How do you ...?

Question

remember subjects such as chemistry, physics and maths?

What is your process (sucessful only) to remembering processes and equations in these 3 subjects? I am going into Year 11. I feel that I can only remember about half of what I should know by now (don't get me wrong...I do very well in these subjects but when I go onto another part of each of the subjects..I can't remember what I've learnt previously..I feel like I am only remembering some of it in my short memory. What is your process (in detail) for sucessfully remembering and memorising things so that you can regurgitate/retrieve (for want of a better word) the information when needed? I can't remember everything (in particular in maths) from what I learnt in Year 10.
I need your help! I really want to do well in my subjects this year and I don't want to waste time learning and relearning things. Thankyou for your time.

Answer 1

Well, I had no problem just half paying attention and doing half my work in high school, but this is what I do in college courses in all my subjects.

Pay attention in class and take notes while your teacher speaks. Write down everything as you hear it and sort out the important stuff later. When you are both listening and writing you're brain is more active and more likely to remember. Come up with short hand/short forms to help you write quickly.

Read your textbooks at least once and then do the practice questions and go over the vocabulary. These subjects often have a lot of vocab. Read your text again, but this time read outloud and keep the practice questions and important vocab words listed in your mind. Pay special attention to the paragraphs and sentences that have to do with the learning objectives, practice questions and vocab.

Make a study sheet with all the important things you'll need to know for the tests or future classes. Include things from both the class and the textbook. (this is especially useful in math if you make it a formula sheet)

Do your assignments as they are just for practice and memory.

Before a test think of some possible questions that will be asked and then answer them without looking at your notes. Mark yourself and see how well you did.

If something just doesn't seem to be sticking, write it out a few times and tell someone else about it. Make up a joke or rhyme that will help you remember. Look for patterns and relate it to things you already know or have an easier time remembering.

Reveiw your notes weekly starting from unit 1. Put it in your long term memory.

Don't just try and memorise or regurgitate. You won't learn anything that way. Try your best to develop an understanding of the subject matter.

Lastly and maybe most importantly, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Keep your goals in mind and do your best. Take breaks when you need it.

Answer 2

I remember having the same problem in year 11. for physics and maths in particular, I grouped the formulas together and wrote them in a notebook, with the most important formulas listed first. I'd then recite them and try to learn the most important formulas first, then the rest. When using the equations I'd try to remember them first, and if not, then refer to the notebook. I'd always kept the notebook close by.
This was in 1984. I still have this notebook, and I can still remember some of the formulas!. BTW I have an engineering degree, so this method helped. Good luck with your studies!

Answer 3

Well, I did physics and trigonometry last year, and trust me, unless you decide to take these specifically in college, you'll never absorb everything. Just do what you can, practice if you have time, and come up with cheats.
It's all connected, so if you can remember some basic things, then you can usually make assumptions based on that (especially in physics.)
I used a lot of self-repitition and cram periods before tests. Beyond that, if math and science aren't your thing (mine's music), just don't stress. Chances are, they will never come into play after you finish your GED.
Good luck!

Answer 4

Don't worry. You are very good when you can remenber half of equation. In the semi-famors University CCNY, some of the teachers don't requir you to remenber farmulars or equations. They just test you if you can prove somethings and do the logical explanation.

Answer 5

Just do what you can when you can and practice revising.