4 Science-Backed Study Techniques That Boost Exam Scores

Almost all of us may have struggled with retaining information despite studying for hours at some point or the other in our lives. We might not feel that fire within us to study when the exams are far away in time. However, when the time comes, our stress levels can skyrocket due to cognitive overload. The truth is, we don’t have to consider studying as a tough task like climbing mount Everest. Today, science has gifted us some proven techniques which can improve exam scores of any student in this world. In this article, we will learn some of the powerful study techniques that can literally transform our relationship with studies and exams.


Studies show we will start forgetting things after 24 hours since it is learnt for the first time. So, we can revise what we learnt within 2 days first. Then, we can study the same concept again within 7 days. After that, revise the concepts within 30 days. Long-term memory retention can be guaranteed if you make this technique a part of your life.


Protege effect is a psychological phenomenon where teaching or even preparing to teach someone greatly improves one’s own memory retention and understanding. We can make use of this great technique. If you have a friend, teach the concepts to him. Explain everything. Otherwise, you can stand in front of the mirror and teach yourself as well. Prepare some notes. Through this method, we can transform learning into a fun game.


Some students will say that studying is a very boring task. But, when we look at what they were learning, we will see that they have been studying the same topic for hours on end. Instead what we should do is, mix related topics or types of problems within one study session. If you are learning maths, you can mix together geometry and algebra. History? Switch between different time periods. This simple, yet powerful, technique can help your brain recognise patterns and interconnect elements, thereby boosting long-term memory.


Some students might be lovers of stories. They can create stories based on the concepts that they are studying. If you are studying politics, you can create narratives that explore different political ideologies. For example, create a character who believes in Marxist ideology and create a character who is in support of religious autocracy. Then, imagine a discussion between them.

Secondly, some students might be oriented towards visuals. They can draw images, create flow charts, diagrams and mind maps. Research show the brain retains images more than sounds and words.

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