Originally delivered as a 10 minute assembly. I have removed all images and school-specific advice and would recommend adding your own if you decide to use this presentation.
1. Year 11 memory and
recall
ALL IMAGES HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THIS PRESENTATION FOR COPYRIGHT
REASONS.
2. Getting started
Engage with the information so your brain takes notice: reading,
highlighting and copying will not work.
Revising little and often is more effective than last-minute cramming.
Variety is key: use different methods of revising.
Once you have learned something, review it on a regular basis to commit it
to your medium and long-term memory.
Take a break: recall goes down if you work for too long. After the break,
test yourself on what you revised before.
Get enough sleep: your brain continues processing information when you
are in deep sleep.
3. Mnemonics
Mnemonics are a way of remembering using association.
Try forming a story from the first letters of key facts.
Create a vivid mental image of your words.
4. Acronyms
Use acronyms to help you remember facts or exam technique.
Example: PALM-WO in German: (Physical description, Action, Location,
Mood, Weather, Opinions)
5. Create a mind palace
This technique uses your spatial memory to help learn sequences of
information.
Turn the individual chunks of information into vivid mental images.
Connect the images in a story that unfolds throughout a location you
know well, for example your house.
6. Flashcards
Create flashcards to test yourself on equations, quotes, vocabulary,
formulae, facts etc.
Try quizlet.com. You can make your own flashcards or use a set of pre-
loaded cards.
7. Mind maps
Condense your revision notes down to key words.
Use colours and images to help make the information meaningful and
memorable.
Stick up your mind maps around your home, and look at them throughout
your revision and exam period.
8. Index cards and sticky notes
Write facts on index cards or sticky notes and stick them in prominent
places around your home.
Look at them and say them to yourself. When you think you know them,
put them on a pile of cards that you will later test yourself on, and put new
facts in the prominent places.
9. Use songs
If you are good at remembering song lyrics, change the words of your
favourite songs so that they become the facts you are trying to remember.
10. Use revision organisers
Break your information into small chunks and put it onto a revision
organiser.
Revision tables, diagrams and clocks are a good example of this.
Filling them in is not enough. You need to continually test yourself on the
contents and think about how to apply it to exam questions.
11. Use exam papers
Practise planning answers to exam questions.
Making a plan will test your ability to remember concepts and connections.
Write down which areas of a topic you would draw on to answer a specific
question.
Test yourself on key facts or dates you would need for your answer.
12. To summarise…
Engage with the information you are learning.
Reduce large amounts of information to small chunks which will trigger
the bigger picture.
Use a variety of memory techniques to trigger that information.
Review the information on regular basis.
Space your learning, take breaks, test yourself and get enough sleep.
Use practice questions and papers to apply your learning to the exam
situation.
