No matter what age you are, research has determined the methods that are most effective in learning and recalling information for tests.
- Research has shown that people think they know more than they actually know. So, study 20% more than you think you need to study. Fourth and fifth graders were asked to study as much as they thought was necessary to learn information from a social studies passage. The average passing grade was 68%. When these students were required to study as long as necessary to score 100% on a test, the necessary amount of time significantly increased.
- Read a passage and immediately write an essay for about 10 minutes about what you just read. This is called a “retrieval practice test”. Students who used this study method recalled 50% more information one week later compared to students who either just read the passage or read the passage and immediately made concept maps or diagrams on what they read.