After years of mostly reading through my notes and highlighting key words, hoping the content would stick in my head and calling that “Studying”, I realised I had to up my game to excel academically.
Let’s be real, rereading notes and highlighting textbook feels productive. The feeling of highlighting key words and sentences, believing you will remember them (but you don’t), brings a real sense of satisfaction, however this same method of studying is the same thing that limits us academically. Active recall has been prooved to be the most powerful study technique that most student should adapt in order to become top students.
What is Active Recall?
Active Recall is a study method where you activly retrieve infromation from yout brain instead of just passively viewing it. It’s a technique often reinforced after learning a topic or a concept, in which you train your brain to recollect information. Instead of re-reading a text for the fifth time in a week, you quick yourself on the content, you write down what you remember from scratch.
Why Active Recall Works (Scientific Explanation)
Your brain process information thanks to constant communication between neurones. When you make an attempt to remember something, you are activating a neural pathway that has that specific memeory. The more you force your brain to retrieve a particular informations, the stronger is the neural pathways become - hence why it becomes way easier for you to remember that stored knowledge.
The more you recall, the more you remember.
How to Use Active Recall
Here are some of the simple ways to start active recalling.
The 2-Sheet Active Recall Study Method
- Grab two Grab two sheets of paper.
- During your first study session: (Sheet 1)Write notes as you read through your lecture/ lesson (Sheet 2) Pause and turn key points into questions. (e.g., Sheet 1: "The mitochondria produce ATP." → Sheet 2:"What is the function of the mitochondria?")
- Take a break. Move around, have a snack, distract yourself!
- During your second session: Hide your notes. Answer all the questions you wrote (on sheet 1) and mark (using sheet 2)
- Take another break. Refresh your mind again.
- During your last session. Try to answer ALL the questions again.
Repeat this method regularly & retain more!
Flashcards
Almost like the 2-Sheet method but digitally. Use apps like Anki or Quizlet to create question-answer cards . Use them to test yoursef and make sure to cover both easy and hard topics.
Blurting
You like reading through your notes? After reading a topic, close your book and write down everything you remmeber. Then go back and check what you’ve missed. Add on with a different colour and identify weak spots.
Past Paper Questions
Practice exam-style questions related to your topic and try answer them. This also helps you adapt exam-technique.
Why Every Student Should Use It
This learning technique allows you to study more effectively in less time and retain information longer. This is extremely beneficial when you have deadlines and exam dates to think off. It allows you to become significantly more confident in what you study, as you are having to actually understand what you are learning, breaking the cycle of “fake studying”.
By adopting this study method, you’ll eliminate wasted hours and reduce exam-related anxiety. I urge every student to integrate it into their academic routine. For more proven strategies, check out my ebook The Motivation Manual: Master Your Mind, Master Your Grades, available now.