Having a good memory is a critical test taking skill. Memory is something that humans develop and not something they are given at birth.

Here are some general principles to improve your memory.

• Constant viewing of the material helps imbed the information in your memory.
• Engaging with the material in a hands-on manner can improve your memory.
• Teaching the material to others is an excellent way to improve memory. Now let’s look at some ways you can practice these principles.
• Place possible test questions on flash cards. The writing out of test questions is a form of hands-on learning. (See the topic Making Flash Cards)
• Keep looking at the flash cards when you have short amounts of time. When you hear the phrase “photographic memory” it’s often developed by constantly viewing the material.
• Develop a study buddy. Teach the concepts to each other. This process of teaching improves an understanding of the concepts.
• Place concepts in locations where you will see them regularly (e.g. refrigerator, computer monitor, mirror).
• Review problem solutions when you are going to the bathroom.
• Review your notes after each class and make flashcards from your notes. Again this is an active way to learn.

The techniques outlined above are very simple, but effective aids to memory improvements. The nice thing about these approaches is that they can be done with minimal effort.

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