7 Effective Ways to Boost Your Memory and Recall For Exams
By Roshni Chakrabarty
Preparing for exams isn’t just about studying hard—it’s about studying smart. To retain and recall information effectively, you need to use scientifically backed memory techniques. Here are seven strategies to enhance your memory and maximise your exam performance.
Passively reading notes won’t help much. Instead, close your book and try recalling key points from memory. This strengthens neural connections and improves long-term retention.
1. USE ACTIVE RECALL
Cramming fails because your brain needs time to absorb information. Review topics at increasing intervals (e.g., after a day, a week, a month) to reinforce memory without overwhelming yourself.
2. PRACTISE SPACED REPETITION
Diagrams, mind maps, and charts help your brain retain complex information. Colour coding and pictorial representation make studying more engaging and memorable.
3. MAKE LEARNING VISUAL
Explaining concepts to a friend or even an imaginary audience forces you to simplify and solidify your understanding, making recall much easier during exams.
4. TEACH SOMEONE ELSE
Your brain remembers stories better than isolated facts. Relate study material to real-life examples, analogies, or personal experiences for better retention.
5. LINK INFORMATION TO REAL-LIFE SCENARIOS
Memory consolidation happens during sleep. Aim for 7–8 hours of rest and consume brain-boosting foods like nuts, dark chocolate, and leafy greens to improve cognitive function.
6. PRIORITISE GOOD SLEEP AND HEALTHY NUTRITION
Convert complex information into easy-to-remember acronyms or rhymes. For example, use BODMAS (Brackets, Orders, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction) to recall the order of mathematical operations.
7. USE MNEMONICS AND ACRONYMS
