4 Memorable Study Methods

Rereading textbooks multiple times

Neatly organizing notes

Highlighting with a marker

These study methods subjectively feel like you have studied, but from the perspective of cognitive science, they have been shown to be surprisingly inefficient.

On the other hand, tasks that feel difficult at first glance, such as "trying to remember" or "deliberately spacing out learning," have been proven in multiple studies to increase memory retention by two to three times or more.

In this article, we will thoroughly explain four study methods based on how the brain works. I hope you will understand each one and incorporate them into your own learning style.

Active Recall: Trying to remember is the most powerful form of learning

Active recall is a learning method that involves repeating the act of "recalling" what you have learned rather than just "looking" at it.

Instead of staring at text or tracing notes, you close the text and practice retrieving "what you learned" on your own.

In an experiment by Professor Henry Roediger of Washington University, they compared a group that reread content they had already read once with a group that recalled it through testing, and the results showed that

the latter group scored over 50% higher on a test one week later. This phenomenon is called the "Testing Effect" and is now recommended by educational psychologists around the world.

💡Point
・Flashcards (like Anki) are a representative tool for active
recall. The structure of looking at a question, recalling the answer,
and moving to the next card if correct, or repeating if incorrect,
is exactly what active recall is.
💡

Recommended for
・People who need to retain accurate knowledge for exams or certifications.
・People who feel they don't remember much despite
reading a lot.
・People who have enough study time but
struggle to see results.
⚠️

Caution・At first, you will feel frustrated that you "can't remember anything." That feeling itself is training your brain, so it is important to keep trying even if the paper is blank.

Spaced Repetition: Turning the forgetting curve to your advantage

Spaced repetition is a technique of spreading out learning sessions over time. It is the exact opposite approach to "cramming," where you pack the same content into many hours in a single day.

According to the "forgetting curve" discovered by German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus in the 19th century, people forget about 70% of content within 24 hours of learning it.

However, if you relearn it just as you are about to forget, memory retention increases dramatically. This is the core of spaced repetition.

Repeating at appropriate intervals promotes transfer to long-term memory.

💡Point
・Cramming the night before an exam is effective for short-term memory,
but it will be almost gone in 2–3 days. If your goal is long-term
knowledge building, it cannot be achieved without spaced repetition.

💡Recommended for
・People studying for long-term exams such as
TOEIC, Eiken, or national medical exams
・People who struggle with "forgetting immediately
even after studying"

⚠️Caution
・Because it requires schedule management, using an app is essential
for those who are bad at planning. You may not feel the effects
in the first few weeks because the amount of review is small.

Interleaving: Intentionally mixing up what you learn

Interleaving is a technique of alternating between multiple different topics or problem types.

It goes against the single-focus type (blocked practice) of "doing only math derivatives today" or "doing only English grammar today."

At first glance, it feels inefficient, but research has shown surprising results.

In an experiment at the University of California, a group that 'solved math problems grouped by type' was compared with a group that 'solved them mixed randomly.' On the actual test, the group that learned by mixing scored about 25% higher.

This is likely because the brain accumulates training in judging 'which solution method should be used.'

💡Point
・Interleaving is effective in the 'practice phase,' not the 'understanding phase.' It is effective to use it after you have understood the content thoroughly, rather than mixing in content you don't know at all.

💡Recommended for
・People studying subjects where multiple solution methods are mixed, such as math and physics.
・People who cannot get good scores on mock exams.
・People studying multiple qualifications or subjects in parallel.

⚠️Caution
If you mix topics at a stage where your proficiency is low, only confusion will remain. Introduce this after solidifying your basic understanding of each topic.

Cornell Note-Taking Method

The Cornell note-taking method is a way of taking notes devised by Professor Walter Pauk of Cornell University in the 1950s.

By dividing the notebook into three areas, the flow of recording during class → review → summary is completed in a single notebook.

While regular notebooks end with just 'writing,' the Cornell method is designed to function as an active review tool after taking notes.

The act of looking at the questions in the cue area and recalling the answers while covering the note area is exactly active recall itself.

💡Recommended for
・People who take notes but don't look back at them later
・Working professionals who want to organize reading notes or summaries of business books

⚠️Caution
・It takes time to get used to the template.
Focus only on following the format for the first week.

Summary

I have introduced 4 study methods, but they are designed to complement each other.

The synergistic effect when combined is incomparable to using them alone.

First, choose just one and try it for 2 weeks. If you try to 'do everything,' you will end up doing nothing. Once you feel a change, you can combine them little by little.

The important thing is to think of 'feeling like you studied' and 'whether it actually remains in your memory' separately.

Even if you sit at your desk for hours, if you are just passively looking at the text, memory will not be retained.

Starting today, I would like you to add a one-minute session of "recalling" to your study routine, with your notebook closed. That small accumulation of effort is sure to create a significant difference six months or a year from now.