There are a number of strategies you can use to help you study for exams. These include:

1. Chunking
   This technique or strategy works on the idea that our short term memory can only hold an average of 7 things. We can therefore decrease the amount of things by increasing their size.
   
   An example of this would be breaking a phone number up into two parts and remembering a string of 4 numbers instead of 8 different numbers.
   
   In relation to chunking information for learning you can use:
   
   • Concept maps
   • Flow charts
   • Tables
2. Make meaning
   In order to store what you have learned effectively, it is important to make meaning of the information. That is you must recognise the connections between new information and what you already know and store information with a clue.
   
   Ways of making meaning could include:
   
   • imagine what concept looks like, this will be easier to recall
   • Doodle creatively to come up with a visual clue
   • Use analogies
   • Restate or summarise
   • Make up stories
   • Use colour, shape and animation
   • Include humour
3. Memory Tricks
   The following can be useful when remembering key concepts or formulae:
   
   • Acronyms
   • Acrostics
   • Rhymes
4. Intend to learn, rather than memorise information
   To do this will require you to revise notes as you progress through the semester and revisit information frequently.
   
   In order to do this you should:
   
   • Make weekly summaries of your thinking/understanding
   • Flip through summaries weekly
   • Use memory strategies close to exams
   • Test yourself
   • Over-learn