What is the best way to memorize?

[Raptor]

Hi Folks!

I realized that I have to memorize so many formaulas and facts for actuarial examinations. I am just wondering what should be the best way. Do you have any ideas?

[Maine-iac]

Personally, I like the sheets of bullet points to memorize that I carry around in a folder and go over at stray moments.

Index cards work well, too.

I haven't personally done this, but I knew a student who swore by the technique of recording a tape with lists and formulae on it and playing it over and over (on the commute, when cooking supper, shaving, etc.)

He's a fellow now, so it worked for him.

[jets fan]

I can vouch for the tape recording method - it definitely helps me to hear it over and over again. You just start singing along after a while. It gives you more study time while you're driving your car (ex. = commute) or some other situation when you normally couldn't study. The only problem is that it takes time to make the tapes. I normally make index cards with the lists and then basically tape record the index cards. Acronyms also help me with some of the lists.

No matter which method you choose, you're still in for a LOT of mindless work, year after year.

[Mick Fan]

Index cards, index cards, and more index cards. When you're done, make some more index cards.

Did I mention you should use index cards to memorize? :wink:

[Epsilon Theta]

Mick, I think you should use index cards, instead.

[Mick Fan]

Good idea!! I gotta get me some of those :grin:

[Buru Buru]

I write out a list of questions (like what is the formula for blah blah) on a sheet of paper and photo copy the paper about 100 times and them write the formulas down over and over in answer to the questions. Check my results each time until I am 100% correct.

[snafu]

On 2002-03-01 11:14, jets fan wrote:
I can vouch for the tape recording method - it definitely helps me to hear it over and over again. You just start singing along after a while. It gives you more study time while you're driving your car (ex. = commute) or some other situation when you normally couldn't study. The only problem is that it takes time to make the tapes. I normally make index cards with the lists and then basically tape record the index cards. Acronyms also help me with some of the lists.

No matter which method you choose, you're still in for a LOT of mindless work, year after year.


Save yourself a little trouble, combine the typed notes and the taped notes and check out Text Aloud MP3 (http://www.nextup.com/TextAloud/) I've used it to convert my list-o-lists and true statement library to MP3s and then to CD for extended play during commute time. I thought it helped. The program will convert any text file that you have into MP3 for play on your computer.

[jets fan]

Does it work if you have hand-written index cards, rather than typed notes?

[Ammie]

Another suggestion:
Never work more than 55 minutes straight. I break for 5 minutes after 55 minutes of memorization. Get up, walk around, have a coffee or whatever. This was a suggestion I got a couple of years ago from a recent FCAS.

[Maine-iac]

Good suggestion. I rarely study more than 90 minutes at a sitting, and 60 is the limit for a memorization session. After that, I would retain very little of anything I looked at.

[Franchise]

I try to get up and walk after 60 minutes pretty much regardless. The only exception might be if I'm just working problems, then I can usually go longer. If I'm reading or memorizing, 60 is definitely the limit.

[Ghost Dancer]

I can't stand note cards. They don't work for me. I borrowed a technique that does work, my cube is covered with outlines that I printed from my notes when reading the papers. Looks terrible, but this works for me. Whenever I look at any portion of my cell walls there is a list staring back that I need to memorize.