Win a Pro Plus revision reward pack!
Pro Plus has teamed up with 8 times Memory World Champion, Dominic O'Brien, to provide students with some memory tips to help them revise.
For years parents and teachers have been telling students "what you don't know by now you'll never know" and advising them to get an early night before an exam. However, new research shows that they might have been wrong all along - last minute revision really does pay!
Research carried out this April by ICM for PRO PLUS, a remedy for temporary tiredness, shows that, despite planning their revision, two thirds of students admit to cramming before an exam. Of those who crammed, 81% believed it actually improved their exam results. In fact, 70% of students said something they had looked over whilst cramming had come up in their exam.
1. Association
Memory works by association. Get into the habit of making links between information. You'll never forget that the Spanish for salt is Sal and is feminine if you picture your aunt Sal pouring salt over her head.2. Acronyms
Use extended acronyms to remember a series of data by creating a fun sentence. E.g. "Help Five Policemen To Find Ten Missing Prisoners" gives you the bones of the lower limb: Hip, Femur, Patella, Tibia, Fibula, Tarsals, Metatarsals, Phalnges.3. Mental Pictures
Turn complicated data such as facts and figures into pictures. For example, to remember that Mars has two moons picture a swan orbiting the red planet. The number 2 has the shape of a swan.4. The Journey Method
To remember a list of information choose a familiar route or journey, maybe around your house, to picture each item on the list. To remember all the British Prime Ministers I would start by picturing Tony Blair at my front door, John Major in the hall, Margaret Thatcher up the staircase, and so on.5. The Rule Of Five
To avoid information gradually fading from your memory banks it's important to know when to review information. Apply the "Rule of Five":First review - Immediately
Second review - 24 hours later
Third review - 1 week later
Forth Review - 1 month later
Fifth review - 3 months later
Dominic O'Brien comments: "The above tips will help you to develop techniques to aid memory recall in exams. However, in order for your brain to function at its best remember to ensure you look after yourself, eat well and have regular revision breaks."
The Pro Plus research also shows that the top revision break activity is watching daytime TV, with Neighbours as the most popular choice of programme. To help students work out exactly what their revision break should be Pro Plus has developed a revision reward fruit machine. Visit www.revisionreward.co.uk to see if you are entitled to enjoy a half hour session of Countdown, a cup of tea or a drink in your local with mates.
Also to help students get through exams Pro Plus is giving away revision reward packs. Each one contains a PlayStation game, cinema tickets and a chocolate bar – all in a record bag. To enter simply answer the following question (over 18s only)...
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