<p>I consider myself to be intelligent and smart, but I'm definitely not one of these CC geniuses (not even close). I study a lot for tests and yet still find myself forgetting the information. I can study-not read over- the material THREE times and then come to the test and blank out. I can't cram because I know I won't do well, so I study up to a week in advance for everything. </p>
<p>When I understand something, like in Chemistry or Math, I remember it for much longer than when I'm memorizing for a test with a lot of disjointed information. I'm not dumb- I'm in all the honors classes my school offers and I understand everything we learn, even in difficult classes. I know that classes don't determine how smart a person is, but I am one of the more intelligent people in my grade.</p>
<p>When I study, I pace up and down and talk out loud. I read the material over and over again, but if I don't hear myself say the words, I won't remember anything. Is the issue my method of studying? Or do I have a problem with memorization? I also self-studied three APs this year. Is it possible that I "overloaded" my brain? I just feel like if I'm studying a week in advance and I'm reviewing the material THREE times before the test, I shouldn't be forgetting it...</p>
<p>EDIT: Title should say ON tests. Sorry, 3 hours sleep last night.</p>
<p>First off, get enough sleep. The best studying is sleep (in most cases), and you’ll find your memory getting better as your sleeping schedule does.</p>
<p>Also, along with memory problems, your studying strategies could not be effective and I would recommend flashcards, or testing your self constantly under pressure (timed). Do extra work if you’re really trying to understand the material. Take short 15 minute breaks as well. There’s no one in the world who could remember every bit of information if they did study it all in one go. </p>
<p>On the test, don’t go into it thinking you’ll forget everything. You need to be confident with your abilities. If you’re confronted with a problem you don’t know, think, “What have I been taught?” and “How can I apply that?”</p>
<p>I had a similar problem, and I’ve found sleeping to be a big problem as well as studying habits. If you got any questions, PM me and I’ll do what I can to answer.</p>
<p>Hope you found my suggestions helpful. Good luck.</p>
Ha! I got an 83 (94 because of extra credit) on a final I studied SEVENTEEN hours for. </p>
<p>Sleep is a big issue for me, especially because I get home from school at 6:30 and then have hours of work. I function well on little sleep physically and I feel fine, but I’m not sure if that’s maybe hindering my memory. I generally get between 4 and 6 hours of sleep. Three is extreme, even for me, but I had a crazy final today I had to study for.</p>
<p>I don’t generally get stressed before a test, but lately I have been getting a little nervous, just because I feel like I know I’ll forget things.</p>
<p>Sleep deprivation probably hinders your memory. Do you consume caffeine regularly? That reduces the suffering caused by sleep deprivation more than it improves memory.</p>
<p>When deciding which responsibilities to assume (especially when deciding on a class schedule), if you’re not convinced that you’ll have plenty of time to sleep, that’s a sign that you should cut back.</p>
<p>Hmmmm! Reminds me of an old roommate. You should get your reading ability tested. It could be that you have a simple (not career altering but test affecting) reading disability. I think the key lies with your ability to understand the symbols of chemistry and math, but not so much with the written word. (My opinion) GL</p>
<p>Of the generous 11 points of EC I got on that exam, 6 were because the teacher gives points based on the amount of hours you study. I am NOT in any way complaining about my grades, I’m just trying to figure out why I don’t remember things that I review many times. I know sleep is a huge factor, but this happened even when I was getting closer to 6 hours of sleep a night and not 4.</p>
<p>Haha, I’m in a Jewish, Orthodox school where we learn many different Talmudic classes. Because these subjects aren’t really taught at a regular college, not all teachers have degrees in education. So we’re tested on random, little facts that quite honestly do not contribute to my future education and career, yet the grade is part of my GPA. Many of my Hebrew classes are interesting and a lot can be learned from them in a moral sense, but some of them just leave me wondering why I’m wasting my time.</p>
<p>People have usually have different ways of memorizing facts. When I take a test requiring large volumes of information, I use flash cards (online) and I try to make up mnemonics so my brain can recall those obscure facts easier. It really comes down to experimenting with different memorization methods and finding what works best for you. </p>
<p>Cramming usually does more damage than help when studying; your brain needs prolonged exposure (studying a bit every day) to subjects to learn them well. And of course getting enough sleep will help your brain remain in peak function so you can recall those facts easier.</p>
<p>Also, you can’t overload your brain with knowledge; our brains are not like computer hard drives which suddenly stop working when they are filled up, lol.</p>
<p>Schools have to test you on something, so they test you on memory. Once you get out of school, you will find that memory isn’t very important. Instead, you need to know how to find information, and how to use it.</p>
<p>Sleep is definitely your big issue. I would suggest studying less, but more efficiently, and sleeping more. </p>
<p>My best tool for memorization is writing things down. You could be totally different from me, but it’s worth a shot. As someone else already said, flashcards can be a great tool as well. They only work with certain information though.</p>
I am NOT in any way complaining about my grades, I’m just trying to figure out why I don’t remember things that I review many times. I know sleep is a huge factor, but this happened even when I was getting closer to 6 hours of sleep a night and not 4.</p>