Studying as a whole can be a difficult task, especially if your revision style is proving to be fruitless when it comes to information recall.
When working with students on my Accounting Exam Accelerator Programme, I address the best ways fo you to make the most of your revision time
The methods below are all proven to have a positive impact on your learning and development, with some suiting better than others, so try your hand at each one and assess which way works best.
It’s likely that you may have to tailor your method to each topic you cover, with some working better than others for different kinds of information.
It’s important to note that finding the right study technique for your learning style and abilities may even consist of a combination of methods, so keep trying various ways until something clicks.
Here are some techniques you can incorporate into your learning:
1. Analogy
An analogy consists of comparing two or more things and can be used in revision when contrasting specific terms or ideas.
While you can create your own analogies, one of the keys to smarter studying is recognising analogies that are already in the content you are studying.
With practice, you’ll become more skilled at recognising patterns and analogies that help you digest course material.
Analogies can cover a wide range of topics, but usually include small pieces of information rather than extended ones, so keep this in mind when picking a technique to use.
2. Story Telling
Storytelling can help absorb lengthy pieces of information by reducing it into smaller sections and incorporating it into a story.
It helps you visualise written text that you see in front of you in a book, rather than trying to remember a chunk of text in its usual format.
It may sound childish at first, but try turning facts into a fictional storyline and see if its of any benefit to you when studying.
For example, the concept of a Fixed Asset inspection can be turned into a more engaging concept such as physically inspecting and counting objects of interest.
3. Acronyms and Mnemonic Devices
An acronym is a combination of letters that can be used to help you memorise a term or concept, usually formatted so the first letter of each word creates its own unique word.
My article ‘5 Things That Make Up Your Best ASSET When Preparing For Your Accountancy Exam’ covers the acronym ASSET, which is a useful tool to remember during the process of exam revision.
On the other hand, a mnemonic device is replacing each word in a phrase with an alternative word beginning with the same letter in an attempt to make it easier to remember.
Whilst this may seem counterproductive as you are required to remember two lots of phrases or concepts, it can often be helpful to trust your brain’s mechanisms because it will remind you of the other information you relate to that one phrase when you recall it.
4. Hide-Write-Compare
A common technique you’re likely to have tried in school is the method of hiding your source of information, writing as much as you remember then comparing the two to see what you missed or jotted down incorrectly.
Seemingly simple, this technique actively encourages your brain to recall the information you are taking in, transferring knowledge from your short-term to long-term memory, ultimately helping you remember things in the future.
Ideally used on medium sized pieces of text, this method is a lot more tricky for longer information, but it’s worth giving everything a try to see what is the most effective for you.
This can be a useful method to remember key aspects of Accounting or Auditing Standards or Taxation rules, aiding you to fully absorb the key points and retain them.
5. Repetition
Arguably the most common study method, repetition involves reviewing information consistently until you have grasped the concept.
Available to be used in different ways, you could create flashcards to test yourself on material that requires memorisation or repeatedly write and say terms aloud to help them stick better.
It is also highly advisable to repeat exam-style and past paper questions, especially computation questions to ensure you are familiar with all the key concepts and ideas – this is also a great way to prepare and refine your exam technique.
6. Image-Word Association
This study method associates words with images, great for those who memorise best when visualising a word or concept in their head.
This can be used in different ways, including remembering a term that sounds similar to an object as the object itself rather than the words.
A poignant example of this is, when dealing with fixed asset depreciation or leasing agreements, picture the assets in your head to help make the concept appear more realistic.
How to know what works best for you
The only way of properly assessing which of these methods are effective is by use of trial and error as it depends on every individual learning style and strengths.
Whether you rate each attempt out of ten based on how much you remembered, make a note of how happy you were using that technique or write a pros and cons list for them, it’s better to establish which ones are the most efficient for you sooner rather than later.
My previous blog Pass Your Accountancy Exams By Understanding Your Learning Style covers the ways in which you can see how your learning style differs from others and what to do with that information.
Matching your style with the techniques above will increase your studying power as well as your exam success in the future.