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How to Cram Effectively: Personalized Techniques for Every Learning Style

Student Life

July 01, 2024

Students are typically overworked trying to maintain a balance between their tiresome classes, extracurricular activities and social life. Their hectic schedules leave little to no room for studying, springing stress and anxiety on many.

As a last resort, in the seemingly calm, silent hours before dawn, scholars are forced to frantically prepare for exams. They awaken lifeless libraries and bedrooms attempting to absorb a month's or even half a year's worth of material in a single, desperate study session.

Although it can be exhausting, this technique known as cramming — a procrastinator’s best friend — can be incredibly beneficial. However, it is no simple task; it demands dedication, determination and endurance.

Remaining awake during the long and grueling study hours can be an immense challenge. Not only are most high schoolers and graduates typically sleep deprived, but they are also often not interested in the subject matter that they must focus on. This combination of factors makes falling asleep or diverting one’s attention highly probable.

Nevertheless, by picking interesting and suitable cramming methods, students can maintain their alertness, attention span and mental agility. Since visual, auditory, reading/writing and kinesthetic learners all have distinct preferences, finding one’s appropriate cramming techniques becomes an extremely subjective process. Therefore, stick to your predominant style or experiment with various techniques to find your optimal strategy!

Visual Learners

Individuals who learn best from visuals benefit greatly from drawing or writing out the information. Because these images allow them to readily organize concepts and articulate their thoughts, diagrams, T-charts, Venn diagrams and other flowcharts have proven to be incredibly helpful tools in their learning process.

Another effective technique is color-coding, which involves using colored pens and highlighters to underline or highlight key points, making pertinent knowledge significantly more memorable.

Additionally, the power of flashcards should not be underestimated, especially when there are a few days left to prepare for an exam. Flashcards are exceedingly efficient and can be quickly created by hand or on digital platforms like Quizlet by placing a question or term on one side and the answer or definition on the other. In doing so, you are capable of rapidly and repeatedly reviewing a stack of concepts, substantially facilitating the memorization process.

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Auditory Learners

Those who process data best by listening tend to have an aptitude for remembering the content they hear. Thus, reciting and reviewing content out loud and talking to a friend about the material can be tremendously advantageous.

Associating specifics with mnemonic devices and rhymes and songs will further assist their ability to encode key concepts. These shortcuts, dating back to ancient Greek times, allow students to make connections and translate pieces of information from short-term to long-term memory.

Listening to recorded lectures or audiobooks can also be an excellent method of cramming. This technique helps maintain focus and concentration, especially for those who find it difficult to stay engaged with written text for long periods. It can also be done on the go; one can review the tapes during any moment of downtime, whether it be while they’re on a walk or in the car which is crucial when cramming on a tight schedule with no time to spare.

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Reading and Writing Learners

There are a multitude of different methods of study for the reading and writing learning style that entails reading for comprehension and note-taking for memory retention.

For starters, Cornell notes offer an effective way to grasp the content more thoroughly. This method divides the page into three parts: the largest section, the right margin, includes detailed notes taken during a lecture or while reading. The left margin is reserved for key terms, questions or related prompts.

Lastly, the bottom of the page encloses a concise summary of the principal points they covered. Through these three sections of the Cornell Note-Taking System, students are encouraged to emphasize their focus on the most important aspects of the material rather than getting sidetracked with the minute details, promoting efficient cramming.

If Cornell notes aren’t the right fit, then practice making bulleted lists, which are superb for easily scanning the page to remember the indispensable facts. Another option is creating outlines, as the process of delineating your thoughts can make complex figures much more manageable.

Similar to the color-coding strategy employed by visual learners, many who fall into the reading and writing category also benefit from highlighting or underlining. This technique is especially advantageous when annotating texts, as you can spotlight the details of prime importance and note-take in the margins as needed.

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Kinesthetic Learners

Someone who learns best with active, tactile engagement should prioritize hands-on activities.

To understand scientific concepts or mathematical problems, it recommended they use models or build structures. In terms of note-taking, it is imperative that kinesthetic learners physically write their notes to achieve the greatest results.

Writing by hand engages fine motor skills and muscle memory which aids in the retention of information. In fact, a recent study in Frontiers in Psychology discovered that handwriting results in “higher levels of electrical activity,” which is crucial for memory formation.

Hence, these students should consider writing flashcards or even investing in a whiteboard. The larger surface area of the board involves greater physical movement than simply writing on paper, making it ideal for note-taking, brainstorming and problem-solving.

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Taking Breaks

No matter the study method, taking breaks is paramount. Though it may seem counterintuitive, gifting yourself time to refresh your brain and body will boost your productivity and ability to focus.

When taking a much-needed break, students can choose to get creative, move, nourish their body or even socialize. In return, they will earn a fresh outlook on the material, leading to better comprehension and faster learning. For example, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has even asserted that moving will “increase your executive functioning and improve your alertness, attention, and motivation.”

Ultimately, regular breaks while studying, even if they consist of running to the kitchen to grab a sip of water, will save time and energy and improve your overall academic performance.

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Given that maximizing study time and the last-minute nature of cramming go hand-in-hand, students should experiment with different techniques to find what works best for them. The method one chooses might differ completely from a peer's approach, as everyone processes material differently. For example, some students might excel in language arts while struggling in mathematics and vice versa.

It's crucial to customize your study techniques to what yields the best results for you. Following someone else's method won't guarantee equivalent scores, meaning that studying in a way that suits your learning style is the key to achieving the best results. With many students often needing to cram, finding your unique, customized ways to study will ensure your success.

Julia Andrade Xavier
5,000+ pageviews

Writer since Dec, 2023 · 9 published articles

Julia Andrade Xavier is currently a senior in high school. She loves writing, watching TV shows, and skiing during the winter season. Her aspiration is to major in international relations when she heads off to college and subsequently attend law school, aiming to become an attorney.

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