ASK THE EXPERTS

Advice from the best in the UAE.

I’m a grade 8 student and since last year have not been able to give my best in a particular subject mainly because I tend to forget what I learnt. Please help.

AConcentration and study focus affect most students at one time or another. Not just students but many professional adults too find this a challenge. Let me put your mind at rest – you’re not alone in feeling this way. How to deal with it will take a fair amount of effort on your part, but it will be worth it.

First, practise makes perfect. Getting good at anything takes practise and that includes ‘how’ to study. Lots of kids struggle to recall facts and figures simply because they don’t take the time to give their brains a workout regularly. As a result, when subjects begin to get more difficult, they find their mind is completely unprepared to tackle the new and demanding information. Active studying helps to cement new pathways in the brain and the more these pathways are opened up, the more capacity you have for retaining what’s important.

So, instead of trying to memorise lots of information quickly for class, learn how to use your memory more effectively while you’re in the process of studying. That means lots of short sessions where you think about the process of study as well as the actual material you’re working on. As a result, the more regularly you review your study data, the better you can train your brain to recall what you have learned with more accuracy.

Of course, exams aren’t just about memory. Problem solving and critical thinking skills feature heavily, so it’s worth working on some sample exam questions well in advance of any test. Rehearsal is the most effective way to prepare for the real thing and it will also help you to grow your confidence.

Here are a few handy tips to help you get into the study zone:

Arrange your study space. To improve memory retention skills, you need to be able to focus properly. If there are distractions you’ll struggle. Ensure your work space is clear of clutter – this includes your phone – and you only have the things at hand you need for your study.

De-socialise. Social media is about the worst of the lot, when it comes to serious study pitfalls. There is evidence that some students ‘check’ their phones over 200 times a day. This is not conducive to a positive learning and recalling environment. Be mature about this and prioritise what’s really important to you.

Try using what we call the ‘chaining’ technique. This works by you creating a sentence or story around a piece of information, with the idea that it can be more readily recalled when required. For example, try and remember some key facts by building a story or association about each fact…so, if a particular equation or piece of information becomes a character or film star doing a certain thing, you’ll be able to recall it easily as you’ll have an association trigger.

Always review material you have studied a few days after a study session. Then make a note of anything you have forgotten and go through these areas again.

Remember to ask for more help in class. Explain that you could use some additional guidance on the core information. There is no shame or stigma in asking for more support and professional educators will value your honesty and will be keen to help.