Good memory is a necessary attribute brilliant students. Students have to learn as well as memorize things to reproduce these things in their own words in examination. It should be noted that by memorizing I never mean cramming. Student should always avoid cramming because it puts end to creativity. He should understand and learn in a way that he can use that learning himself. But still a part of study needs to be memorized. A science student has to understand scientific processes in their science books as well as make sketch of steps involved in these steps. Such learning requires good memory. Let me tell you how to improve your memory.
Associate one information with other information.
When you study and you pick a new information, associate it with another formation, which you have already learnt. Making such relation between same information will help you remember things easily.
Make image of data in your mind.
Try to make a sketch of information in your mind. When you read something, think for a while draw its picture in your mind. In this way you transform data into memorable image.
For example, you study “hydrologic cycle” it process telling you how waters re-cycle to soil. It is a lengthy process in which water, either directly from soil surface or after plants absorbs through roots and transpire it into atmosphere, converts to vapours. Vapours condense into clouds and come back to soil in form of rain. You can keep this process by making a sketch (image) of this process in you mind. It is just an example.
Make short formulae or short sentences for complex data.
It is a nice tactic if you have to memorize complex data or many steps involved in a process in its sequence. In this way, you have to make a short word or sentence contain first alphabets of each idea.
Example 1
Suppose you study trigonometry, there are complex formulae, which can confuse you in exam if you don’t memorize them. See these formulae given below.
Sin = Perpendicular/Hypotenuse
Cos = Base/Hypotenuse
Tan = Perpendicular/Base
Make a sentence for it to memorize it easily, we make a sentence “some people have curly black hair through properly brushing”
The first three words in this sentence are for first formula, next three words in sentence are for second formula and last three words in sentence are for last formula.
See first three words of sentence
Some People have: first alphabets of these three words are S, P H. where “S” stand for Sin, “P” for perpendicular and “H” for Hypotenuse.. it make first formula,
Sin = Perpendicular/Hypotenuse
Next three words.
Curly black hair: first alphabets of these three words are C, B, H. where “C” stands Cos, “B” for base and “H” for hypotenuse and it makes 2nd formula
Cos = Base/Hypotenuse
Last three words.
Through Properly brushing: It give us three alphabets T, P and B. where “T” stands for Tan, “P” stands for perpendicular and “B” for base. It make the 3rd formula
Tan = Perpendicular/Base
Example 2
you have to memorize the name of four phases of MITOSIS (cell division process) in its right sequence which are1-Prophase, 2-Metaphase, 3-Anaphase, and 4-Telophase. Make a word or two words like “PMA Test” (a test for army selection). From this word “P” stands for Prophase, M stands for Metaphase and “T” (first alphabet of test) stands for Telophase.
Reviewing.
If you study a topic and forget this topic after some days. Don’t worry it is common. You should review your study again and again to remember it for long time. If you study in morning, it is good to you review it in night. You should at least review a topic after every week.
Reading aloud and writing.
Some students remember things by reading aloud or writing the study stuff. Practice it, it can help you.
Mental Exercise.
Try mental exercise daily. It sharpens your mind. It strengthens neural connections in your brain. There are different activities by which you can exercise your brain. Like doing difficult arithmetic calculations with help of your mind, puzzle games, solving a questionnaire where you have to use your brain. The more you use your brain the better it is.
Nutrients for brain.
Take nutrients which are rich in .good for brain. Nutrient having antioxidant like vitamin C, and E and beta carotene, vitamins B, omega-3 fatty acids and folic acid etc, are good for brain. Add 3 to 5 Almonds in one glass milk, keep it for 5 to 6 minutes and drink it daily, it is good for mental health. Apple juice is also good for sharpening brain.
Think and accept you can remember.
Never say you can’t remember. You can remember only if you say that you can remember and accept this mentally.
Try to get full sleep.
Take at least six hour rest for refreshment and relaxation of your mind so that your mind can work more efficiently.
Take regular exercise.
Brain takes it nutrients from blood for functioning properly. Physical exercise speeds up blood flow to brain and brain gets well nourished as well as brain gets rid of waste products. Physical exercise is necessary for enhancing memory power.