[Averagejill]

Hey everyone!

I've been studying a certain subject for a long time for an exam and when the day of the exam, I only remember A FEW of what I read. I put notes I read the book but still I have low scores. And when my teacher says to read the pages when I'm in class I can't focus because of the noise but before I used to ignore them. Strange thing though is that sometimes, the things I read flashes into my brain just like that and automatically I say stuff that sometimes I don't say and ends up being correct during recitations. And I sometimes stare at an empty space for a long time.


Is there something wrong with me?

[JudyKayTee]

Hey everyone!

I've been studying a certain subject for a long time for an exam and when the day of the exam, I only remember A FEW of what I read. I put notes I read the book but still I have low scores. And when my teacher says to read the pages when I'm in class I can't focus because of the noise but before I used to ignore them. Strange thing though is that sometimes, the things I read flashes into my brain just like that and automatically I say stuff that sometimes I don't say and ends up being correct during recitations. And I sometimes stare at an empty space for a long time.
.Is there something wrong with me?

I don't know if there is anything wrong with you, that's for a Physician or therapist to determine.

What does this mean - I say stuff that sometimes I don't say

[Jake2008]

I had a professor once, who explained how to train the brain, in order to better retain information. It worked for me, and I'll pass what she said, along to you. It may help.

If you are studying notes, lightly scan over the notes, and every so often, stop and read a few words of a paragraph, or a heading. Scan through the material.

Rest your brain. Go and get a healthy snack, maybe an apple, sit outside or somewhere peaceful and quiet, for about 20 minutes or so.

Go back to your notes, and this time, read, instead of scan. Lightly read the entire chunk of what you need to learn.

Next, if you're feeling at all tired, or stressed, or you've been interrupted, try another break, or make a cup of tea.

Then get a pad of paper and a pen. Read the material again, and pause when you are at a spot that has caused you confusion, or for something you know you will need to review in more detail. Write those areas down.

By this point, you have better allowed your brain to process the information at hand. (think of it as a muscle in training- don't force it because it will not respond with the results you want it to).

With the material thouroughly read, and your side notes done, take another break, maybe have dinner, for a good hour.

Then tackle the information again. Study first, the side notes, and look up any reference material you may need to clarify meaning.

For each paragraph, write out a few questions on another piece of paper. Continue to do so until you have a reasonable amount of questions for the material you are learning. Begin to test yourself, and if you find you really gapped on a certain question, go back and review that material only.

After this, when you are reasonably certain you can answer the questions without getting stressed out, but you are still lacking confidence in what you have learned, prepare new questions, after you have reviewed the entire subject material again. You may have missed something, or want to review something, even if you have answered and learned the material.

Most important is don't expect to be able to learn by forcing the issue. It is a waste of time, and effort, and the results will not be as good.

Remember the brain as a muscle, in training. Be patient, allow for breaks and processing of the information (particularly if it is new information), and allow a reasonable pace to achieve your goal.

Best of luck.

[Wondergirl]

To add to what Jake2008 said, create flashcards for yourself with the fact or question on one side and the necessary information or answer on the other side. Add to the flashcards as you progress through the lesson, and review them at least once a day.

[JudyKayTee]

I just took a very specialized course and was told that if I looked over the material - even just a glance - for 5 minutes every day I would retain it much, much longer.

I don't know how scientific it is but it does work for me.

[Averagejill]

I had a professor once, who explained how to train the brain, in order to better retain information. It worked for me, and I'll pass what she said, along to you. It may help.

If you are studying notes, lightly scan over the notes, and every so often, stop and read a few words of a paragraph, or a heading. Scan through the material.

Rest your brain. Go and get a healthy snack, maybe an apple, sit outside or somewhere peaceful and quiet, for about 20 minutes or so.

Go back to your notes, and this time, read, instead of scan. Lightly read the entire chunk of what you need to learn.

Next, if you're feeling at all tired, or stressed, or you've been interrupted, try another break, or make a cup of tea.

Then get a pad of paper and a pen. Read the material again, and pause when you are at a spot that has caused you confusion, or for something you know you will need to review in more detail. Write those areas down.

By this point, you have better allowed your brain to process the information at hand. (think of it as a muscle in training- don't force it because it will not respond with the results you want it to).

With the material thouroughly read, and your side notes done, take another break, maybe have dinner, for a good hour.

Then tackle the information again. Study first, the side notes, and look up any reference material you may need to clarify meaning.

For each paragraph, write out a few questions on another piece of paper. Continue to do so until you have a reasonable amount of questions for the material you are learning. Begin to test yourself, and if you find you really gapped on a certain question, go back and review that material only.

After this, when you are reasonably certain you can answer the questions without getting stressed out, but you are still lacking confidence in what you have learned, prepare new questions, after you have reviewed the entire subject material again. You may have missed something, or want to review something, even if you have answered and learned the material.

Most important is don't expect to be able to learn by forcing the issue. It is a waste of time, and effort, and the results will not be as good.

Remember the brain as a muscle, in training. Be patient, allow for breaks and processing of the information (particularly if it is new information), and allow a reasonable pace to achieve your goal.

Best of luck.

THANK YOU SOO MUCH!! :) Appreciate it.. BRAIN WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO^-^

#Righting down this tip

[JudyKayTee]

THANK YOU SOO MUCH!!!! :) Appreciate it.. BRAIN WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO^-^

#Righting down this tip

And the "involuntaryly being smart thread" ends with righting instead of writing.

Sighhhhh.

[Averagejill]

And the "involuntaryly being smart thread" ends with righting instead of writing.

Sighhhhh.

Sorry,
That's one of my problems too.. My hands has it's own brain.

[JudyKayTee]

Sorry,
That's one of my problems too.. My hands has it's own brain.

Here's another problem - this is really garbled. Is English your first language?

[Averagejill]

Here's another problem - this is really garbled. Is English your first language?

No