Also put the date at the top of the page when you start taking notes. This will keep you in chronological order, which can help you conceptualize the moment you were taking these notes and aid in studying. If you keep notes on your computer, date each document or notebook. Consider making separate folders on your computer for each class, and keep assignments, your notes, and any study aids together in each folder.

For example, if your teacher says “In ‘The Tell-Tale Heart,’ we have a literary example of a man whose guilt overcomes him,” just write “Tell-Tale Heart = guilt. " That is really all the useful information that the teacher’s sentence contained. [3] X Research source

Make sure to get permission before recording any lectures. Some instructors don’t allow recording and might think you’re trying to cheat if they catch you.

When you speak, try paraphrasing sometimes rather than reading directly. Having to paraphrase and then speak aloud requires your brain to do more work, making it more likely that you will remember what you’re studying.

Read or speak each line of notes 3-5 times. Try to repeat that line as closely as possible without looking. This doesn’t have to be word for word, but you should ensure that you can reflect the same information that the line contains. When you’ve completed a line, move on to the next.

As an added study tool, use different colors for different ideas on your flashcards. This visual stimulation will aid in your ability to remember information.

Make a song. Tuneful lyrics are easier to memorize than words on a page. Try making a song out of things you have to memorize. You don’t have to make a whole new song. Instead, just replace the words in a song you already like. This will make memorization even easier. Use the first letter of each word in a sequence to make a name. Probably the most famous example of this is Roy G. Biv, the colors of the rainbow: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet. Make a rhyme for different information. Like making a song, creating rhymes helps you remember information. For example: In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Create wacky associations. For example, to remember that the word “gregarious” means “outgoing, sociable” you could imagine a party animal character named “Greg Arious. " Give him a funny party hat and surround him with zebras living it up. You won’t forget the meaning of this word any time soon!

If turning off your phone is unthinkable to you, give yourself “time-outs” from it instead. For example, you could say, “I will not check my phone for 20 minutes” and then set a timer. Study hard until the timer goes off, and then check your phone. This way, you maintain focus for an uninterrupted stretch, but you don’t feel like you’re punishing yourself.

Complex carbohydrates are usually best for a quick energy boost. Whole wheat products like bread and English muffins will produce a sustained release of energy that will carry you through a study session. Eat sugar with caution. It’s true that sugary snacks and drinks will boost your energy and alertness in the short-term. The energy spike also comes with a crash, however, so you could end up feeling even more fatigued before your study session is over. It’s much better to eat foods that will provide a sustained release instead of a quick spike.

Your brain actually transfers information into long-term memory while you sleep. Getting enough sleep will help your brain store all that stuff you’re studying so you can recall it later.

Eat complex carbohydrates, such as whole-grain toast or oatmeal. These digest slowly so you won’t experience a crash during the middle of your test. Eggs are a good choice. They contain protein and choline, a substance that may boost your memory. [20] X Research source Have a little lox on a whole-grain bagel. Studies suggest that eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, can help improve your brain functioning. [21] X Research source Have a cup of coffee or tea if you’d like. Caffeine may benefit your memory, according to some studies. [22] X Research source