5 TIPS STUDY FOR LONG-LASTING MEMORY TECHNIQUES (3RD YEAR SUBJECTS)

1. Study in various forms of topic sequences

After reading all topics for the first time, the second round is best done in another sequence.

e.g.: first round : Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Neisseria, Corynebacterium

second round : Enterococcus, Corynebacterium, Streptococcus, Neisseria, Staphylococcus

third round : Neisseria, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, Streptococcus, Enterococcus

and so on…….

Principles: you could be able to find differences and similarities between topics more efficiently

2. Doing MCQs for exercise

By doing MCQs, deep thinking will make your brain more active. For longer-lasting memory, you should make critical reasoning for each choice of answer.

Principles: Memory retention is achieved by practice

Thinking will make your memory longer-lasting compared to reading

3. Doing MCQs (for exercise) only after you have mastered the topics

Do not refer to textbooks (except if you do not find the answer after deep thinking)

By referring to textbooks, you will not be accustomed to think deeply.

Principles: Deep thinking will make your memory longer-lasting compared to reading.

4. Doing MCQs (for exercise) in various forms of topic arrangements

If the topics in MCQs exercise books are arranged in similar order with topics learnt in textbook (department book), they are better done in other arrangements of topics (without knowing what topic you are picking).

Choose the questions randomly. It is better if you do not initially know what topic of question you are answering. (So, your brain will go through or scan the whole textbook to find the answer)

But, if you answer them in the original order (similar to that learnt in textbook), you may be able to guess what topic you are answering. So, your scope of thinking will be restricted only on that topic.

e.g.: Text books: Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Neisseria, Corynebacterium

MCQ exercise : Enterococcus, Corynebacterium, Streptococcus, Neisseria, Staphylococcus

or : Neisseria, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, Streptococcus, Enterococcus

(Without initially knowing what topics of question you are answering)

Principles: you will be accustomed to go through or scan the whole book.

5. Do not be too ‘super perfect’ in the first reading

Do not make your study too slow that you will not have enough time to repeat.

Do not think that you should memorize all the points in your first reading. You should repeat as much as you can.

Principles: Repeating many times is much more efficient in retaining memories, compared to a very perfect first reading without repeating.