The top 8 study methods to help you remember more, faster

Study methods are strategies that help students learn, understand, retain and apply information more effectively. These techniques can boost academic performance, reduce study stress and make learning more efficient, especially for international students adapting to new educational systems.

In this blog, we will explain the top study methods to help you better understand, retain and apply the information you learn.

The top study methods

1. Active recall

Active recall means that instead of passively rereading your textbooks or notes, you’re testing yourself on the material. It is great for remembering vocabulary, definitions and formulas.

How to apply

Here are different ways you can apply active recall:

• Create physical flashcards or use apps such as Quizlet - one side will be the question and the answer on the other. Go through the flashcards, ensuring you can answer every question correctly.
• After reading your notes, cover them up and say or write down everything you remember. Check what you answered correctly and where the gaps are. Repeat until you can recall confidently without looking.
• Practising with past exam papers and textbook questions.

Why it works

Active recall works because it reinforces memory by forcing your brain to retrieve information.

2. Spaced repetition

Spaced repetition (also known as spaced study) means reviewing material over increasing intervals of time, rather than cramming last minute, with more time between reviews as you become more confident with the material. Spaced repetition particularly works best for big presentations and exams that require a lot of preparation.

How to apply

You can review the same material (e.g. readings, notes) after 1 day, then 3 days, then a week or use flashcard apps like Anki or Quizlet to revisit concepts days or weeks later.

Why it works

Spaced repetition strengthens long-term memory and reduces the stress of last-minute cramming. It allows your mind to make connections between ideas and build upon the knowledge that can be easily recalled later.

3. Feynman Technique

The Feynman Technique involves breaking down a complex term into simple components and explaining it in your own words to someone else. You can learn and retain complex ideas by identifying gaps in your understanding and continue to simplify your explanation until it is clear and concise. By explaining something in your own words, you are more likely to explain it faster.

How to apply

Here’s how to apply the Feynman Technique:

• Write down a concept and everything you know about it.
• Explain the concept in your own words as if you were teaching someone who does not have a basic knowledge of it.
• Review what you wrote and find the gaps in your knowledge. Use textbooks, lecture notes and other resources to do further research.
• Explain the concept again in a way that anyone, including a child, could understand.

Why it works

The Feynman technique helps you identify gaps in your knowledge and lets you build a deeper understanding of the material through teaching, questioning and correcting.

4. The Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management strategy designed to help you be more productive and focused. You break study time into 25-minutes blocks (called Pomodoros) with 5-minute breaks. After you’ve repeated the cycle 4 times, you can take a longer break. Use a timer, focus deeply on a task during each session (no multitasking) and use breaks for light movement or refreshment.

How to apply

Here’s how to apply the Pomodoro Technique:

• Choose a topic to study.
• Set a timer for 25 minutes.
• Study and write notes until the timer goes off.
• Take a short 5-minute break.
• Repeat the cycle.
• After every 4th Pomodoro, take a longer break (around 15-30 minutes).

Why it works

The Pomodoro Technique keeps your focus sharp and prevents fatigue and burnout. You can develop your time management skills to plan out your day and ensure you’re making progress.

5. Interleaving

Interleaving involves switching between different topics or problems during study sessions (rather than just one topic) to improve your ability to discern between concepts.

How to apply

Here’s an example of interleaving:

30 minutes: English – practise reading comprehension with a journal article.

30 minutes: Maths – solve 5 calculus problems.

30 minutes: Business Studies – run through flashcards for upcoming exam.

30 minutes: Return to English – write a short summary of the journal article.

30 minutes: Maths – generate findings from statistics.

30 minutes: Business Studies – complete 5 questions from a practise exam.

Why it works

Interleaving helps with faster and improved development of new knowledge and skills. It improves learning by helping the brain to distinguish between different types of information, recognise similarities and apply them to new situations.

6. Mind Mapping

If you’re a visual learner, then mind mapping will suit you. Mind maps involve using visual diagrams to organise and connect concepts.

How to apply

Here’s how to mind map:

• Write an idea or topic in a central bubble. For example, that topic could be Marketing.
• Write main ideas, keywords and draw lines to the central word. For example, those keywords could be advertising, email marketing, social media and collateral.
• From each of the ideas or keywords, branch out to related subtopics. For example, advertising can branch out to TV, magazine and radio. Collateral could branch out to brochures, flyers and banners.

Discover more about how to make a mind map. Check out free tools such as MindMup, Miro and Mindmeister to create your own mind map. Why it works Mind mapping helps you see the big picture and the relationships between ideas. Organising your thoughts and ideas in a visual way makes it easier to understand and remember information.

Why it works 

Mind mapping helps you see the big picture and the relationships between ideas. Organising your thoughts and ideas in a visual way makes it easier to understand and remember information.  

7. Dual Coding

Dual Coding is where you combine words and visuals to learn a topic. This helps activate more cognitive pathways.

How to apply

Ways to apply dual coding include:

• Drawing and labelling diagrams.
• Pairing written notes with images of flowcharts.
• Sketchnoting (see video below).
• Watching a video of what you’re reading.

Why it works

Dual coding strengthens comprehension and recall by using both verbal and visual memory.

8. Creating a productive study environment

Where you study is just as important as how or what you study, as it can also affect your memory, attention and mood.

Here are ways to create a productive study environment:

• Have a dedicated study space where it’s quiet, comfortable and distraction-free.
• Turn off your phone.
• Close unnecessary tabs on your laptop. Inform others that you need focused time.
• Try studying at different places such as a cafe or library for a change in scenery and better memory retention.
• Set clear and achievable goals for each study session to maintain focus and motivation.
• Take regular breaks to avoid burnout and maintain focus.
• Listen to classic or instrumental music to help you relax and concentrate.

Experiment with different study methods to discover which one works best for you. By integrating different strategies, you not only perform better academically but also gain skills in organisation, resilience, and self-discipline that support your long-term success.

At KBS, our Academic Success Centre will help you build effective and sustainable study habits so you can approach your learning with confidence. Download our free eBook about studying in Australia for everything you need to know about living and studying here.

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