What’s the best way to remember large pieces of information for exams?

Drama Queen: What’s the best way to remember large pieces of information for exams?
I have to learn several pages of French stuff by heart, for my exams next Monday. What’s the best way to remember it all?

Answers and Views:

Answer by NARAYAN R
First of all , Try to understand it , if that is possible. Understanding always helps in long term memory. Unless , of course , you want to remember it just for the exam , and then forget it altogether !

If understanding is not possible , like , suppose you wanted to remember the digits of pi , to say , 100 hundred decimals , then the best way is to break it up into smaller chunks.

So if you can break up the French stuff into smaller pieces , like say 2 verses / paragraphs , or if you can categorize the information into words relating to France ( geographical , historical , cultural ) , words relating to holidays , seasons ,…

I have found that you will remember something if you can bring a lot of senses to bear on it. Thus , if you read with only your eyes , that’s not enough. Read it aloud at a couple of times , so that your ears also register the sounds. Ask someone else to read it aloud , so that you can close your eyes and listen to the sounds in your mind.

If possible write it out , or at least summarise the main points on a separate piece of paper , which you can then use to keep bringing it back to mind , every now and then.

Answer by Logdog
If I have to memorize a speech I read through it about 25-40 times and I usually remember it. I kind of have a photographic memory though. You should try to remember it in parts or increments and then every time you memorize a new part, try to recite the French stuff up to that point.

Answer by eamon
as long as you have a primitive knowledge of the material. mnemonic devices help alot ( thats using easy words/phrases to remind you of others). example. in my neuro class i had to memorize the 12 cranial nerves and used this mnemonic device : On Old Olympus’ Towering Top A Fin And German Viewed Some Hops …. the first letter corresponded with one of the nerves reminding me of their names and order. hope it helps 🙂