Tip 4 Space out learning over time – do not cram! To avoid forgetting, students should get in the habit of reviewing topics over the duration of the year. A habit of regularly retrieval practice throughout the term puts an end to cramming just before a test of exam. Students should set aside a little time each week to review learning, both the current week’s work and material covered in prior weeks and months. The extra effort involved in retrieving old learning helps to strengthen connections in the brain and make it easier to recall the information in the future. It essentially halts the forgetting process!
Tip for parents – Encourage your child to dedicate some of their spare time to go back over and consolidate previous learning. This should become a habit and not just something they do before a test or exam
How to prepare for an exam
Avoid cramming Trying to learn information just before an exam does not ensure information will be recalled effectively as the brain needs time to form important connections.
Tip for parents - Encourage your child to develop a study plan so they can distribute study rather than cramming. If you plan to spend 3 hours on a topic, the time spent is much more effective spread out over a few weeks than 3 hours crammed into one sitting. The extra effort required to retrieve information, just as we are getting a bit rusty, helps strengthen the memory trace in the brain.