How to study to pass your exams: Active recall

Forget cramming before exams, use active recall

Ever studied really hard for a test only to blank the moment you see the questions? We've all been there. Many of us have wondered how to memorise information and not forget everything the next day. One popular method you can try is active recall. You might have heard the term before or even used it unknowingly.

Active recall is a powerful technique that can transform how you approach studying and unlock long-term memory. In this blog post, we’ll explore active recall, how and why it works, and how you can easily integrate it into your study routine. 📚

What is active recall?

Active recall is a principle of effective learning, which actively stimulates memory during the learning process. It helps to transfer information from the short-term to the long-term memory.

Unlike passive learning methods like re-reading or highlighting, active recall forces your brain to actively retrieve information from memory. This process isn't just about remembering information; it's about strengthening the neural connections associated with them. 

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3 ways to use active recall in practice

Active recall isn’t a one-time trick, it’s a continuous process that transforms your entire revision approach. Here's how you can use it in practice. 

1. If you take notes — try it with your book closed! 

Taking notes with a closed book may sound scary, but it's a powerful technique that boosts your comprehension and memory retention.  Here's how to do it effectively:

Step 1. Prepare your brain

Before diving in, spend a few minutes skimming the material or reading an introduction. This provides a foundational understanding of the key concepts and helps you focus when you’re taking the notes.

Step 2. Write down what you remember

Here comes the active learning part. Close your book and try to write down everything you remember about the topic. Don't worry about perfect sentences or complete information – capture the key points, concepts, and ideas that come to mind.

This process strengthens your memory pathways and helps you identify areas where your understanding might be shaky.

Step 3. Compare your notes & learn

Once you finish, ‍open your book and compare your notes to the actual text. This is where the magic happens!

You can now review the sections you struggled to recall and add missing details to your notes.

You can also compare your understanding with the text and refine your notes. Did you miss any crucial points? Did you write something incorrectly? 

All of this is a valuable learning opportunity! Correcting any misunderstandings helps solidify your knowledge.

2. If you don’t take notes — ask yourself some questions!

Step 1. Active reading

Don't just skim the surface! Give the text a focused read, highlighting key concepts and terminology. Pay attention to headings, subheadings, and bolded text – these often contain crucial information.

Step 2. Ask yourself questions

Once you've finished a section, close your book and start asking yourself with questions.  Challenge yourself with high-level questions that require analytic thinking. Formulate questions that target the key information you just read. 

These can be factual like "What are the three primary germ layers?" or conceptual like "How does insulin resistance contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes?".

Step 3. Answer your questions and review

Now comes the self-testing part! Answer your questions without looking at the text. The goal is to actively recall the information from your memory.

Did you get it right? Great! This reinforces your understanding and strengthens your memory pathways. Struggling with a question? Refer back to the text and fill in the gaps. This targeted review is far more effective than passive rereading.

3. Use flashcards

Making flashcards gives you the ability to test yourself anytime, anywhere. There are quite a few apps available that allow you to make flashcards on your phone. Using apps not only makes the whole process more environmentally friendly, but many use an algorithm that includes spaced repetition. Spaced repetition prevents you from forgetting the material by asking you to recall the information in specific intervals.

To try active recall with flashcards, you can download Voovo from the App Store or Google Play. 

Remember, studying still takes effort

As with all types of studying, active recall will require effort. You might find yourself getting mentally tired faster than with passive studying. But here's the good news: fatigue is a sign your brain is working HARD, creating stronger connections, and retaining knowledge.

Good luck! You've got this! 💪

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