how to help my memorization skills so I can do well on the sat?

Question

I am an average student but when it comes to taking test my mind usuallyl blanks. i want to become smarter and do well on the sat any tips would help alot!

Answer 1

Memorization is not the key skill for the SAT. To do really well, you need to use reasoning - in other words, you need to be able to figure out answers to questions for which you do NOT naturally know the answer. Examples of this would be things like being able to figure out the meanings of unfamiliar words by looking at the root, prefix and suffix, or realizing which of several answers to a math question using an unfamiliar technique MUST be the correct one because of the range in which it falls.

Answer 2

How to remember names and faces

Best Techniques to Remember Names and Faces

Lost for words when faced with a familiar face not seen for ages? Changing your path to the checkout line to avoid the cheerleader from high school, whose name is not quite coming up? Avoid situations like these from now on. Be sure to try and follow the techniques below to help you remember names and faces.

- Listen carefully to the name of the person and politely ask to repeat if the name is not clear to you. Repeat the name to yourself several times.

- If handed a name card, read the name to yourself aloud, one or two times. The mind remembers better when the sound heard is familiar, such as one’s voice.

- While you are conversing with the person, keep the name card in front of you during the entire conversation, so that you can refer to it from time to time until you can easily recall the name of the person.

- Recall a friend or relative that shares the same name. You can mention how you are familiar with your acquaintance’s name by virtue of a friend or relative that shares the same name.

- As you recall your friend or relative with the same name, try to make a mental association between the two. Now this can be done in the beginning of the conversation, when there is something physical or immediately obvious characteristic that is common. Or it can be towards the middle or end of the conversation, where you find out more about your acquaintance, be it their occupation (John the lawyer, same as your lawyer) or a striking characteristic (Ana is as talkative as your niece, also named Ana).

- If you are familiar with the etymology or origin of the name (for non-English names) mention that as well and spend sometime elaborating on it. You’ll be surprised at how most people are not familiar with such trivia.

- As you get into the thick of things, remember to use the name of your new friend as often as possible, listening to yourself as you repeat it.

- From their physical appearance, create a mental picture of the one thing that stands out about the person. For example, Sarah has short hair, and then you can mentally remember, bob-cut Sarah. Or if Bill has a prominent nose, then imagine a big nose and remember Bill. If Fred was wearing red, then remember Red Fred.

- If humor works for you, exaggerate anything that will help you remember the person, such as Cathy who maybe wearing a safari scarf can be remembered as Tiger Cathy. Or if Samantha is wearing pink that day, then make a mental picture of Samantha as a Flamingo.

- Ask as much information about the person as you can. If from a different state, then use the State abbreviation to correlate with their first name. Hannah from California can be remembered as Hannah CA, or Aaron from Arizona can be remembered as AA from AZ.

- What are their interests? What sport do they play? What is their job? In answering any of those questions, one of the replies will stand out and will make yourself be more familiar with the person in front of you.

- If you have access to a digital camera or a mobile phone with a digital camera, then snap one with your new friend. The picture need not be the most photogenic for both of you, just a sure way to keep a remembrance of the meeting.

- When ending the conversation, make sure to repeat the name of the new friend for as often as possible. Recall one or two points in the conversation that you will never forget and make a testament about him or her on those points, before you part.

- Immediately after meeting the person, try to jot down whatever transpired through the concluded conversation: where you met, how, why and the specifics of your conversation. Try to keep that note in a scrapbook of small notes about acquaintances.

- Better still, at the end of each day, jot down specific highlights of your day in a journal, especially when meeting someone and you are sure to keep the acquaintance forever.

The next time you attend a high school re-union, or bump into an old friend at the mall, don’t be at a loss … snappily call them out and rekindle friendships that were almost lost but are now found and remembered, forever!

What about memorizing long numbers?

Memorizing Long Numbers is as easy as One, Two, and Three.

Did you fail Math because you forgot to memorize the consonant pi? Did you ever cause a long line at the “New Accounts” lane looking for your Social Security Number? If you think that your memory needs major work, don’t lose hope. Just remember these three ways you can use to memorize long numbers.

One: Major System

The first and most common way to memorize long numbers is called the Major System. The system works by memorizing words and phrases instead of the numbers themselves. As such, words and phrases are easier to remember and recalled.

The words or phrases are formed by combining vowels and consonants that stand-in for each digit in the number series. Each number, from 0 – 10 is assigned a consonant. It is not an exact letter-to-number correspondence but more of letter-to-consonant sound correspondence (phonetic). Below is the mapping:

0 is substituted with “s, z”

1 is substituted with “d, t or th”

2 is substituted with “n, ing”

3 is substituted with “m”

4 is substituted with “r”

5 is substituted with “l”

6 is substituted with “j, sh, ch, zh”

7 is substituted with “k, hard g”

8 is substituted with “f, v”

9 is substituted with “b, p”

After substituting each number with the consonant, fill in between with vowels to create a familiar word or phrase that makes sense and thus can be easily remembered.

For example, in remembering when the Gettysburg Address was delivered (11-19-1863), substitute the numbers with consonants as suggested by the Major System:

1 is substituted with “t” or “th”, so 11 is substituted the word “that”

9 is substituted with “b”, so 19 is “t” & “p” or form the word “top”

8 is substitued with “v”, 6 with “g” and 3 with “m”, so 1863 is “t”, “v”, “g” & “m” or form the phrase “tv gem”

So, to remember the date, just remember the phrase “That top TV gem” and recall 11-19-1863.

Now practice using your Social Security Number and create words and phrases that are significant to you, ones that you can easily recall, the next time you fill up that form.

Such a system is also very useful for memorizing phone numbers or zip codes. Just create word sequences that are relevant to the area being remembered.

Two: Edwards System

Not entirely different from the Major System, the Edwards system also substitutes digits with words, but more with famous people, who are easier to recall. Instead of single digits, the Edwards system uses double digits for association with people’s initials or famous characters.

To use the system, map the numbers 00 through 99. Correlate famous characters or initials to each pair like associate 07 for James Bond (007), 08 for Kobe Bryant (8), 23 for Michael Jordan, 33 for Larry Bird. If you are lost for famous people associated with numbers, use the Major system to come up with initials for the number pair, like GB for 79, so remember George Bush; SD (Saddam) for 01; SN (Hussein) for 02.

After mapping, break the number series to be remembered into pairs and memorize a series of famous characters or make them interact for a lasting and entertaining memorization.

Three: Grouping System

For mathematical consonants like pi and the Euler’s consonants (e), using the Major system or Edwards’s system may not work. The word and phrase combination for the number series may not make perfect sense, thus maybe difficult to remember. Instead, some Mathematicians have devised a way to group the numbers into shorter series and to associate them with whatever can help remember the sequence.

For example, first 16 digits of Euler’s consonant are 2.718281828459045. By using the Major System, one can come up with a phrase for it such as "NeGaTiVe iNnoVaTiVe uNFuRL BiZaRreLy ". The capitalized letters would represent consonants substituted for the digits, as per the number system, but the whole phrase may not make such perfect sense.

So, for some Mathematicians, they have devised a way of grouping the numbers together this way:

2.7: the standard approximation of e

1828: a leap year or the year when President Andrew Jackson won the elections

1828: repeat of the year

45-90-45: cut a square in half to get a triangle with these angles

Now ace that Math test, or go through lines in a breeze by memorizing long numbers easily. Who knows, you may just predict the next Lotto series jackpot!

We discussed ways to improve your memory in previous chapters, however this is another tactic that is a bit different. This strategy for recalling information is through the use of “mnemonics.” Mnemonics is a memory tool or device that aids the memory in recalling information. Mnemonics can be used through our imagination. It means associating things by its size, shape, color or smell. You can also create your own mnemonics by connecting and clashing images in your mind.

If you often forget numbers like your bank account, then it would be best to create a mnemonic for it. Associate the numbers of your bank account with numbers that are significant to you life. Like if the first numbers of your bank account is 05993, and you happen to be born in May, then you can remember the first two numbers by associating it with your month of birth. The double nine is easier to associate with nine twins, and three with your house number.

What about "natural" remedies to boost the memory?

Most often, people who are inactive are the ones who feel greater memory loss. The more you keep your mind idle, the more your memory will lose track of all the information it has gathered throughout the years. Drinking and smoking have also been linked with poor memory.

The busy lives we lead can be blamed for the quality of food we eat. Look around your pantry and you will see more processed food than natural food. Even the fish, meat and vegetables we eat today are pre-cooked and frozen so that busy people can just stick it in their microwaves. Rare are the days when a family living in an urban area, can eat fresh fish, meat and vegetables.

Other people who suffer from weak memory opt to take herbal medicines like ginseng. Ginseng, which has been popular in Chain for a long time, has become a hit among people from all walks of life, because of its healing effect in some diseases. It is also being used to treat Alzheimer's disease and other neurological diseases.

Ginseng has been recommended as a natural memory booster and relaxant for those who are overworked and who stimulate their senses by drinking too much coffee. It is also known to be a natural stress reliever. We discuss more on Ginseng later.

Others believe that eating fish rich with oils can also help the system rid itself of toxins and improve alertness. Experts also recommend taking essential fatty acids, B Complex Vitamins and Amino Acids to aid one's memory.

Eating complex carbohydrates such as whole-wheat bread and pasta is also good for the brain. These carbohydrates are ideal because their energy-giving glucose is slowly and consistently released into the bloodstream. You can also make sure that you eat slow-release carbohydrates by eating them together with a protein-rich food like chicken and boiled potatoes or fish and whole-grained rice.


Improving memory and the ability to organize your thoughts can be thought of as a force multiplier. Memory is the ability of the brain to store, retain, and retrieve sensation and information. When one learns, it is thanks to memory that we don’t have to relearn it day after day.

When you have a good memory, you spend less time figuring out things and have a system of keeping it all in the head. You become more efficient and effective at any task, thus improving quality of life.

Activities such as chess, dancing, and martial arts prevent the loss of memory partly due to activities’ requirements of mental and physical coordination.

Feeding your brain will improve your memory. And it’s as easy as one, two, three…

One: Feed your brain, literally. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables sharpens the brain and improves memory. Some good brain boosters are blueberries, strawberries and spinach. They are rich in antioxidants that help protect the brain cells and prevent the formation of blood clots.

Blood clots can slow down the neuron’s response to chemical messengers this equals to slow memory. Start taking foods that have plenty of beta-carotene, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, zinc and B12 to help preserve memory.

Two:Mental gym. Exercise your brain by not using pen and paper, start memorizing your grocerylist, learn the lyrics to your favorite song, or try reciting the multiplication table out loud. These little mental exercises help improve memory.

The Mnemonics that we discussed before are recommended as an aid to memory. As much as possible, the brain needs a pattern it can grasp to remember information by association. Try as much as possible to create visual and auditory cues as well to train yourself to remember.

Three:Focus. Concentrate. Stop multi-tasking and start focusing. How can we remember anything if we start to take everything in all at once? You and your brain can only do so much.

Slow down and start paying attention. Focus on the person you are talking to, concentrate on the article your reading, and you’ll start remembering what you’ve heard and read.

Four: Repetition means retention. Learned a new word lately? Try repeating it out loud three to four times. Been introduced to someone? Try using his or her name (as many times as possible) immediately after the introduction, repeating a word or a name helps us commit it to memory.

Learn something new

Challenging the brain to learn new things will help it stay sharp and always active. Joining a tai chi club or enrolling on an arts course can really do your brain some good.

Go out of town

Traveling is a good form of stimulation for the human brain. It helps the brain experience new things and removes stress.


Exercise

Exercising gives protection to your brain and your mental processes. It also increases the supply of blood into the brain. A study was done involving 5,000 people who were over 65 years old and the results revealed that those who weren't involved in exercising were more prone to mental deterioration. Inactivity doubles the probability of the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease.

Make more friends

It wouldn't hurt if you meet other people and hang out a little bit, would it? Being with friends or acquaintances can be very beneficial to the brain. The brain is the organ which allows us to interact with the world, and that is precisely the reason why we have to use it to interact with other people.

Get enough sleep

Sleep is very important for the human brain. Sleep is the time when the brain recuperates.

Enjoy life

Stress relieving and engaging in fun activities are needed by the brain. Doing fun activities increases the chemicals that protect the brain from diseases.


The brain allows us to experience the world as humans and we owe it a lot. We have the responsibility of keeping our brain healthy and fit. It is at the top of our bodies for us to use it and to keep it that way. Aging gracefully is never going to be complete without a healthy and sound mind.