I had great fun having a chat with Dr Jason Fox recently on a couple of tips that can make all the difference when studying for exams.
You can watch the short video clip on the link below.

Jenny chats to Dr Jason Fox about memory

I spent countless hours as a student at school and later at University, cramming. I would often be working late into the night trying to remember all the information I needed to know for exams and tests the next day. Little did I realise then, that I would have been so much better off revising my work in shorter chunks and then going to bed at a reasonable hour to ensure I got a good night’s sleep. Sleep is essential to allow our brain the time to revise what we have been learning and to allow us to encode it all in our memory. Revision and repetition are the key to learning.

How many conferences or seminars have you been to where the content was great, but the amount of information was so huge you actually couldn’t remember any of it?
A good presenter will have just a couple of relevant take home points. Don’t worry about all the “fill”. At the end of the lecture or talk, see if you can note down the main key points. There should be only three or four. Then re-read your notes at the end of the day (before you go to sleep) and again within 48 hours. You will find you remember so much more.

The other great study tip is to work with a buddy or friend. Being part of a study group or even just spending time with a friend going over some of the material you have been revising, will help enormously in assisting you to remember the information. Talking out loud or speaking about a topic with someone else really clarifies your understanding and ability to recall. So don’t be afraid to leave your books and talk to your friends and colleagues. If your friends are all busy, then going over what your have learnt with your Mum or Dad can help in the same way. Try it, it works!

Jason’s website is crammed with great ideas, articles and other videos all to do with how to help yourself get cleverer with exams. You can check it out at enjoyexams.com

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