1) Use the spacing effect: shorter sessions, spread out
Instead of one long night of cramming, plan multiple short sessions across days. Spacing forces your brain to “rebuild” the memory each time, which strengthens recall.
- Pick one topic and study for 35 minutes.
- Stop while it still feels “unfinished”.
- Come back tomorrow and start by recalling from memory (no notes for 2 minutes).
2) Retrieval practice: quiz yourself early
Reading and highlighting can feel good, but self-testing is usually more effective. “Testing” here means pulling information out of your memory—practice questions, flashcards, or teaching it aloud.
- Start with easy questions to warm up.
- Then increase difficulty: explain, compare, apply.
- Check answers only after you’ve tried.
3) Reduce distractions with “one-tab rules”
Focus is a skill you can train. Keep the environment simple: one tab, one task, one timer. Start with a 25-minute sprint, then a 5-minute break.
A quick focus checklist
- Phone in another room (or on Do Not Disturb).
- Notes closed for the first 2 minutes: recall first.
- Write a tiny goal: “Explain photosynthesis in 6 lines.”
4) Turn notes into outputs
Your brain learns best when you produce something: a summary, a concept map, or a solved problem. If you can explain a topic in simple language, you’re on the right track.
Watch: two short, reputable videos
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References (optional reading)
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