7 Ways to Increase Memory Power in Students

When you are a student, day in and day out, you are faced with a lot of new information to absorb and to understand. As there is so much to learn and remember, when it comes to revision time for exams and coursework, recalling it all can take some time. But is it actually possible to improve your memory power? Have you ever wondered how to increase memory? It will take some effort on your part and could involve tweaking your normal study routine, but there are a range of different strategies that will help you to make the most out of your memory. 

Avoid cramming sessions

When you study something over a range of different study sessions it will give you the time that is needed to properly research, process, and understand the information. There is research that shows students who do this, rather than just do one late night cramming session before an exam, perform much better. 

Organise your learning into groups

There has been research that has found that when information is organised into related groups, it best reflects how our brains process it. So when studying, you should organise the materials into groups. Think about putting similar ideas together or group related concepts together when studying. 

Use mnemonic devices

Are you someone who can remember song lyrics from years ago but find it hard to recall something you just read? Then making the most of mnemonic devices can be a good technique. As an example, you could associate a term that you need to learn with something everyday and common to make it more memorable to you. It could involve rhyming, music, a song or a joke to help bring it back to memory. 

Read out loud

There is research that has found that when something is read out loud, it helps to memorise the materials better. This is often why in school you are encouraged to read out loud as a group, as it has been proven to teach you new ideas and concepts and improves understanding and recall.

Make sure that you get plenty of sleep

You might feel like you’re throwing away valuable learning time by having an early night before an exam, but it can actually improve your memory because sleep is so important for learning and memory. If you were to take a nap after a lecture, then it can help you to remember it better. 

Vary your study routine

As humans we are very much creatures of habit. However, when you mix things up with your studying, it can help your memory. If you only study in your bedroom, how about going to the library next time or just to the kitchen table? If you would normally study late at night, try getting up early and studying in the morning instead. When an element of novelty is added to your studying, then you can make your studying more effective,  and improve your recall.  

Relate new information to things you’re already aware of

When something you are reading isn’t very familiar, it can take you longer to process it. However, if you establish a connection between the new information and something you already know and remember, then it can improve the likelihood of remembering the new information. 

A few changes to how you study and how your mind works as you study, can make a big difference to your memory power as a student.