How to Study Effectively: Retain Everything and Ace Every Exam

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You want to study effectively, but you’ve read the chapter three times and still can’t remember what it said.

On top of frustrating you, you’re feeling stressed because exams are getting closer and more reading assignments keep piling up.

As a result, the deadlines are on your mind more than the material itself.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

As a PhD with two MAs, a former Mercator guest professor, and now as an adult law student at James Cook University, I learned how to retain what I read decades ago.

And not just retain it, but make sure I do so the first time I read the information based on effective study strategies so I rarely have to revisit a textbook or video lesson.

The secret is a set of memory techniques combined with daily habits that help you lock information in place.

On this page, you’ll learn the exact system I use to retain the key details from any textbook or course lecture so that you always walk into your exams fully prepared.

You’ll be calm, focused and actually look forward to sitting down and acing them.

To that end, here’s what this post covers:

9 Strategies for How to Remember What You Study
How to Study and Remember: 5 Mindset Techniques
Environmental Factors that Support Effective Study Techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
My exam is in one week. What should I do?Should I use AI tools like ChatGPT to help me study?What if memory techniques aren’t working? What do I do?Can I memorize using Memory Palaces during lectures?Why do some people say that memorizing what I study is not understanding?How can I study for long hours without getting bored?How many hours a day can I study?How long should you study in a single sitting?How can I study for long hours at night?How can I study consistently using these techniques?How do I avoid getting distracted?How to Study Effectively, Right Now

Ready to study effectively? Let’s get started.

9 Strategies to Retain What Matters Most When Studying

As a long-term student and former professor, I’ve observed that the  biggest mistake students make is trying to memorize everything.

Effective studying is almost never about about broad coverage. It’s about identifying what’s going to be on the exams and making sure you remember the key details.

The following 9 strategies will show you how.

1. Schedule Everything

The first strategy is simple: schedule your study hours.

The technique I recommend is to make a spreadsheet, something I’m doing now to prepare for my first trimester in law school.

Just create a schedule using your favorite spreadsheet software. Include the date, topic, the names of the book or article you’re studying, and the memory palace you plan to use.

It might sound like an unusual way to spend your time.

But in reality, keeping track of your time helps your brain start forming memories.

Even better, you’ll have a dated and searchable record to look back on within a few clicks, one that gives you a mini-review of your study schedule and the history you’ve developed at a glance.

Here’s an example taken from my YouTube livestream on how to study effectively for long hours demonstrating how you can build out your schedule spreadsheet:

Another thing I find incredibly powerful when using a schedule like this is to write down my start and end times.

For example, I use this technique to record not just when, but for how long I study each of my subjects. Instead of wondering where my time went at the end of the day, I have a written record of everything.

That not only feels good, but it keeps the motivation going over time. There’s not only an ongoing accounting for time spent, but an ongoing feeling of accomplishment as the searchable study schedule is updated.

Yes, this approach does take time and effort, but the results will speak for themselves.

To build this time tracking skill into a habit, combine your digital file with a written record. Invest in a nice physical journal so you can track time in your spreadsheet and on paper.

Before you know it, you’ll build a positive habit and have a searchable record of exactly how you spend your time.

2. Take Better Notes

What do you do when you read? Do you just zip through a book or textbook and then have a hard time remembering what you just read?

Instead of stumbling through your reading with nothing to show for it, use a note-taking strategy. To help you figure out what strategy will work best for you, watch this video:

Will this help you find the absolute perfect note-taking strategy for you? Perhaps. What I do know is that the video will be very useful to you. It’s up to you to pick a strategy, test it out, and see what works for you.

For this step, watch the YouTube video above and decide on a note-taking strategy to implement.

3. Use Memory Palaces

Here at the Magnetic Memory Method Headquarters, I’m partial to the Memory Palace technique — not because I’m deranged, but because it’s the most effective and exciting learning tool in the world.

You don’t have to take my word for it, either. This study from the journal Neuron is just one of hundreds that show why and how this technique succeeds for learners.

Once you learn what a memory palace is, take the time to create your own, and fully use your memory palace(s) from top to bottom, they become a key part of your effective study techniques.

In brief, this technique involves simply crafting a journey throughout a familiar location.

You then place the information your want to remember on spots like your desk, bed, kitchen counter, etc.

You can literally master this technique overnight.

But a lot of people miss out on the benefits of using a Memory Palace for one tragic reason:

They don’t schedule in when they’re going to learn and then use it.

That circles us back to the the scheduling strategy I shared above. It will help you carve out time in your schedule. Make time to learn about the Memory Palace technique, create your first Memory Palace, and start to apply it to your studies.

The ultimate reason this technique saves you time while establishing long term memories?

The Memory Palace technique lets you perform an advanced version of spaced repetition. In combination with everything else you’ll learn on this page, it is perhaps the most powerful memory strategy that exists.

Memory Palace Examples Applied to Multiple Study Topics

I’ve memorized many pieces of information over the years. Let me share with you a few case studies.

Example One: Law Studies

Although I’ve only just studied my first trimester of law school, I’ve already memorized terms in Latin like “ab initio” (from the beginning).

Yesterday, I committed the name of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 along with Chapter 2, Section 18 to memory so I can easily find it again and name it on my exams.

I’ve also memorized the names of a few cases, such as Derry vs. Peek 1889.

I placed all of this information in its own Memory Palace using mnemonic associations.

For “ab initio,” I placed Abraham Lincoln flexing his abs near the door of my dad’s friend Albert’s home. This tactic uses the pegword method to link similar sounding words to famous figures and abstract content.

I used the same pegword strategy for the Competition and Consumer Act and Derry vs. Peek. But because these examples involve numbers, I additionally used a PAO System.

Although a bit more advanced, please spend a weekend learning it. Combined with the Memory Palace technique, pegwords and the PAO System will help you save a lot of time as you retain more and walk into your exams with greater confidence.

Example Two: Anatomical Information

So many medical students have reached out to me that I started learning human anatomy. It turns out that it’s a lot of fun.

Often, I use my own body or the bodies of others as a kind of modified Memory Palace.

In this tutorial on how to memorize the carpal bones, for example, I used my own wrist in combination with the pegword method.

I’ve gone on to memorize information about muscles and eventually plan to take up more formal study of the human body after law school.

4. Incorporate Priming for Every Textbook You Read

Priming is one of the biggest and most powerful ways to study effectively.

All you do is read your textbook in a particular way:

• Take a moment to read the back cover
• Study the index and look at any topics that catch your interest
• Read the table of contents and lightly read the most compelling sections or chapters
• Memorize the name of the title and the author
• Look at the course syllabus and start reading the required chapters
• Apply my version of the Zettelkasten technique as you read so you’re capturing the best possible notes

To help you learn more about priming and how to apply it to study effectively, watch this video on how to memorize a textbook:

If you want to learn how to study effectively for long hours, priming is a key component.

5. Apply the “Big 5” of Learning

A robust study strategy includes the Big Five language skills.

What’s the Big Five?

1. Reading,
2. Writing,
3. Speaking,
4. Listening, and
5. Memory.

This means you study information so it goes into memory and out of memory.

While a lot of my focus on the Big 5 has been around language learning, you can also use these for studying any subject.

Let’s look in more depth at 3 techniques involved in the “writing” component of the Big 5.

Write Summaries

One of the things you can do to make sure you’re studying effectively is to write summaries of what you’ve studied in your own words. Each might be as short as 100 or 200 words, or just enough to get the information out of your head.

This approach is beneficial because it helps you test that you actually understand what you’re reading.

Writing out a summary helps you engage with the information on a different level (see the 1972 Craik & Lockhart levels of processing model).

Self-Testing Through Active Recall

In order to ensure that you retain the information you need for your studies, it’s important to understand the principle of active recall.

It’s very simple, and simply involves bringing information to mind and then writing it down in that exact order.

In other words, you’re not cheating by taking a peek to look at the answer. You’re definitely not using rote learning or flash cards.

You’re training your brain to retrieve information by bringing it to mind. Every time you do this successfully, the neural pathway you’ve established while studying strengthens.

So, as you’re reading, close the book every five to ten minutes and train yourself to recall what you were just reading. Then write it down in your own words. The more you practice reproducing what you’ve learned, the stronger your retention will be and the more your knowledge will grow.

Feynman Technique

The Feynman Technique is a teaching method that can also be applied to learning and studying. The four steps involve:

1. Write down everything you know about a topic,
2. Teach it as you would to a child — as simply as possible,
3. Identify any gaps in your knowledge, and
4. Review the material again to simplify your understanding.

Any time you run into a concept or information you don’t fully understand, you can apply the Feynman Technique. Write out your ideas about where the gaps are and how you might solve the problem.

6. Adjust Your Approach to the Type of Material You’re Studying

Not everything you study is going to be the same.

This means that the exact technique you use depends on the exact knowledge you need to build.

For example, if you need to:

• Memorize names? Use mnemonics for names.
• Recall facts like historical dates? Use a mnemonic number system.
• Understand concepts? Use the Feynman technique discussed below.
• Learn how to follow procedures such as in math? Put in extra practice.

Another tactic we don’t talk about enough is drawing diagrams and illustrations in your own hand. Let’s dig deep into this particular strategy now because it will help a lot of people who struggle to think visually.

Diagrammatic Thinking

To be honest, I used look at charts and graphs and think, “I can’t really follow this!”

But instead of rejecting the information, I now redraw them using colored markers to figure out what the charts are trying to tell me.

I learned to recreate diagrams and charts from memory expert Tony Buzan. Here’s an example chart I drew to help my brain understand and retain information about how memory works.

This strategy works due to the levels of processing effect. You’re recreating information using shapes and colors, and getting more of your brain involved as a result.

Because I integrated and assembled with these graphs and charts that used to confuse me, I now understand them better. Instead of immediately dismissing them and thinking I can’t understand, drawing them using my own hands make understanding and retention happen in a matter of minutes.

Create Your Own Illustrations

When I can’t understand something, I now make my own illustrations.

And when not in the mood to craft mnemonic associations purely in my mind, I make quick sketches.

Even when I was depressed or hungover due to the poor lifestyle habits I corrected using the tips I’ll share below, I combined mnemonics with self-drawn illustrations to help study German for my exams at the Hartnackschule in Berlin (which I passed). Here’s an example:

And this mnemonic strategy doesn’t just apply to language learning. It can be for anything you don’t understand or facts you want to commit to memory. I’ve even used it during lectures to get information to stick.

It’s not about artistry — I’m certainly not an artist. It’s just about illustrating things to help get information into your brain so you can move forward.

Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is a bit different than using illustrations. Although it can include making illustrations, it’s more about placing things in space and teasing them out. It’s about either testing your memory of what you’ve learned or generating new ideas.

So if you plan to use your mind map for memory, use Phil Chambers’ tip to use Roman numerals in the corner to track how many times you’ve reviewed it.

Basically, you just add a mark to each mind map after you’ve reviewed it and then leave a Roman numeral to track each review. Chambers suggests that you make a minimum of at least ten reviews. See his 101 Top Tips for Better Mind Maps for more information. I’ve reviewed it in this YouTube video.

7. Give Your Brain Plenty of Breaks

Although I am a fan of engaging in study marathons, I still take lots of breaks. It’s very important for both the health of your brain and your ability to focus.

Because I find it hard to get myself to take breaks, I have developed a protocol that I’ve found very useful.

The first part of the protocol is to take a walk. Walking is great, because while you’re walking you can reflect on what you just finished studying. Your mind can keep going while your body gets the movement and stretch break.

Walking also helps your brain engage in what learning experts like Barbara Oakley call “diffuse thinking. Alex Pang’s book Rest also has great ideas about using walking to recharge your brain.

To make sure you fit your walks in, schedule them. Rather than relying on an app, alarm, or timer you might just ignore, you’re more likely to obey things that are deep in your procedural memory. (That’s the type of memory where you just do things.)

There’s this crazy internal desire to, for example, go to the gym simply because this is the time of day I usually go to the gym. Ideally, you will get this way with taking breaks so your body almost forces you to take a break when it’s time.

The second part of the protocol is to alternate skills. This is one of my favorite things to do, and it’s scientifically confirmed in Rest. The basic idea is this: if you’re nonstop studying and reading, one of the things you can do to rest (aka: take a break) is to read something else.

This process is sometimes called interleaving by learning experts. I love it because it means you don’t have to stop reading. You just switch up what you’re reading.

I find that while I’m reading other things my brain starts to make connections. And those connections are formative to remembering more and understanding on a deeper level.

In simple terms, you’re alternating skills by using the same skill for a different purpose. You can also alternate skills by doing something completely different — perhaps pursuing more of your life and interests in the in-between and getting better at your core skills.

For example, when I was in university I was not only reading a lot of books, but I also wrote them. I started a small press to publish my work, which allowed me to alternate skills while keeping up with my memory training work.

The third step in the protocol is to use cognitive shifting. You want to focus, but you want to do so in a way that’s not task switching or multitasking. The more you train yourself to be able to cognitive shift, the longer you can study effectively for long hours.

In Rest, the author teaches how to do cognitive shifting in a way that promotes rest. It’s beautiful.

8. Practice Strategization

Here’s the truth about having a strategic approach to studying:

Planning is often more important and powerful than the plans themselves.

I spend a lot of time planning and replanning… and things rarely work out exactly as they seem like they might. But even if things don’t go the way you planned, that doesn’t mean planning isn’t important.

But how do you get the practice of “strategization” into your system? Practice scheduling, and practice all the things this post has already covered, so you can get them into your system.

Learn how to plan by planning to plan, and planning to practice and practicing planning — a perfect circle.

When in doubt: plan, plan, and plan some more.

9. Learn How to Learn

The final strategy is to have a steady diet of “learning how to learn,” which is a buzzphrase from the great Barbara Oakley and Peter Sejnowski.

This doesn’t mean just this or that book, but rather a steady diet of new books, new media, and new learning.

It’s meta-learning in some ways — constantly exposing yourself to the skill of learning, the study of learning itself.

In another book, Barbara Oakley uses the word “learnier.” But how do you become learnier? You have to schedule time in your life to practice strategization, and mind mapping or journaling can help you figure out how to do that.

As we wrap up this section on strategies, I recommend getting out a pen and paper. Take notes as we go through the upcoming categories. And make a plan for how you will implement each and every one of them so you can study effectively for long hours.

So far, we’ve covered a number of tactics. But what about on the exam day itself? Everything I’ve shared above prepares you for acing any test, but here’s what I do before actually sitting for any exam.

A Professor and Adult Student’s Exam Day Protocol

First of all, there are some exams where I simply let myself relax. For example, when I attended my dissertation defense, I didn’t review anything.

Instead, I meditated, focused on my breathing and performed regular body scans to make sure my major muscles were relaxed. But that was a particular kind of exam that involved no writing. Just me answering questions.

When I attend written exams, here’s what I’ve done and have recommended to my students for years, whether I was teaching study skills at a university or through the Magnetic Memory Method.

The Morning of the Exam

Look through your notes and perform a few last minute Memory Palace walkthroughs.

This is not to learn anything new. Rather, it’s to “warm up” the retrieval pathways in your brain.

Simply be reviewing the key information at a relaxed pace without trying to stuff more information in place, you’ll find that your brain is ready, willing and able to perform.

During the Exam

Read each and every page of the exam first.

Make sure all the necessary identifying information is on it so your hard work isn’t lost and then budget your time.

You’ll need to develop your own style when it comes to how you allocate the minutes you have, so consider whether or not you want to tackle easy questions or difficult ones first.

My personal preference was to find the questions I could not understand and ask the professor questions early. Then I would start knocking off some of the easier questions while outlining answers for the more difficult elements of the exam.

Since multiple-choice questions can be worded in tricky ways, I like to make sure I spend more time on these and may ask a second round of questions to clarify meanings.

After Completing the Exam

Before handing in the exam, I review everything.

This includes triple-checking that my student information is correct and reading over everything I have still have time to review.

I make sure that I’ve filled all the available space for long answer questions. New ideas tend to emerge and it’s worth scoring extra points by jotting them down.

This is also the time to make sure that your handwriting is clear (where relevant). If you’ve typed the exam, search for typos or awkward wording you may have used.

Always ask: “What is this point asking me and I have I actually answered the question?”

Now, all of these tips rely on having a body and brain that can actually perform. So let’s look at what supports that before you sit for another exam.

The Mind-Body Connection Needed to Study Effectively

In order to retain what you study, you have to take care of your body.

I learned the hard way that high-functioning memory is the product of a healthy brain. The more you take care of it, the more you’ll be able to pay attention and remember effectively.

Let’s take a look at 8 strategies that will support your newfound study techniques.

1. Stay Hydrated

In a detailed conversation with memory expert and 3x USA Memory Champion John Graham, we discussed supplementation for brain health. And guess what?

The best “supplement” for a healthy brain… is staying well hydrated! Water is basically better than any memory supplement on the market.

So fill up your water bottle and take sips regularly as you study.

2. Time Your Eating

Nutrition is another key component to keeping your body and brain healthy. But did you know that when you eat can be just as important as what you eat?

If you want to study effectively (and for longer hours) pay attention to how different foods affect you.

Keep a food journal and pay attention to how you feel after you eat. Not just right after, but also for the rest of the day and into the next. This helps you figure out what works for you.

You might also consider rotation or elimination diets to help you weed out problem foods from your diet. When you know how the food you eat will make you feel, you can become a lean mean focus machine.

If you get really clear about this you’ll learn that you have a 72-hour (or so) digestion cycle. For the 3 days before your big exam, avoid any foods that could have a negative physical effect. And instead, stick to the foods you know make you feel (and your brain work) great.

It takes time, but it’s super helpful to dig your wells before you’re thirsty.

There are so many people who come to me with just a few days until their exams looking for a last-minute silver bullet. And I have to tell them, next time make sure you take the time to prepare in advance!

3. Get Sleep in a Properly Darkened and Device-Free Environment

Sleep hygiene is important for brain health. But what’s involved in having good sleep hygiene? It’s having daily routines and a sleep environment that promote uninterrupted, steady sleep.

My best years were when I had this bedroom with window blinds (jalousie) that were made out of metal. My bedroom was as dark as I could make it. As a result, I never slept so well in my life.

I can say from personal experience that when you don’t have any light or devices, that level of darkness helps you get great sleep — which leads to better focus.

4. Meditate and Move Your Body

When it comes to keeping your physical body healthy, a daily dose of mindfulness and movement is very important.

If you don’t meditate at least four times a week, you’re not going to get the benefits. Ideally, you’ll meditate every day. There are certain meditation patterns I follow — I highly recommend them, but also recognize there are many different types out there.

Remember, your meditation practice is not a destination. It’s a journey.

Every day you sit, you keep going, learning new things, trying new things, adding new things. There’s no be-all-end-all of meditation.

The same thing goes with movement. Get some kind of exercise every day if you can. Mix it up. Try yoga to boost your concentration and memory, walking, swimming, biking… whatever gets you excited to stretch your muscles. There’s no one “best” exercise for every single person.

5. Wear Loose Clothing

Many people dress for failure — with clothing choices that restrict their circulation, make them uncomfortable, or otherwise distract them.

Instead, undo your belt, wear nice socks, and have loose-fitting pants and shirts that can breathe. You can be both stylish and comfortable.

When I was in university I wore linen a lot, especially in the summer. This style of clothing let my clothes breathe so my skin could get some air.

When making your clothing choice for studying (and taking your exams), choose comfort so you’re not distracted from your studies.

6. Alternate Hot and Cold Showers

There are a number of people these days who recommend hot and/or cold hydrotherapy (or contrast water therapy). Some of them say it helps open up the vagus nerve, sending all kinds of chemicals up to your brain.

I personally enjoy cold showers because they help build mental toughness and discipline.

For example, if your mind starts to think, “Oh, I don’t want to show up. I don’t want to study. I’m too tired,” the mental toughness you develop through a consistent practice of cold showers will bleed over into other aspects of your life.

If nothing else, a cold shower will help wake you up if you feel groggy from studying for long hours. To this day, I either hop in the ocean or take a cold shower before my study sessions if I’m feeling foggy or resistant.

7. Use Study Groups Wisely

It may not seem like it’s related to your body, but spending time with other people creates chemicals in your brain.

We talked about accountability as a strategy for studying effectively over long hours — and I can attest to the power of study groups.

At university, I took part in a number of study groups that were very powerful and important to my success. We:

• Used the levels of processing effect,
• Shared our writing with each other,
• Shared our thoughts verbally, and
• Heard the thoughts of other people.

This was all very important to help me remember more and build the duration of how long I could study.

If you’re in groups, you can accelerate your practice. The more you discuss, process, and interact with other people the more the neural networks in your brain grow.

So how can you get more strategic about how you socialize? Especially when we’re all limited in how we can interact in person, how can you make the most of your fellow students?

8. Exercise Your Brain with Neurobics

Neurobics are exercises and cognitive activities that stimulate the brain and improve your memory recall.

As you employ your effective study techniques, you can also become a student of neurobics.

Here are a few ways to mentally exercise your brain:

• Unlock your door with your non-dominant hand (with your eyes closed)
• Eat things with chopsticks you would normally eat with a fork
• Brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand

There are also mental neurobics, which involve challenging yourself to learn topics you already know from a different angle.

Finally, let’s examine how things like your study location can impact your ability to study and remember.

Environmental Factors that Support Effective Study Techniques

It’s not just your physical body that allows you to study effectively. To get the most out of your study time, it’s also important to pay attention to the environment around you.

Let’s look at 6 elements of the ideal study environment.

1. Study in Well-Lit Areas

One huge mistake I made when I was a student was studying in the dark. All of the offices I had as a grad student were either in the basement or central in the building, and there was no natural light.

When I was in the depths of my darkest years of mental illness, I even boarded up a window that would have brought so much light into my study area. I didn’t know at the time how harmful it was to work in the dark all the time.

Studying in the dark is no good — you need lots of light to take advantage of your study time.

2. Surround Yourself With Green

I have always loved the idea of green — and not just any green, but the green from plants.

Studies show that you’ll be stronger in your creative thinking and problem solving when you have adequate exposure to nature. The American Society for Horticultural Science even studied the impact of plants in university classrooms, finding that plants have value beyond their aesthetics.

I’ll admit that I’m just not a caring plant person, but I can take care of plants in a basic enough way to keep them around and alive.

But I’m not quite at the same level as the roommate I had in Berlin who told me that the many plants he kept helped him stay focused and concentrate for long hours.

3. Study in Multiple Locations

This step is simple: study in a location for a set period of time, then move to another location. Repeat for as long as you’re studying.

I’ve read some memory science that seems to indicate norepinephrine is triggered when you’re in new or novel locations. That might be part of why it helps with remembering more.

I used this a lot while I was in university, but didn’t hear the term “road work” associated with it until later.

For example, I loved to go from floor to floor in the library. I would study for a while and then move down one floor — and during that break, I would reconfigure things. I would also move from cafe to cafe when I wasn’t in the library.

Now, as a writer, I use the term because I heard Gary Halbert talking about how he likes to walk a certain amount when he goes from place to place.

So just about anything you’ve read from me (blog posts, books, etc), I write for about 40 minutes at a time and then I go somewhere else and write some more. I also get the benefits of exercise when I do this.

As you plan out your study strategy, can you plan in different places to study?

4. Develop Study Triggers

There’s a second way to use locations as part of your effective study techniques: have locations that trigger study habits.

I keep a large physical journal on my desk, not because I don’t like to use online journals but because the habit of journaling is much more likely to get done when you can’t ignore it.

The journal is big. It takes up space. And because I keep knocking into it, I can’t ignore it.

One of the things you can do to trigger study habits is to have whatever pile of books you’re reading or studying in a place where you just can’t miss them.

When I take a new course, I often create a physical mind map and keep it visible in my space. It helps me keep on track because it’s there, and it doesn’t leave until it’s done.

5. Invest in Coaching

Our final environmental point is to consider getting some coaching.

Many people won’t – or can’t – invest in themselves in this way. But coaching has been huge for me, and I believe a lot of people would benefit from hiring a coach. Having a personal coach who is devoted to you and 100% focused on your stuff can really help.

And if you are working with a coach and you’re not seeing progress… they’re not the right coach. Sometimes you have to try a couple of different people to find that coach who will help you stay committed (and who you also gel with).

And here’s something to consider: showing up and doing what needs to be done has one word. Maturity.

If you can’t get yourself to “do it” – whatever it is – then maturity dictates that you need help. And so you should invest in a coach.

And, of course, you can be coached by books, programs, accountability meetings in a group, etc., but there’s something special about having one person really focused on your progress.

Finally, let’s take a look at some of the questions I get asked the most.

Frequently Asked Questions

People don’t just ask me how to study effectively. They also ask several more nuanced questions based on my years of study and teaching.

On that basis, let me help you with specific answers to questions that will help you get ahead in your studies.

My exam is in one week. What should I do?

First, contact your teacher and ask for a description of the exam format. Chances are, it’s already on your course syllabus, but it’s always good to be in touch with your instructors.

Once you know whether it’s a multiple choice, essay or problem-solving exam, focus on revisiting your notes and the original study material.

Try to find example tests and use any questions in the readings themselves to practice providing your answers.

The key is to always identify the information that’s going to matter most. For that, I have a complete tutorial on finding the main points in any book or article.

After reviewing and completing some assignments and practice tests, place the key information in your Memory Palaces and start using them for spaced repetition. This will deeply encode the information and help it stick long past the exam.

Finally, get some sleep. Staying up late to cram is not a winning strategy. Your brain uses a process called consolidation during sleep.

Should I use AI tools like ChatGPT to help me study?

At JCU where I’m studying law, AI tools are allowed, but with stipulations. That means you need to check with your university or teacher to figure out what’s allowed and isn’t.

Speaking from a high level, the accuracy of AI information has to be checked. So in many ways, by going to AI you might feel like you’re moving faster, when in fact you’re creating a time debt due to needing to fact check everything.

Also, using AI is not memorization that leads to comprehension.

And as Andrew Mayne, host of the OpenAI Podcast, shared on this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, he uses AI to learn very selectively.

In fact, he uses physical notebooks and even trains his memory with a physical deck of cards.

I use AI myself and am generally very positive about its role in education.

But I still make my own flashcards by hand on paper and am very deliberate about using the ancient memory arts as the core of my study process.

In sum, AI is a tool, but memory is a skill. It remains to be seen just how much AI will help sharpen human memory, but so far it’s clear that AI cannot replace the value of memory training techniques like these.

What if memory techniques aren’t working? What do I do?

This is an interesting problem that relates to the active recall strategy discussed above.

Sometimes we will misremember things when using all memory techniques. But that’s actually a good thing.

When you go back and correct or amplify the memory technique you’re using, you’re strengthening the encoding.

This means that you never have to accept a bad study session. You’re just learning how to reinforce mediocre mnemonic associations to make them stronger.

I have to do this all the time myself and the students who succeed with memory techniques do not have any special advantage. They just keep showing up and understand that getting things wrong is actually a good thing during the learning process.

Can I memorize using Memory Palaces during lectures?

You certainly can, but I don’t advise it. Nor have I practiced this myself based on anything I didn’t either write in my notes or record during the lecture.

It’s much better to capture as much as you can in your notes and then memorize it later.

This is because lecturers often throw lots of information at you in non-linear ways. They’ll have diagrams on the chalkboard and then suddenly go down a rabbit hole.

By taking careful notes and recording each lecture, you can create streamlined, linear notes that isolate the material you actually need to know at your own speed.

This might seem like a slower path in practice, but it’s actually key part of learning to study as quickly as possible.

Why do some people say that memorizing what I study is not understanding?

People say this because there’s some truth to it.

But looked at more broadly, comprehension and memorization are not opposed to one another. In fact, you can’t really explain something you’ve understood if you can’t produce it from your memory.

There are many times that I’ve only come to understand a concept or procedure as a result of memorizing it. But I did more than just memorize it.

I reflected on it, put it into application through both active recall practice and deliberate use through writing, discussing and completing practice exams.

I’m doing this a lot now in law school and memorizing terms and concepts I don’t understand helps me get to comprehension a lot faster. And this is important because a lot of the terms used in law is archaic and what they mean is not intuitive.

As a result, memorizing terms and definitions is a key strategy so long as reflective thinking and application are also part of the study process.

How can I study for long hours without getting bored?

Here’s the simple answer:

• Check your head,
• Have a strategy,
• Get your ego out of the way, and
• Do it for others.

Now for the slightly longer answer. We talked about this earlier in the post, but I’ll repeat myself: if you’re getting bored, the warning sign is that your mindset is off.

A lot of people are happy to leave their bed messy all day and then crawl into the same dirty old bed at night. And it turns out that’s how they treat their minds as well — they wake up and their minds are messy.

They’re happy to just live in that mess all day, go to sleep with a messy mind, and do it all over again.

But if you work on your mindset, you won’t be bored because you’ll be grateful. You have books to read, courses to complete, and exams to pass.

There are so many people in the world who wish they had completed high school, gone to university… remind yourself how lucky you are to have the “problem” of needing to figure out how to study effectively for long hours.

Instead of being bored, you have to create your own recipes for injecting excitement into your life, which is what a lot of the strategy we talked about today is all about.

Finally, look for the parts that do interest you.

If interest doesn’t just spontaneously erupt – and we all have things we have to study that we don’t necessarily love – then find one small thing to pique your interest and expand from there.

And even if the topic you’re studying doesn’t thrill you, maybe you can find joy socializing with other people or spending time with your study buddies or accountability group, or any of the other techniques you learned today.

How many hours a day can I study?

The answer is: it depends. It’s up to you, how much information you need to remember, and how prepared your body, mind, and environment are.

Remember, I used to study for hours and hours at a time, for as many hours as I could. Yes, I do meditate. And yes, I learned how to turn off my thoughts completely for short periods of time.

But really, you should be asking a different set of questions:

• What is your study goal?
• What are you trying to accomplish?
• How can you minimize time spent and maximize your results?

To do that, learn the 80/20 rule, learn the strategies in this post, and get it sorted.

How long should you study in a single sitting?

The answer to this question is: it depends. Sound familiar?

It’s very personal as to what will work for each person. For example, podcast guest Dave Farrow likes to study in 5- or 10-minute blasts. But I like long reading and focus sessions between 45 minutes and an hour.

You need to experiment and find out what works for you. Split test. How long can you effectively focus at a stretch? What time of day do you focus best? What tools help you focus?

How can I study for long hours at night?

For better study at night, use the techniques you learned today to help you stay focused:

• Get up and stretch
• Go for a walk
• Change location
• Use a well-lit location

Studying at night will also depend on what time of day is best for you. If you’re a night owl, studying for long hours will work better than for the folks who do their best focusing early in the morning.

How can I study consistently using these techniques?

To study consistently, it’s important to make a plan and stick to it.

Commit to at least a 90-day sprint to build the tools of consistency. Get your brain chemicals (dopamine and myelin) firing on autopilot to engage your procedural memory.

The other techniques you learned in this post will also be helpful: have things in space so you can’t avoid them, scheduling so you don’t miss sessions, etc.

You also have to have a vision for yourself. And you need to spend some time strategically building your consistency. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

How do I avoid getting distracted?

First, acknowledge that the world is distracting. Then use the tools at your disposal to minimize or eliminate those distractions you have control over:

• Turn off your devices
• Don’t bring devices with you
• Turn off all notifications
• Delete any apps that distract you
• Turn your phone on airplane mode
• Use apps that limit the amount of time you spend

You can also control your environment by closing your door, using noise-canceling headphones, removing any potentially distracting objects from the room, etc.

Now you have a variety of simple techniques you can use to help you study effectively, plus additional ways to boost your focus and concentration. But what are your next steps?

How to Study Effectively, Right Now

Now it’s time to put your newfound knowledge into practice!

Because here’s the thing: you can read and learn everything in the world, but it won’t do you any good if you don’t do something with it.

So take what you learned today and make a plan. Sit down now and schedule out the time you have before you have to take your exam. And then get ready to study effectively for long hours.

And remember, everything you learned today ties together. You need to understand the whole picture.

Environment ties into strategy, because you are devoted to the art, craft, and science of the memory palace. You use your memory palace – which has to do with your mind – so everything has to do with mindset.

If you want to keep ahead of the competition, this post will put you in good stead.

But if you really want to shine, you’ll want to become a memory master. And for that, the Memory Palace technique is essential.

Make sure to sign up for this Free Memory Training Kit so I can walk you through this technique step-by-step. It’s one of the best ways to completely eliminate the stress as you stop studying for so long and refine the process for maximum effectiveness in minimum time.