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21 Best, Easy Memorization Techniques for Students

in MEMORY

How do you remember things? Is it easy? Do you have memorization techniques?

Let’s face it, there are many more things you need to pay attention to in life today than there was even 10
years ago. In fact, we are now expected to remember, learn, and instantly recall nearly 1,000 more pieces
of data per day than what our grandparents did 100 years ago.

If your memory could use a boost, these techniques are a way to increase your abilities. Just remember,
there are also phone apps, low-tech note taking, and friendly reminders to help you recall important
information when you need it.

Here are 21 ways to improve your memory of facts without complex and obscure pneumonic or special
drugs. And, no, learning by osmosis isn’t on this list!

Acronyms

Take the first letter of a group of words you need to memorize and create a catchy new word. Then,
practice the individual words so you know what each of the letters mean. This technique is favored in
elementary schools because it is easy to teach children. Of all the memory techniques, this one is the
most common.

The color spectrum: ROY G BIV – Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet

Acrostic

This one is very similar to acronyms, but instead of creating a new word, each first letter is converted into
a cute sentence.

Order of solving mathematical equations - Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally – Parenthesis,
Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction

The order of the planets is another sentence, but since Pluto was demoted, most of us can’t use that old
one anymore.

Rhyme-Keys

In this technique, you have a numbered list that needs to remain in order. First, you associate a
particular word with a number, and usually this association stays with you for all lists. Then, the word list
becomes part of a story where the associated word is attached to the list in a fun way.

bun = one; shoe = two, tree = three, etc.

diary, meat, fish, etc.

Think of cheese on a bun (one), livestock with shoes on (two), a sack of grain suspended in a tree (three),
etc.

Method of Loci

This is similar to visualization (covered later), but you are associating particular objects with a location
you know and setting a trigger to remember them all.

Most people do this by remembering what their cabinets look like. To do this successfully, you must
clearly have visualized placing the new food or taking out the last food in order to remember properly.

This method works for some people, but it is often not used.

Keyword

When learning a new term or word in another language, you can create a visual or rhyme with words you
know to recall the new term. This is a reminder technique, it won’t actually help you recall information
exactly until you learn it.

Latin: Spectate – He can only see when his spectacles are on.

Image-Name Associations

This works best with names. You take a particular feature of a person and associate it with their name.
People who are excellent with names are able to choose the particular feature for a person and link it
correctly. This technique requires practice, and many people start by writing down the information first.

Frank – Blue Eyes – Frankie Blue Eyes

Chaining

When there a series of terms or words you need to memorize, especially if they are in order, create a story
that leads you to the next word.

An error occurred.

Try watching this video on www.youtube.com, or enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser.

The lake has high levels of mercury, and it sends its fruitful messages to Venus, who blushes red and
replies to Earth, about her Father Mars, and Grandfather Jupiter, about the ocean of Saturn, while they
saw a child playing naked in the waters of Uranus and Neptune. We used the trigger words referencing
Roman Mythology to remember the order of the planets.

Sleep on It

Studies have shown that when we sleep for 15 minutes after learning a complex topic, our brains review
and relearn the topic in our sleep. Additionally, that topic has neural connections that solidify 50%
quicker than when you don’t sleep.

This only works when the study period is well attended and you aren’t falling asleep reading it or in class.
This is also the one of the few natural memory enhancers that we all can do without turning to a
supplement, drug, or other artificial means.

Detailing

People who can remember details about a particular object very well have a technique of detailing. They
are able to associate those details with the whole picture because they take in so many details about that
object.

This can be applied to topics you are learning. In my class Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, we needed to
learn about electron orbitals and how they mix and match. I was able to detail all the potential matches
and was able to see a pattern. I was able to detail that particular topic and still retain that knowledge
until this day.

Visualization

A step up from a Method of Loci, visualization creates images and sequences around certain objects.
Meditation often uses visualization and the unconscious way the mind is able to process information.

If you need to bring a package with you, you could visualize it sitting on the seat next to you in the car.
Holding that image every time you look at your package will create a sense of belonging. Then, when you
get in the car, if your package isn’t in the right spot, you’ll know.

If you are learning how to increase your memory, this is a great technique to start understanding how
memories form.

Learn by Mistake

For some people, purposely making a mistake and attaching the emotion of the mistake to the wrong
answer can lead to remembering the right answer. The negative emotion is a stronger trigger than the
praise for getting it right. Children who are in abusive homes or driven to perfectionism often utilize this
technique.

This works well for choosing one of just a few answers, such as using baking soda rather than baking
powder. It’s not a useful technique for things like names.

Repetition – Listening

Some people are able to learn by listening to something repeatedly. These people are auditory learner.
Often times, learning a language is repetition by listening. Lectures, audio books, and sermons are
attractive to people who learn in this manner.

Repetition – Doing

Most people are able to learn a new skill by repeatedly doing something over and over. These people are
physical learners. Sports, martial arts, music, and drawing are learned by repetition by doing.

This is a skill employed by most workplaces. The workforce teaches people by demonstration, then allows
the person to repeat it. For most people, this is acceptable. But, if you are of a learning type that is more
introspective, this is very distracting.

Repetition – Reading

Facts can be learned by force when they are read multiple times. Most sciences are learned by repetition
by reading. There are a certain few people that are able to read about a topic and understand what is
happening and how to do it.

Unfortunately, we only retain about 10-25% of the material we read the first time. For introspection
learners, reading something 2-3 times places the learning curve to 90%.

Organize

If you have a list of things to remember, organizing the list in a predictable flow can help you piece
together the missing information.

In picking up 8 objects from the grocery store, if you skip the bath soap (#5 on the list), you’ll know when
you hit the dog food (#6) that something was missing. Then, you can go back over your list and find the
missing item.

Story Lining

For people with good imaginations, creating a story from the items you need to learn creates a fun and
diverse way to remember more complex topics. The story breaks down items into easier to identify pieces
and strings them together in predicable ways. You are then able to move through the story as you seek
the information.

This is the basis of most myths and legends. In the original text, you’ll find pieces of information
repeated and the stories occurring in a predictable order. This is to make sure that as the stories were
passed through the generations, they remained the same.

Dramatize

Actors often will read their lines, and act them out in an exaggerated fashion to learn the parts. Acting
out the information in a dramatic way can create associations to help you remember the necessary
information. A bit of embarrassment also increases our likelihood to remember.

Single Line

Another acting technique is to learn a single line at a time. Two pieces of paper are used to block all other
information and the line is read. Then, the previous line is read and the actor recites the next line. This
creates positive associations for each line and the triggering line before it.

Many TV actors attribute this technique for learning their lines in very short periods of times. When
practiced and used properly, most actors can memories a whole 30-minute show in less than 2 hours.

Walking

Studies show that the act of walking increases memory formation by 25%. The motion allows parts of our
brains that are idle during resting study to activate. The ability to unconsciously walk allows the
conscious mind to focus more on the task to be learned.

Children with ADHD benefit from this technique because it also helps to expend nervous energy while
studying. A study on Alzheimer’s patients also found physical activity works to slow the memory loss
processes. It’s one of the ways to prevent memory loss, or learning how to increase your working
memory.

Cheatsheets/Being Fed A Line

The actress Angela Lansbury was famous for using an earpiece to be fed her lines during taping of a TV
show, and more importantly, during her run on Broadway. Being prompted with a piece of the
information was enough to allow her, and many others, to continue on during times when old age has
robbed her of extensive memory.

We do not advocate cheating on a test, however, a cheatsheet can help you study. Simply write down the
beginning of what you need to learn and allow your mind to supply the missing information. While this
won’t improve your memory, it can be a quick way to recall information.

Hand Copy

Students who hand-writing their notes and assignments are able to remember as much as 80% more of
the information than those who use electronic devices. Hand-writing stimulates a portion of the brain
that incorporates the physical, auditory, and intelligible parts of our learning processes. The combination
provides more memory enhancements than other techniques.

In areas where final revisions are more common, most students are expected to re-write their notes at
the end of the year and organize the information. The act of re-writing is a memory technique.

Conclusion

Memory improvement tips are good, but don’t try all of these at once. One or two are enough to increase
your particular way of learning. Memory strategies are a process in order to build easy, go-to techniques.
Like any other skill, it takes practice and dedication.

If all else fails, there are several apps to improve memory available online. Some are free, most are paid
for. Many allow multiple reminders and repetitive reminders. And don’t give up. Some people will not be
able to remember some aspects of information. That’s OK. These and other external aids will improve
your life if you use them.

If you liked our article, please share it and use the comment section below
to tell us about your experiences or ask any questions. Thanks!

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SHARES

{ 24 comments… add one }

Raghav January 11, 2017, 3:51 pm

Much better

REPLY LINK

Mark January 28, 2017, 3:40 pm

Hello, Raghav!

I’m very happy our information has helped you. Please share your experiences with us. What exact
techniques have you used from our list? Maybe you’ve used something different from the other
sources? Your tips will be very beneficial to our readers.

Thank you!

REPLY LINK

Joyce Easterling January 15, 2017, 3:31 pm

I scored 9 out of 10 on the verbal test. Only 1 was out of order.

On the visual test I got all 15 and in the right order. Wow! Thank you, this will help.

REPLY LINK

Mark February 14, 2017, 12:59 am

Hey Joyce!

Congratulations and I’m very glad we could help with your tests.

REPLY LINK

kim March 1, 2017, 4:46 pm

nothing helped

REPLY LINK

Mark March 12, 2017, 7:56 pm

Hey Kim!

Some of these techniques take time to practice and get used to.

If you tried them once and they didn’t work, we recommend trying them again.

If they truly do not work after several attempts, we recommend talking to a professional doctor to see
if they’re any health issues that are preventing you from being able to learn to your optimal ability.

REPLY LINK

Jessica April 21, 2017, 8:48 am

Thanks Mark,
i have tried out these techniques for memorization, it helps me lot.Once again thanks for sharing the
useful article. Also i have practice the following tips to memorize,
https://www.parentcircle.com/article/memory-tricks-to-study-smart/

REPLY LINK

Mark May 13, 2017, 3:22 pm

Hey, Jessica!

I’m very happy our techniques helped you! Thank you for sharing this tips with us.

REPLY LINK

AMRITA ROY CHOUDHURY July 30, 2017, 9:12 am

hi
which technique is used to memorise sentences…. like history or political science long notes

REPLY LINK

Mark August 21, 2017, 1:53 pm

Hey AMRITA!

Most of the memorization techniques we mentioned can help you memorize sentences, dates, and
other data.

It depends on the person who’s doing the memorization.

For some people, just repetition is needed. For others, they need some of the devices that we
mentioned in the article. You will have to experiment to see what works best for you.

Another reason we recommend experimenting with these techniques is because sometimes several
skills work for people depending on what they’re learning and studying.

REPLY LINK

AMRITA ROY CHOUDHURY July 30, 2017, 9:21 am

i scored 15 out 15 in visualisation test…. and 4 in verbal..

I can’t remember dates do you have any videos for that as a political science student i am struggling
remembering long notes and important dates.

REPLY LINK

Mark August 21, 2017, 1:51 pm

Hey AMRITA!

Good job on the visualization.

It sounds like you are a visual learner.

There are many videos out there that will help you learn via visualization. Unfortunately, we do not
have any of those available.

If you find some you really like, send it to us and we’ll be sure to post it for other people

REPLY LINK

Stuart Stevensen August 24, 2017, 4:27 pm

Very interesting. It really help me memorize a lot of things.

Thank you and God bless you.

REPLY LINK

Mark September 17, 2017, 2:23 pm

Hey, Stuart!

Thanks for the kind words.

We really want to help people be able to remember the things they need to remember.

Would you like to share what exactly you used and how you used it so other people will benefit from
your experience?

REPLY LINK

Harvy August 29, 2017, 2:36 pm

Hi Mark,
I cant seem to find any of the above helpful I am trying to browse the internet lately but I dont get a
helpful reply.

Like when I use the Ryming Technique nothing of the words I should memorise would Rhyme, make
them in a poem figure there is too much to memorise so please help me with this

As a student

REPLY LINK

Mark September 17, 2017, 2:26 pm

Hey, Harvy!

If these techniques are not helping you, we recommend visiting your school’s counselor and
discussing the problem with them.

There could be other issues going on that are interfering with your ability to learn and memorize.

We wish we could give you a direct response to your specific concerns, but we just don’t know you or
your issues.

Talking to your school counselor will help you get specific and personalized help.

REPLY LINK

Gel February 16, 2018, 9:36 am

Your brain is organized by relationships and thinks in 3D. That’s why it’s easy to remember
places and structures. Now you can use your brain’s knack for relationships and space to boost your
creativity and intelligence with mind mapping in 3D with augmented reality by ScapeHop

REPLY LINK

Shame September 4, 2017, 1:00 pm

I read these techniques because I want to improve my memorization skills. I hope that it will
help. In our class we are always reporting and if it is my turn to report I have a mind block I forgot all my
reports and I’m ashamed. What advice you can give to me so I can report very well?

REPLY LINK

Mark September 17, 2017, 2:57 pm

Hello!

One of the things we could recommend to you is not only using these memorization skills, but also
speech classes and public speaking classes.

These will help you become more comfortable in front of people and produce less stress when you
have to report.

That will help your mind work better and let the memorization techniques work for you.

The one organization we can recommend is Toastmasters International, they have chapters
throughout the entire world.

REPLY LINK

Aravinda Priyadarshana December 28, 2017, 9:45 pm

hey…those are quite cool ways to improve memory!!thanks for the information.Read my article
about scientifically proven Memorizing techniques also- http://sciencenation.rf.gd/2017/12/28/81/

REPLY LINK

Mark January 8, 2018, 1:15 am

Thank you, Aravinda Priyadarshana for sharing with us.

REPLY LINK

Anne February 14, 2018, 5:58 am

Remember, better using visual 3D diagram such as Mind Mapping in Augmented Reality.
Leverage the information into the bubbles. Mirror how your brain processes information through Mind
Map AR by ScapeHop.

REPLY LINK

Maya April 9, 2018, 12:09 am

Hey, Anne!

Those are all great suggestions, thanks for sharing with us!

REPLY LINK

mulenga March 9, 2018, 5:20 pm

Thank you for your cooperation

REPLY LINK

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