Science-proven study tips for exam time
With just two more weeks to go in the semester, the most terrifying of times is nigh: exam season is almost upon us. Between scrounging together final assignments, finishing up midterm season, and trying to recover from St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans, preparation for exams is sure to be the last thing on your to-do list. When you do start your studying, keep these science-proven tips in mind to help make your transition from school to summer a bit smoother.
1. Study when you’re tired
The time right before you fall asleep is the perfect time to review, according to a study from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. During sleep, the brain “stabilizes declarative memories,” according to the study, which can lead to better retention of information you’ve been cramming into your brain. Don’t leave your studying to the last minute, though: the study shows that sleep is “most beneficial” to memorization 24 hours later, so long as sleep “occurs shortly after learning.”
If you’re already overwhelmed looking towards the end of the semester, try out some of these science-proved study tips to make the exam transition a bit smoother.
2. Study somewhere new
Researchers in 1978 laid the groundwork for more recent findings that studying the same information in a different place can improve memory retention. According to the authors of the 1978 study, the brain makes associations between what it is studying and the movement and noise in the background at the time of studying. As such, putting the brain in a situation to make “multiple associations with the same material” could lead to stronger memory retention.
3. Step away from the computer
Research out of InTech for the book “Haptics” suggests that writing out your study notes by hand may lead to better information retention when you get into the exam room. According to the authors, “recent theoretical currents […] indicate that perception and motor action are closely connected and, indeed, reciprocally dependent.” Using the hands for “purposive manipulation” of writing utensils, the authors say, can support memorization, learning, and cognitive development.
4. Get off your butt
There’s a ton of research that suggests the positive effects of physical activity on brain function and memory retention. A study from Charles Hillman at the University of Illinois suggests that after 30 minutes of moderate acute aerobic exercise, the average adult could experience a “five to 10 per cent improvement in cognition.” Another study from Ohio State University suggests that listening to music while exercising can also improve memory retention – so don’t be afraid to dance it out!
5. Avoid the all-nighter
A recent study from the US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health shows that the “inhibition or disruption” of natural sleep and circadian systems “reduces brain arousal” and “impairs cognition.” Another study out of the University of California, Berkeley suggests that all-nighters can result in a sense of euphoria, potentially leading to “risky behaviour” and “overly optimistic emotions.” Leading up to exam season, take your sleep seriously, as any “misalignment between circadian and wakefulness-sleep physiology” can lead to impairment in cognitive performance, as well as in “learning, emotion, and safety.”