to your questions, write them down.
Review
After reading the entire assignment, test your memory by asking yourself the
questions that you've identified. Review your notes for an overview of the
chapter. Consider how it fits with what you know from the course, experience,
and other classes. What is the material's significance? What are the
http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-study-methods-1

4 / 13

(2) What are the best study methods? - Quora

02-06-2015

implications or applications of this material? What questions are you left with?
How many of the steps you follow is up to you. As you become more efficient
you may find that you can read more - and retain more - with less effort.
Regardless, if an assignment is important, be sure to take notes so that you
don't have to reread it later.
Source: Want to Read Faster and with Better Retention? Try the SQ3R
Method
The PQRST Method of Studying
Some additional tips to study in terms of relevance is also mentioned in this
answer:
Prasanna Madhavan's answer to Tips and Hacks for Everyday Life: What can
I learn right now in just 10 minutes that could be useful for the rest of my life?
* Mudr is a symbolic or ritual gesture in Hinduism and Buddhism
Updated 25 Mar. 26,647 views.
Upvote 357

Downvote Comment 1

Share 4

Ramakrishna Rajanna, nobody

145 upvotes by Prabha Satya, Eva-Andrea Bodor, Curtis Mabilangan, (more)

Ahmad Ali gives a concise answer on memorization and revision.

The first part of memorization can be done best in the following way:

img source: internet

Teaching is the best way to share knowledge and to grow knowledge. I
remember some of things I taught even after 10 years without any revision!
For pure memorization you can use Association techniques
Lets say you are learning spanish
1. gracias = thanks (Associate that gracias sounds similar to gratitude which is
being thankful)
2. qu = what ( qu looks like queue . When you see a long queue you wonder
"what " the queue is for)
Similarly make associations to what you already know. The funnier the
association, the better you will remember.
To remember a list of items, mnemonics help a lot
To remember the planets in our solar system in the correct order we used the
following mnemonic in our childhood
"My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas" (for Mercury
Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto ).
Most important of all, enjoy what you are learning. Best of luck in your
studies.
Updated 6 Jul, 2014. 19,095 views.
Upvote 145

Downvote Comments 5+ Share 3

Harley Waldstein, High School Student, Aspiring Compute... (more)

http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-study-methods-1

5 / 13

(2) What are the best study methods? - Quora

02-06-2015

11 upvotes by Jordan Hill, Leo Adams, Pooja Sharma, (more)

One of the best things I did for myself as a student was buy How to Become a
Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use
to Score High While Studying Less - Kindle edition by Cal Newport. Reference
Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
I have always been pretty good in school. Math and science come easily to me,
and I like to read. So, school has been a breeze for the most part. But, my
situation has dramatically changed in the last year or two.
Right now, I'm a junior in high school. I live in the state of Iowa, where many
high schools offer Post-Secondary Enrollment Offer (PSEO) classes. These,
essentially, are classes that count for both high school credit and college credit
at a local community college. My high school has a system where they'll pay
for up to 23 credits of classes that I want to take per year, under the condition
that if it was offered on my high school's campus then I had to take it their
instead of at the community college. Otherwise, I essentially have carte
blanche to take whatever classes I want to at this community college.
So, being an overly driven sophomore, I decided that I want the get an AS
from this community college concurrently with getting my high school
diploma. Long story short, I decided that I should get a math AS which I
would then use to transfer into a computer science program I was interested in
attending. And now, we're at the present. I'm in my second semester of my
junior year of high school, which is also the second semester of my freshman
year of college.
This arrangement has presented me with some challenges, to be frank. Since
last August, I've been enrolled in between 4 and 6 full time high school classes
which meet 1 hour per day M-F and collectively generated 1-2 hours of
homework per night. During the fall semester I was also enrolled in 16 credit
hours of classes at the community college, including calculus, ethics,
philosophy, economics, and one or two other classes. These had much more
variable times, but gave me on average just over three hours of class per day
and a collective ~2 more hours of homework per night. This semester is much
that same situation, but I'm taking 19 credit hours instead of 16. (For those
keeping count, yes, that is more than 23 credit hours this year. I had to pay for
everything after the 23 hours. It's been well worth it, in my opinion.)
Without some of the tools that I got from the book I mentioned above, I don't
believe I would have been nearly as successful as I am. Right now, I'm sitting
at a 4.0 GPA at the community college and 3.962 at my high school. That
book taught me how to take notes, how to study, how to organize my hectic
life, and much more. That was all stuff that I probably could have figured out
on my own, but because I bought that book I didn't have to.
I'm aware that this answer is mostly personal anecdote, but I strongly suggest
that anyone who isn't completely 100% on top of their life skim the sample of
this book and see if it helps them. I know that it's helped me.
Written 25 Mar. 1,722 views.
Upvote 11

Downvote Comment Share

Son Dang
154 upvotes by Melia Widjaja, Claire Lane, Cristian Gallego, (more)

Interact with the material. The more connections your brain makes with the
information, the more likely it will stick in your mind.
During college I found that I could read a whole page of a textbook and then
not be able to recall what I had read a minute ago. It was a lot easier for me to
retain the information if I actively thought about how I could apply it to some
problems. Textbook authors know this so they put those review questions at
the end of chapters/sections. Do them!
Some people try outlining chapters, but eventually they get too good at
outlining that it becomes a passive activity. Actually trying to solve problems
makes your brain think about the material in a novel way that helps you
remember it.
Written 21 Oct, 2011. 36,361 views.
Upvote 154

http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-study-methods-1

Downvote Comment 1

Share 2

6 / 13

(2) What are the best study methods? - Quora

02-06-2015

Ravikumar Reddy, MBA Aspirant | Biker | Gamer | Movie ... (more)

17 upvotes by Harshit Ladva, Rock Chao, Feranmi Ajala, (more)

TOP 10 STUDY TIPS:

1. Pick a Place and a Time
Everyone has their own idea about the best place and time to study. Whether
it's your bedroom at night or the library after school, find a study space and a
regular study time that works for you and stick with it.
Set Up Your Study Space - Your study space should be quiet,
comfortable and distraction-free. It should make you feel happy and
inspired. Decorate it with your favourite pictures or objects. If you want to
listen to music or burn incense, pick a space that lets you do that.
Find Your Best Time - Some people work better in the morning. Others
work better at night. Work out which time suits you and plan to study
then. Don't study much later than your usual bedtime - pushing yourself
late at night can make you too tired to study properly.

2. Study Every Day

If you study a little bit every day you'll be continually reviewing things in your
mind. This helps you understand things. It also helps you avoid the stress of
last-minute cramming.
Early in the year an hour or two a night might be enough to stay on top of
things. Later in the year you might need to study more each day.
If you're finding it hard to find time to study, cut back on some (but not all!) of
your other activities. Prioritizing study might mean spending less time online,
or it might mean cutting back on shifts at work, or giving weekend sport a
miss for a while.

3. Plan Your Time

It helps to have some plans in motion so you can make the most of your study
time.
Set Alarms - Set alarms to remind you about your study plans. A regular
reminder keeps you honest and your plans on track.
Use a Wall Planner - Stick a calendar or wall planner up so you can see
it whenever you're studying. Mark it up with important dates, like exams
and assignment due dates. Use it to block out your regular study timetable
too.
Make To-Do Lists - Lists break tasks down into manageable chunks. At
the start of the week, make a list of the things that you need to have done
by the end of the week. Make a to-do list at the start of each study session
too, so that you're clear about what you need to be doing with your time.
Set Time Limits - Before you start your study session, have a look at
your to-do list and give yourself a set time to spend on each task. If you
don't get something done in the set time, consider whether it's the best use
of your time to keep going with it, or to start working on something else.

4. Discover Your Learning Style

Most of us have a preferred way of learning. Get to know your learning style
and study in the ways you learn best.
Auditory learners learn by listening. If youre an auditory learner you
could try reading your notes aloud and discussing them with other people.
You might like to record key points and play them back.
Visual learners learn by seeing. If youre a visual learner you could
use colours in your notes and draw diagrams to help represent key points.
You could try to remember some ideas as images.

http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-study-methods-1

7 / 13

(2) What are the best study methods? - Quora

02-06-2015

Tactile/kinesthetic learners learn by doing. If youre a

tactile/kinesthetic learner you could use methods like role-playing or
building models to revise key points.

5. Review and Revise

At least once a week you should go back over the things you've studied in class.
Thinking things over can help you to understand the concepts and help you
remember when you need them the most.
Quiz Yourself - Get a friend or family member to quiz you on key
concepts. Offer to help your friends with their work too. Quizzes are great
ways to get confident about what you know and find out what you still
need to learn.
Make your Own Study Materials - Think up some practice exam
questions or create your own flash cards to help you study. This way you
learn it all twice: once when you make the study materials and once when
you use them to revise.

6. Take Breaks
It's important to take breaks while you're studying, especially if you're feeling
tired or frustrated. Working too long on a task can actually decrease your
performance.
When you take a break, make sure you get away from your desk or study
space. A bit of physical activity - even just a walk around the block - can
sometimes help you to look at a problem in a different way and could even
help you to solve it.

7. Ask for Help

If you're stuck on something, or something just doesn't seem to make sense,
you can always ask for help. Talk to your teachers or lecturers about the things
you don't understand. Talk to your friends and fellow students too.

8. Stay Motivated
When you're studying it helps to keep in mind your reasons for doing all this
hard work, like a course or career you're working towards. It can help to have
something in your study space to remind you of your goals.
You could also decorate your study space with inspirational quotes or photos of
people you admire and family members you want to make proud of you.

9. App it Up
There are heaps of apps out there for helping students with all aspects of study.
Have a chat with your friends and teachers/lecturers to see which apps they
recommend.

10. Look After Yourself

Youll study better if you take care of yourself. Make sure you eat well and get
enough sleep and physical exercise. Don't reward yourself with too many
sugary or fatty snacks or push yourself to study late into the night. Its also a
good idea to make sure you drink lots of water when youre studying.

Good Luck :)
Written 10 Dec. 1,446 views.

Rohit Rawat, Student. Mathematics.

http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-study-methods-1

8 / 13

(2) What are the best study methods? - Quora

02-06-2015

23 upvotes by Devendra Kumar, Akezhan Kingushanov, Ankit Kumar, (more)

Remove all the distractions. My semester end exams start on 26

November. About a week ago I deactivated my Facebook account,
uninstalled my Whatsapp, Instagram and Snapchat apps. I don't really
watch T.V. I don't have a girlfriend. The only distraction I'm left with is
Quora. :) All of this might seem impossible but it isn't. I did this in my
class 12 exams and it worked out well.
Set a time table and follow it strictly. I've had sleeping problems in the
past. This was a major issue for me. Sleep for 7-8 hours in a day. If I don't
sleep that much I'm left tired for the rest of the day. Sleep at night.
Do spend time with your family and friends. Once in a while I go to my
mother's room and chat with her. It refreshes my mind.
Listening to soothing music is good for a break. I used to listen to music
while studying. That clearly didn't help. After a while when I couldn't
solve a problem, the very same soothing music irritated the hell of out me.
Just like crop rotation, you need to change whatever you're studying after
a period of time. That period should be less than 2 hours. Otherwise the
topic becomes tedious and boring.
Many a times there comes a point when your brain cannot take it
anymore. Your brain is not able to grasp anything you read. STOP. Take
a break and do something that amuses you. I play FIFA 14 on my PC.
Don't overdo it.
Result -> Two weeks before the actual exam begins I've completed
my course. Now I would proceed with my revision.
Written 14 Nov, 2014. 1,685 views.
Upvote 23

Downvote Comment 1

Share

Peter Kershaw, Make mine a double

136 upvotes by Ryan Dawson, Garnaik Sumeet, Dan Walding, (more)

There's some pretty detailed stuff here so I'll keep it short.

When I studied engineering many years ago I found that the best way to learn
was to teach. So I would stick large sheets of lining paper to the wall then
lecture the cat. He was very attentive though I'm not sure how much he
understood. But it really helped to clarify the more difficult concepts.
I also kept very neat colour-coded notes which helped me recall information
visually when I needed it.
With the tricky maths (Laplace Transforms in my case) you just keep doing
them and one day it all just falls into place. As you do more and more difficult
stuff you wonder why the earlier problems seemed so hard.
Written 15 May, 2014. 26,495 views.
Upvote 136

Downvote Comments 7+ Share 1

Bjoern Guenzel
6 upvotes by Aleksandr Blekh, Jack Yuan, Akezhan Kingushanov, (more)

Many good answers, but I am surprised nobody mentioned memo techniques.

The most famous one being the Loki method, apparently already used to great
effect in ancient Greece. I would recommend picking up a book by a famous
memory artist at least once. There are also specialized techniques for many
things, for example for learning a new language.
Sure, memorizing is not everything, many subjects also require understanding.
But I suspect many fields also benefit from good techniques for memorizing
things (like medicine or biology).
Maybe also look at Tim Ferris' writing. He took a crack at mastering several
arts in a very short time (like weeks instead of years), also by employing the
right tricks.
I suspect many of the other answers also simply have in common that they
make the "user" spend time learning. Writing things down, drawing mind
http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-study-methods-1

9 / 13

(2) What are the best study methods? - Quora

02-06-2015

maps, drawing flash cards, maybe in the end it all boils down to the same
thing...
But seriously, at least give the Loki method a try, it takes only a minute to
learn (for a loki list that enable you to learn 20 "items"). For more than 20
"items" you have to create longer lists, but at least that takes the form of taking
pleasant walks looking at the scenery with a new reason.
Written 16 Jul, 2014. 2,065 views.
Upvote 6

Downvote Comments 1+ Share 1

Gowtham Ganesan, Neuroscience Major who makes Educatio... (more)

49 upvotes by Jari van der Salm, Henry Zhou, Sami Raza, (more)

The two types of courses are knowledge courses and Math related courses.
For courses that are heavy on memorizing knowledge:
Use the memory palace or Method of Loci, to commit new information to
memory faster and reduce the repetition needed to remember it. To understand
concepts faster, try to relate it to everyday things and try to teach it. To review
everything you learn and only study what you have forgotten, use flashcard
apps that have the forgetting curve algorithm built in, like Anki.
1) The memory palace method, of Method of Loci, is a fantastic way to store
hundreds of pieces of information. Joshua Foer's book Moonwalking with
Einstein is a good book to read on how to utilize a memory palace. The general
principle is to have a layout of place you know well (like your home) and put
information in different places.
The reason why it works so well is that our brain is built to remember
spatial memory (memory for orientation and environment). For example
when you walked into your high school or college the first time you probably
had no clue where stuff was. But after a few days it was second nature. There
wasn't really a time where you had to sit down and study the entire campus for
hours to nail down where everything was. Your brain just memorized it
without too much effort. Even after years without going to a place you could
probably still remember the layout of the place.
So using this method you can not only remember the information but
recall it at will. If you need the name of something, you can simply walk down
your memory palace and find the name without any external cues. This comes
in handy when having to answer free response questions where there are no
multiple choice answers to jog your memory.
To actually memorize a piece of information, take the name of the
concept and try to make an image out of it. For example, in General Chemistry
2, we learned about Van der Waals Interactions so to remember that I would
place it at the front of the Science building at my college and imagine a Van
hitting a Wall. Then out of the back molecules would fall out reminding me
that it is the force between molecules.
Even though initially it will take more time to brainstorm the images, the
amount of repetition needed to remember information will sharply decrease.
Instead of rereading a definition 12 times to make it stick, this will reduce that
to once or twice. You could do this without laying the images in a order, but
putting them in a memory palace really cements the knowledge and gives you
the ability to instantly recall any definition at will.
2) The memory palace is good for remembering definitions and facts but
understanding a concept is different than just remembering a name. To
understand concepts try to find at least 10 metaphors for that concept. Try to
relate it to things you see in real life.
Try to teach the concept, for example, try explaining it to your friends and
seeing if they understand. If you can teach it, you mostly likely understand it.
I make Youtube videos for concepts I don't understand because trying to teach
it to someone else always reveals the gaps in your knowledge. Then I go back
and once I can fully complete a video I understand it.
Also, always ask questions. If you think you understand it try to see what
else could happen. Taking an example from chemistry again, we understand
that raising the temperature will cause water to boil. But what happens if you
decrease the pressure? It will cause the water to boil at a lower temperature.
That's what you should think about for concepts. If I change variable X what
happens to Y. When you ask these questions you will realize that even though
you thought that you understood a concept you actually didn't.
http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-study-methods-1

10 / 13

(2) What are the best study methods? - Quora

02-06-2015

3) Flashcards are good for reviewing your memory palace. Use smartphone
flashcard apps such as Anki, which are built in with the forgetting curve
algorithm. Why I suggest flashcards is due to the fact that they can be studied
anywhere. A common complaint is that we lack the time to study in large
blocks so this solves that problem. Throughout the day, there are plenty of
moments that we are not being productive; waiting for class to start, waiting in
line for food...etc. These small pockets of time can be used to study just with
your phone which is accessible at nearly all times and convenient. All these
small times can add up to 2 hours of studying or more when you thought you
had none. Also since it's built in with the forgetting curve, your only studying
what you have forgotten so you're maximizing efficiency.

For courses that are Math related:

Practice.
Do hundreds of problems. Do every problem in your book and be able to
explain every single one. When we practice, we don't only do it to get better;
we do it to also see the potential mistakes we could make. Every mistake you
do while you practice is one less mistake you'll make on the test. Even if you
understand the concept of something in the class, it takes practice to see
mistake you made on a test. Even if you understand something, there's always
a situation that you makes you implement that concept in a way you hadn't
thought about, which is not what you want to encounter on an exam. Every
time you make a mistake, record the type of mistake and reread that list before
an exam so you'll see all the potential places you could make an error.

Good luck Studying!

Written 19 Jul, 2014. 6,312 views.
Upvote 49

Downvote Comment Share 1

Dennis J Frailey, Semi-Retired Software Engineer

28 upvotes by H.P. Huang Peng, Tiffany Kim, Vijayakumar Ramdoss, (more)

When I was an undergraduate, my method was very simple. Every night I

would rewrite the notes I had taken that day in my classes. This act of
rewriting was extremely beneficial in that it forced me to understand
everything I had heard or else to formulate questions to ask at the next
opportunity. It also resulted in legible notes :-). At the time I used a
typewriter as this was long before personal computers came along. As a side
benefit, when I was a senior I had a number of friends who were sitting for
pre-med exams and I let them use my typewritten notes for studying (I could
have sold them but I wasn't that mercenary). They told me that my notes
were clearer than any textbook because I was explaining things in words that a
college student could relate to.
I've now been teaching for over 40 years and my second suggestion is to find a
way to use what you have learned in some sort of exercise or assignment or lab
experiment. Using it helps you understand it better.
Written 1 Dec, 2014. 2,799 views.
Upvote 28

Downvote Comment Share

Top Stories from Your Feed

Top content on Quora

Top content on Quora

What is the most valuable skill a

person can have for their entire
life?

Why do most auto rickshaw

drivers sit on the edge of their
seats?

Anubha Saxena
20.6k upvotes by Sameer Max Anderson, Doni
Mbaga, Parth Thorat, (more)
http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-study-methods-1

Shivin Saxena, Nerd, Foody, Red Devils,

MotoFan
13.6k upvotes by Aishwarya VK, Atman Mehta,
11 / 13

(2) What are the best study methods? - Quora

Learn to be happy alone. If you master this skill, trust

me, nobody can take away your happiness from you. Be
your own best friend, enjoy your own company, and be
happy. If you master this skill, e...

Read In Feed

02-06-2015

13.6k upvotes by Aishwarya VK, Atman Mehta,

Chandrahas Muvvala, (more)

Read In Feed

Top content on Quora

If a ten year old asks me why a

US Dollar costs 60 INR, how
should I explain it?
Vijayraj Kamat, Teacher's soul in a
corporate body
19.4k upvotes by Ankit Garg, Tushar Rajput, Siddharth
Gupta, (more)

http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-study-methods-1

12 / 13

(2) What are the best study methods? - Quora

02-06-2015

Read In Feed

http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-study-methods-1

13 / 13