MYTH #1: All I need to do is re-read my notes/textbook.
Re-reading material is largely ineffective. For our brains to actually learn information and commit it to memory, we need to actively retrieve that information from our long-term memory. The more often we try to remember something, the longer it stays in our memories and the more likely we will be to recall the information when it counts (like on a test). Study methods that help us engage our memory effectively include Practice Quizzes and Tests, Cornell Notes, Flash Cards and Two Column Notes.
MYTH #2: I am awesome at multi-tasking.
Think you can study, watch TV, text with your friend and update your social media accounts all at the same time and totally rock your next test? THINK AGAIN! Your brain is not capable of performing multiple tasks all at once. Every time you switch tasks, your brain is distracted from the other tasks, and you perform more poorly on all of them. Science has proven that those who are distracted while they study do not recall information accurately the next day.
MYTH #3: If I stay up all night, I can get more work done and do better on my test or presentation.
Endless scientific studies have proven that losing sleep the night before an important task makes us perform more poorly. Read up on why a good night's sleep is important.
MYTH #4: I should get up early and study the morning of the test.
Just as staying up all night to study is a problem, getting up early is a problem too. Our brains need deep sleep to process and retain new information. Getting up early reduces the amount of quality sleep that we get, and we remember less. We are also more likely to remember information after a good night's sleep, so it is better to study the night before rather than the day of an important test.
MYTH #5: I should highlight or underline important information in the text.
Highlighting or underlining information as you read may seem like a good shortcut for studying later, but scientific studies show that this method reduces our understanding of information because we are distracted when we are reading, and we miss important connections between the big ideas if we only read the highlighted portions of the text. Try taking notes on what you read instead.
MYTH #6: Mnemonics are great memory aids.
Generally mnemonics (memory aids that help us recall information by associating it with a series of letters) don't work very well, and it would take a lot of time to come up with a mnemonic for all the material you need to remember. These memory aids also tend to focus on surface-level facts and can't help with the deeper understanding required for written responses.
MYTH #7: It's best to find a quiet spot to study and never leave.
We associate what we are learning with our environment. If you study in the same place every time, your brain associates that information with the location, making it harder to recall when you are in a different location, like the exam room. If you study the information in different locations (e.g. your bedroom, the library, on the bus), your brain will have the flexibility to recall the information wherever you happen to be.
MYTH #8: I should just study for as long as it takes to get through the material.
Our brains need breaks to process information if we are actually going to remember it. Our working memory (the part of our memory that is active when we are studying) can only handle so much information at a time. Breaking up information into smaller chunks helps our working memory transmit new information into our short-term memory more effectively. If we then recall this information from our short term memory enough times, it will be committed to our long term memory, and we will remember it for a longer time.
Brain researchers suggest we avoid cramming and take short breaks (no more than 15 minutes) every 20-30 minutes when we are studying. Frequent breaks force our brains to retrieve and relearn information repeatedly--exactly what our brains need to commit information to long-term memory, which is where we want it to be on test day.
Brain researchers suggest we avoid cramming and take short breaks (no more than 15 minutes) every 20-30 minutes when we are studying. Frequent breaks force our brains to retrieve and relearn information repeatedly--exactly what our brains need to commit information to long-term memory, which is where we want it to be on test day.
MYTH #9: I should only study for one course at a time.
While this myth seems logical, research shows we retain more information about what we study if we study different kinds of material during a study session. Scientists think our brains make connections between the different information, and we remember it better as a result.