Often a poor memory is the result of a number of influences: we convince ourselves our memory is bad, we\u2019ve been told our memory is bad, we haven\u2019t practiced using our memory, or we haven\u2019t learned how to remember. Don\u2019t despair, though, because everyone can improve their memory and, unless you have something physiologically wrong, there is literally nothing stopping you from remembering facts and figures and therefore making DKT study much easier.<\/p>\n
You will be much more effective at memorising facts if you can relate new knowledge to existing knowledge that you are interested in. For example if you want to learn speed limits and you need to remember specific figures create a fictitious team in your mind that has the speed limits on their jerseys. Give them the names that let you know how fast the maximum speed is, for example, number 40 is Jason School (speed limit in a school zone is 40kph where marked).<\/p>\n
Rhymes like \u2018only a fool breaks the two-second rule\u2019 can help you remember facts. Other mnemonics (which are just aids to learning) are used in all kinds of applications. For example, to remember the order of guitar strings, low to high, use Eddy Ate Dynamite, Good-Bye Eddy (E, A, D, G ,B E). You can make up your own.<\/p>\n
If you sit down for long periods of time studying then your brain is running on blood that is not oxygen-rich. Get up and do some exercise to get your blood pumping. Extra blood flow brings more nutrients to your brain, and if you exercise regularly more capilliaries and blood vessels develop to transport blood around.<\/p>\n
Many studies have shown that adults learn better after high-intensity aerobic exercise \u2013 up to 20% better than subjects that remained sedentary and even subjects that did light exercise. Exercise also drops your stress levels making you better able to cope with learning new facts, and taking tests.<\/p>\n
Try to make your study environment similar to the environment you\u2019ll take your test in. You won\u2019t have music when you take your test, therefore you shouldn\u2019t study with music. If you do, your brain will associate this knowledge with hearing music, and when it has to recall the facts without music it has to do more work.<\/p>\n
Sticking notes to your fridge and the bathroom mirror \u2013 places you\u2019ll see frequently \u2013 can help get some stubborn facts into your brain. You can also create yourself a set of flash cards that you can use to run through sets of facts.<\/p>\n
A bit of last-minute cramming will put facts into your short-term memory. Make sure you\u2019ve also got them in your long-term memory, too, through regular studying as you won\u2019t hold everything in your short-term memory.<\/p>\n
If you have a smartphone or tablet with a data plan then you can take the practice DKT tests on this website while you are waiting to take your test.<\/p>\n
If you want to take this further you can look into the Memory Olympics and advanced techniques such as the method of loci, Haraguchi\u2019s mnemonic system or other mnemonic systems.<\/p>\n
If you’re reading this, it’s probably because you think that your memory is bad. So let’s take the first step:<\/p>\n
There you go – you’ve just easily and quickly taken three positive steps to improving your memory. Your memory will get better as you use it over time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Often a poor memory is the result of a number of influences: we convince ourselves our memory is bad, we\u2019ve been told our memory is bad, we haven\u2019t practiced using our memory, or we haven\u2019t learned how to remember. Don\u2019t…<\/span><\/p>\n