Tip #4 for Successful Studying
Tip #4 REVIEW OFTEN.
Do you ever feel like you’re losing your mind because you can’t remember anything from what you just read in the last chapter (or paragraph!)? You are not alone! Studies show that adults forget 85% of any new material they learn within 24 – 48 hours!
What’s the solution? Review! Every time you review your material, the drop off rate decreases and your ability to remember increases. Think about a movie that you watched more than once. Were you surprised at how much information you forgot from the first time you watched it?
Studies show that students who reviewed their course material 4-5 times improved their recall levels to as much as 90-100%! One of the reasons for this is that every time you review something you’ll have a better understanding of it; and when you understand something, it's infinitely easier to remember it.
Another benefit of review is something called the ‘Snowball Effect’. Essentially, ‘the more you learn, the easier it is to learn!” Your brain is like any other muscle in your body; it needs exercise. If you haven’t used it in a while it may be painful at first, just like going to the gym. You may be stiff and sore the first week but gradually your muscles get stronger and things become easier. Your brain is the same – the more you use it the easier it becomes to absorb information and retain it longer.