How to improve your memory

Tutors, examiners, researchers and textbook writers all tell us how important it is to be active in our learning. Here, Michael Eysenck gives some useful activities that will consolidate and enhance the article you have just read.

Table 1 Evaluating mnemonic techniques

My article deals with some of the main techniques that have been recommended by psychologists for improving long-term memory. A huge number of memory strategies have been suggested over the years. However, the article focuses on those that have both been found to be effective and for which we have some theoretical understanding of why they are effective. In spite of the differences among strategies for enhancing memory, a common theme is the importance of organisation.

1 Make a list of all the techniques you have used personally in order to improve your memory for important information. Would it be true to say that most of these ways involved using your pre-existing knowledge to organise the information in your long-term memory? If not, is there some other common theme running through your successful memory strategies? If you haven’t been using any memory strategies, perhaps it is time you considered doing so to increase your chances of enjoying exam success.