Mind maps, Flashcards or Notes?

If you had to remember 100 different terms for a very important exam, would you: draw out a mind map, create flashcards or make your personalised notes? Your performance in your exams is a direct reflection of the efficiency of the study method you use. Each study technique acts on the human brain differently but not all are effective for everyone. In this article, you will explore the pros and cons of various study techniques.

Mind Mapping

Mind mapping aids in studying by creating associations between ideas. Mind maps are charts, with the central topic at the centre. From there, its branches extend to the important subtopics and further divide into minor concepts. It helps visual learners understand the hierarchical structure of the materials. However, mind maps are mainly used as a supplementary studying tool rather than the primary source. The nature of mind maps doesn’t accommodate detailed information making them unfit as a primary study resource. Mind maps are particularly useful during last-minute revisions, helping students understand how different concepts are interlinked. Beyond studying, mind maps are also useful in other fields. Say you must write a rigorous essay on a given topic. By creating a mind map during your research, you can easily navigate through the essay writing process while ensuring all critical points are included.

Flashcards

Have you ever struggled to memorise concise details? Flashcards have been a game-changer for decades as their interactive nature makes studying more dynamic and prevents passiveness. Traditionally, they are simple pieces of paper that have a question or a prompt on one side and an answer on the other. Flashcards are best for exams consisting of multiple-choice and close-ended questions. They cater to different levels of learning, from teaching the ABCs to a kindergartener to memorizing the dates of different events for a history major. However, making them can be tedious. Fortunately, this task becomes easier with apps such as Quizlet, Brainscape and many more. Such apps don’t just help you make digital flashcards but also provide premade sets on popular topics.

Note-making

Note-making is one of the most orthodox study techniques. Many academies enforce note-making by rewarding notebook marks and penalising incomplete or missing notes. This learning strategy comes in handy when faced with confusingly formatted textbooks. It reduces the need for reference books. A notebook and a simple pen are far better for the wallet than expensive books. Another benefit is that it lets the student develop a surface-level understanding of the material before they even begin studying. However, making your notes can be very time-consuming and tiresome. Human error during note-making can lead to mistakes, which can result in incorrect learning causing the person to lose vital marks in hindsight. Overall, note making is a very reliable method and it is understandable why it is so widely encouraged.

Active Recall

Do you ever feel like you’re on autopilot? It’s when you’re getting the work done but your mind isn’t exactly fully engaged in what’s happening. Just reviewing the information without actually retaining it is a great waste of time. To ensure what you’re reading is being retrieved by your mind, there is a method called active recall. In active recall, instead of reading through your text, you also challenge yourself over what you just read. You can practice active recall by shutting your eyes and reciting the answer you just read, answering mock tests on the topic you just studied or even by teaching someone else. Unfortunately, this study method is very time-consuming. It may lead students to memorise the study material without completely understanding the content. While rote memorisation is good from an exam point of view, it's highly disadvantageous in the long run. To maximise its benefits, active recall should be paired with critical thinking and concept-based learning.

Pomodoro Technique

Named after an adorable tomato-shaped timer, the Pomodoro technique is a method that allocates a set amount of time to study followed by a break for a smaller proportion of the study time. The most common study-to-rest ratio is 25 minutes of studying followed by 5 minutes of rest. Some students customise the Pomodoro technique by adjusting the time intervals to better suit their focus levels. Taking breaks helps maintain motivation and energy while studying. Multiple 25-minute sessions are less intimidating than long hours of studying. The Pomodoro works well for those who need frequent breaks. On the other hand, not all students require frequent study breaks. For these students, however, this method can be distracting, pulling them out of the ‘zone’ and making it more difficult to refocus. 

Mnemonics

We were all introduced to the ABCs through a song. While remembering our parents’ phone numbers, we broke the numbers down into sets of two. We also learnt the order of the colours of the rainbow by using the acronym VIBGYOR. These are all notable examples of mnemonics. Mnemonics are strategies used to help remember vital information. Mnemonics can be performed in many forms. One of the most popular uses of mnemonics is the creation of acronyms and acrostics. An acronym is a sequence of letters, each representing a word in a phrase, like VIBGYOR, as stated earlier. Unlike acronyms, acrostics don’t form new “words”; instead, they assign a word to each letter to create a sentence such as the phrase ‘My very elegant mother just served us nuggets’ for remembering the order of the planets. Rhyming and music help with memory retrieval by creating patterns and associations that make information easier to recall. A group of preschoolers wouldn’t be able to memorise all 26 letters of the alphabet if it weren’t introduced through a song. Companies use this strategy to keep their products in consumers’ minds through catchy jingles, further boosting sales. Chunking, which involves breaking down bigger information into smaller bits, is another commonly used mnemonic to retain information. This can be seen in effect when we learn new words, like breaking the word onomatopoeia into ono-mato-po-iea, or remembering phone numbers, like grouping the numbers into sets of two like 99-17-12-71-43. 

Studying more doesn’t always result in learning more. How you study directly impacts your exam performance. Every student is different. The same study method can’t be effective for everyone. Beyond using an efficient study method, students should also maintain a healthy sleep schedule while following a nutritious diet. Exams can be stressful, but staying mentally and physically strong during this time is crucial to perform at your best. While a certain level of stress can be motivating, too much stress can take a toll on both the body and mind. Studying while being burnt out might do more harm than good. Finding the right balance is the key to true academic success.