Let the science learn it for you

Studying for exams can feel overwhelming, but leveraging proven scientific strategies can make the process more efficient and effective. In this article, we’ll explore evidence-backed techniques like active recall, spaced repetition, and interleaved practice to help you learn smarter, not harder.

Written by Jen Parker

I was recently having a conversation with my brother about someone we know who is studying towards a big exam. He made an interesting comment which was to ‘let the science learn it for you’. As someone with multiple degrees and a PHD pre his 30^th birthday, I asked him what he meant. He said that there are various strategies that have been proven to help someone to pass an exam by studying in the most effective way possible.

He’s right of course, and many of these are things we always recommend candidates do, but I hadn’t realised quite how scientifically backed these strategies were. The best and fastest way to learn for an exam combines several strategies to maximise retention and understanding. Here’s a breakdown of the most effective techniques:

Active Recall

• What it is: Actively retrieving information from memory rather than passively reviewing notes or textbooks. It is common for candidates to focus their study and revision only on reading the textbooks, however this is inefficient as it usually results in a low level of retention.
• How to use it: After reading a section, close the book and try to recall the key points. Use flashcards or practice questions to test your memory. This wouldn’t work for a full CII textbook, but you could create flashcards for the key chapters or areas that you know the least about, and take some end-of-chapter practice questions as you go through.

Spaced Repetition

• What it is: Spacing out study sessions over time to improve long-term retention. It’s easy to think that getting your day’s or week’s study done all in one go to ‘get it out of the way’ would be a good idea, however it usually isn’t. ‘Regular and often’ tends to be the best way.
• How to use it: Instead of cramming, review material at increasing intervals. For example, review content on day 1, then again on day 3, day 7, and so on. Tools like Anki (an online flashcard creator) are helpful for managing spaced repetition.

Interleaved Practice

• What it is: Mixing different topics or types of problems in a single study session. Again, it makes sense to just work through the study text, however this means you’re not mixing up topics or subjects, and you’re more likely to get bored and distracted more easily.
• How to use it: Instead of focusing on one topic or chapter until mastery, switch between related subjects. This helps in better understanding and application.

Elaborative Interrogation

• What it is: Asking “why” questions to deepen understanding.
• How to use it: After learning a concept or a section of your study text, ask yourself why it is true, how it works, and how it relates to what you already know. If you can’t think of many answers, ask someone you work with or someone who might know more the subject to tell you more about it, how they use it, how it’s relevant to them or what their understanding of it is. This enhances comprehension and retention.

Self-Explanation

• What it is: Explaining the material in your own words as if teaching someone else. Or, teach someone else. By forcing yourself to put concepts into your own words in a way that would make sense to another person, you’re significantly increasing your own understanding of the subject.
• How to use it: After studying a concept, explain it out loud or in writing. This forces you to process the information deeply.

Focused Study Sessions with Breaks (Pomodoro Technique)

• What it is: Working intensely for a short period (e.g., 25 minutes), followed by a short break. For those 25 minutes, be sure to not have anyone interrupt you, no phone calls or text messages, and no quick scrolls on social media. Concentrate as hard as you can; it’s only for 25 minutes!
• How to use it: Use a timer to work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. After four sessions, take a longer break (15-30 minutes). This helps maintain focus and prevents burnout.

Practice Testing

• What it is: Taking practice exams under exam conditions. This one is obvious and it works – you can understand how close you are to the pass mark through sitting mock exams, see how you do with the time limit and identify any further areas for revision.
• How to use it: Simulate exam conditions by timing yourself and working in a distraction-free environment. Review your answers to identify areas of weakness.

Visualisation and Mnemonics

• What it is: Using mental imagery and mnemonic devices to encode information. For example, creating an acronym or a song to remember something. A long time ago, I took a study course for R01 and to help us remember the conduct of business rules, the trainer had us visualise our journey from the car into the house on our way home, making the rules part of the journey. For example, pulling up onto the grit drive – Rule 1 is to act with inteGRITy. Sounds silly, but 10 years later, I can still remember them off the top of my head.
• How to use it: Create vivid mental images or use acronyms, rhymes, or stories to remember complex information.

Implementation Tips:

• Start Early: Even with fast techniques, starting early gives you the advantage of more effective spaced repetition.
• Prioritise Weak Areas: Focus on topics where you’re less confident.
• Stay Organised: Keep a study schedule and stick to it.
• Minimise Distractions: Find a quiet place to study and use apps to block distracting websites if needed.

By combining these strategies, you can optimise your study sessions for maximum efficiency and retention.