1. Active Recall

• Test yourself instead of just rereading notes.

• Use flashcards (e.g., Anki, Quizlet) or cover key terms and try to recall them.

• Summarize what you remember after closing the book.

2. Spaced Repetition

• Review material at increasing intervals (1 day → 3 days → 1 week → 2 weeks).

• Helps move information from short-term to long-term memory.

3. The Feynman Technique

• Pick a topic and explain it in simple words, as if teaching a 10-year-old.

• Identify gaps in your explanation and review until you can teach it clearly.

4. Interleaved Practice

• Mix subjects or problem types in one session (e.g., biology + chemistry + physics).

• Builds stronger problem-solving ability than studying one topic in isolation.

5. Cornell Note-Taking Method

• Divide your page: notes on the right, cues/questions on the left, summary at the bottom.

• Encourages organization and quick review.

6. Mind Mapping & Visuals

• Use diagrams, flowcharts, or concept maps to connect ideas.

• Great for subjects that have complex relationships.

7. Pomodoro Technique

• Study for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break.

• After 4 cycles, take a longer break (15–30 minutes).

• Boosts focus and prevents burnout.

8. Practice Questions & Past Exams

• Apply knowledge to sample questions or old tests.

• Reveals weaknesses and familiarizes you with exam style.

9. Active Reading Strategies

• SQ3R (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review) for textbooks.

• Annotate, highlight sparingly, and summarize after reading.

10. Environment & Routine

• Study at the same time and place to build a habit.

• Minimize distractions (phone off, quiet setting).

• Use background instrumental music or white noise if helpful.

Mental strategies: elaborative encoding

Learning hacks: associate a certain activity or place with learning and do nothing but that there

Habits: I can't study in the morning and early afternoon, for me it has to be in the late afternoon and night.

Mental strategies: Reframing - instead of getting frustrated with something I will reframe it in a way to change how I approach the topic.

Habits and routines: Pomodoro method to get started into a learning routine.

Learning hacks: look up concepts using Google images

Mental Strategies: Try to explain/teach it

Learning Hacks: Think about the topic before falling asleep

Habits & Routine: Get the morning workout in then study right away.

Using a planner and spacing out all of my necessary academic tasks daily has helped me tremendously with staying on track and not overwhelming myself. I am able to visually see what assignments/exams I must prepare for and give myself enough time to get started.

-Gemini, Google Calender, Lancet

Mental Strategies:

- Highlight the important details on the academic papers' pdf, and write down them again on the notebook.

- Creating questions sheet/ or quizzes for myself also works.

Habits & Routines:

- Sleep well, and don't get stressed out

- Preview the materials and write down the questions we have

- Review the previous materials after the lecture , and review them again after a week or two.

Mental Strategies: I make mind maps or diagrams to visually represent what I learnt

Digital Tools: my iPad and a timer (for the pomodoro method)

Habits: Always drink coffee and study at the same time of the day for same amount of time.

🧠 Mental Strategies (cognitive tricks, memory techniques): pressure & anxiety

💡 Learning Hacks (unconventional tips, shortcuts): make acronyms

📅 Habits & Routines (daily practices): good. sleep

Mental Strategies: imagine or even picture the procedure and interaction of inner components.

Learning Hacks:

Summarize the whole idea and important components of whatever I learn.

Habits & Routines: have clean and quiet environment to avoid distractions.

Habits & Routine: I like to write my notes vs type. I retain the information better. It’s due to going to Catholic school from 1st-12th grade. I had to write in cursive all day. So I have kept the habit when learning new information.

Mental Strategies: Always draw diagrams/mindmaps while reading or watching lectures

Learning Hacks: Close the notes and write everything I can remember, then check what I missed.

Habits: recap the week’s learning on Sundays