Revision: Expert memory hacks and tips

Dr Loaiza's tips for improving your memory

Tip 1: Elaboration

Rather than passively repeating information over and over, try to elaborate on the information meaningfully, connect it to information you already know, and relate it to yourself and your life.

Tip 2: Test yourself

Testing yourself often, for example with flashcards, is a great way to remember information. Don’t cram too much information on each card – use cues to prompt yourself on single concepts. Find out more about how to use flashcards correctly in this video.

Tip 3: Mnemonics

You can use mnemonics to remember all kinds of things, for example in physics, the visible light spectrum can be remembered by Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain… the more bizarre the better. You can use things that are personal to you to help you remember.

Tip 4: Mind maps

Mind maps can help you make links within subjects and can be a great way to elaborate on, and make connections between, topics.

Tip 5: Memory palace

The 'memory palace' can help you visualise and remember sequences by linking words to objects in an imaginary room. You can write a story using the objects and tell the story from memory to recall that list of words.

Tip 6: Spaced practice

Space out your revision a little bit every day rather than cramming it all in the night before, then go back after a period of time and try to remember it. We call this the 'spacing effect'. If you want to learn more about how spacing out your study can be a good thing then we've got you covered.