How to remember the boring stuff

Imagine you’re sitting in an exam room and you simply can’t remember those important little bits of information. That’s why it is essential you have some prepared methods to remember the boring facts.

Mnemonics or Acronyms

This method is also called “memory jogs”. Get your teen to make their own mnemonics and acronyms, they need not be restricted by length; they can even become entire sentences! The best thing to do is create a sentence that will be remember and relate it to an image. By doing this, your teen can relate to something and study time can be a little more fun.

Rhymes or Songs

Another method of study is to use rhythm, repetition, melody or rhyme. Remember when you learnt the letters of the alphabet? It was to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, that’s why it was so simple to remember. This method can be particularly good for those who can learn poems or songs easily.

Chunking

Chunking is when you create fewer items in larger formats. A common rule is that a person can remember round about 7 items in short term memory. When you learn a cellphone number, you break it into chunks, e.g. 0734486201 is easier to remember if you break it up and say it as 073 448 6201.

Repetition

Quite simply repeating something over and over again is a great way to memorise information. Break a list down into chunks, and then repeat. It’s best to start with say five items in your list, then when you repeat them add another one to the list and so on.


Studying to understand is always going to be the best recipe for success, but there are certain things that your teen finds really boring. These helpful methods should make it less painful to remember the boring stuff.

The Assisted Learning Centre is a college that tutors and supervises grades 8 to 12. We can provide high-grade learning resources to learners and the most qualified teachers in Fish Hoek.

Comments