Top 13 Most Effective Tips for Memorizing Lessons

When you start studying, you need to focus entirely on the material, avoiding the common issue of "your mind wandering off." If your attention is divided by other activities, memorizing will be slow and difficult. The principle of focus allows you to channel all your energy into the lesson, making the process faster, easier, and more time-efficient.

To achieve this, eliminate any distractions such as Facebook, Zalo notifications, phone alerts, text messages, or TV noise. Keep your phone on silent, turn off the TV, and place it out of sight if possible.

The principle behind this strategy is: remember first, review later. While studying, go over the material a few times, then close the book and try to recall what you've just read. A simple approach might be: after reading a section of content twice, focus on the core concepts on the third read-through, then close the book and attempt to recall everything from memory.

Filtering key points is a brilliant idea before attempting to memorize the entire lesson. Facing a long text or counting the number of pages to study can quickly demoralize you, making you lose motivation. Instead of reading from start to finish or word by word, skim through the content and highlight the most essential ideas from each section. Ignore irrelevant parts. Then, use colored pens to underline these key points, making the material visually engaging and stimulating your interest in learning.

One effective memorization tip is to summarize the key points systematically. This method involves creating a broad outline in your mind and dividing the lesson into distinct sections. Within each section, identify the key ideas you've previously filtered, then study them using a structured system such as a mind map or tree diagram.

In other words, break down the outline of the lesson or topic: how many sections does it have, what are the titles of each section, what are the main points and keywords for each? By organizing the material this way, you'll find it easier to memorize and quickly grasp the material without feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information. This approach not only helps with memorization but also enhances your ability to think critically and synthesize information.

This method is incredibly effective. I often use it myself and find it works wonders for any subject. By summarizing the key points systematically, you'll get a general understanding of the lesson. If there are sections or ideas that you don't fully understand, make sure to dig deeper to truly grasp the concept. This will be extremely helpful when you begin memorizing, as it makes learning easier, more relatable, and helps you retain the information for longer.

Why is visualization important? Because our brains are wired to better connect with and remember images rather than words. Visualization not only helps bring dry, hard-to-remember words to life but also shows that you truly understand the material. Try imagining or visualizing the topics you're studying, and you'll be amazed at the results. This scientific approach to learning helps you memorize naturally, understand deeply, and retain knowledge for a longer time.

Reciting the lesson is a simple yet highly effective method for memorization, and it's widely used. Don't overlook this technique as it's not only efficient but also helps save time. When using this method, focus entirely on the material—avoid letting your mind wander or daydream.

When reciting, concentrate on recalling what you've learned. If you forget something, try to remember it, and if you still can't, open the material to refresh your memory and continue reciting. You can even read aloud the points you've learned; this is another great way to memorize quickly. However, avoid just repeating things mindlessly. Instead, aim to truly understand and reflect deeply. Go over each section one at a time until you've covered everything, and then connect the sections together.

When memorizing, many students have a habit of moving on to the next section without mastering the previous one. As a result, by the end of the lesson, you might think you've covered everything, but upon reviewing, you realize that you've forgotten sections or remembered them out of order, causing confusion. To avoid this, focus on fully understanding each section before moving on to the next. This will save time in the long run, as you won't have to revisit material repeatedly, making learning more efficient and less frustrating.

To master each section, break it down into smaller, manageable pieces and organize it in a way that makes sense. By truly understanding each part, you'll be better prepared to excel, as opposed to knowing just a little about each section. Additionally, if nerves cause you to forget some content, having a solid grasp of each section ensures you'll still earn full marks for the parts you remember.

Along with the previous tips, another effective memorization technique that Mytour suggests is to rewrite what you've learned. To apply this method, grab a few sheets of A4 paper and a good pen. After studying a section, test yourself by writing down everything you've just learned. This is one of the best ways to review, test, and reinforce your memory of the lesson.

Each time you write, you're effectively studying again. Additionally, when you write, the language is transformed into a visual form, which helps you remember faster. You can also organize your notes systematically, draw diagrams, and use other techniques to reinforce your knowledge. Moreover, rewriting what you've learned is a great way to prepare for exams. When it's time for a test, you won't struggle to recall every detail because you’ve already practiced recalling the material through writing.

You can collaborate with a friend or ask a family member for help by having them quiz you on the material you've learned. This method is similar to being tested in class. Ask them to randomly select a topic or a question related to your study material for you to answer. This helps you practice your response time, strengthens your recall, and prevents memorizing word-for-word or just remembering parts of the material.

Additionally, studying in a group allows you to share knowledge with others and gain new insights. Group members can offer valuable input, and together you can address any misunderstandings or questions that may have come up during your independent study.

Even when you're working, studying, or having fun, you can still find time to review and memorize your lessons. Simply observing a beautiful street, a tree, a house, or anything that captures your interest can stimulate your brain to produce positive energy, making it easier to absorb knowledge. Therefore, use your travel time throughout the day to memorize challenging subjects.

This learning method involves using every moment and location for study. You don’t need to sit at a desk with papers and books, which can become monotonous and time-consuming. One of the most effective time-saving techniques I’ve used is to take advantage of 'dead time.' This includes moments when you’re chopping vegetables, cooking, showering, waiting for the bus, or riding the bus. These spare moments can be utilized effectively to accelerate your learning and save significant time.

Before each exam, the amount of time available for revision can certainly be increased. However, forcing your brain to work continuously can lead to stress, fatigue, and negatively affect your learning results. To learn more effectively, try the strategy of breaking down the material into smaller chunks before studying. Dividing the content into manageable parts not only makes it easier to control but also helps you focus on the most important points to memorize.

To avoid feeling overwhelmed by a large volume of information, take some time before you start studying to break the content into smaller sections, and arrange them in a logical order to make the learning process faster. Additionally, never try to study too many subjects in one session. If you push yourself to cover multiple subjects quickly in a short amount of time, you're likely to feel confused and won't truly retain or understand the material by the next day.

The environment you study in has a crucial impact on how efficiently you memorize the material. A spacious, airy, and quiet setting will allow you to absorb information more effectively. You can stand, sit, or move your arms while studying, as long as you feel comfortable. However, I recommend avoiding lying down. Even in a perfect environment, combining lying down with the monotony of memorization will likely make you feel sleepy.

If you experience back pain, headaches, or simply need a break, try listening to music, taking deep breaths, or stepping away from your desk for around 5 minutes. Afterward, return to your studies. Keep in mind that 5 minutes of relaxation is ideal; any longer and you may lose focus and be tempted by other distractions.

In addition to having the right study environment, the time you dedicate to studying also plays a crucial role in how quickly you learn. From my experience, everyone has a specific time frame in which they absorb information best. Some people find that studying at night works wonders for them, others thrive when studying late in the evening, while some are most productive early in the morning or during the afternoon.

Therefore, you can't compare your ideal study time with someone else's. The best way to find out is to experiment. How? It's simple—study at different times throughout the day and track which time slot works best for you. This will be your optimal time, the one where you can learn the most efficiently and without getting bored.

To effectively memorize material, it is essential to have a calm and relaxed mindset. Although this can be challenging, especially since most students feel some level of stress and anxiety before exams, it is important to explore techniques that help reduce tension and increase motivation. By doing so, you can help your mind and body relax, making it easier to focus on studying.

For effective studying, your mind must be clear, free from worries or distractions. If your thoughts are preoccupied with other matters, it will be impossible to concentrate on your studies. Therefore, before you sit down to study, it is important to resolve any pending issues, and consider drinking a cold glass of water or milk to refresh your body and provide oxygen to your brain, helping it function more efficiently.