Study Hacks That Actually Work for Exams

At exam time, peers often give the same advice – “study well and try to remember everything from the night before.” But the question is, what is “studying well”? Does it work the same for everyone? The truth is that how and when you study makes a lot of difference. Developing the habit of studying at the right time and in a better way reduces stress, makes studying effective, and also prevents burnout.

1. Divide the information into small parts (Chunking)

Ever tried remembering a huge chunk of information at once? This happens because our working memory, or short-term memory, can load in very limited amounts of information at a time. According to scientists, we can usually remember only 5 to 9 items at a time, i.e. 7 on average.

Chunking means breaking down large information into smaller chunks.

Example: Instead of memorizing history dates, group them according to events, like freedom struggle, partition, constitution making etc. This allows your brain to handle them as separate groups.

This makes it easier to digest the mental curve as you are able to connect those memories to logical patterns.

2. Fight the forgetting curve

In 1870, researcher Hermann Ebbinghaus showed that we forget about 50% of the new information we learn in a day, and about 90% in a week. So chronological revision is very important.

• Do regular short revision sessions, like 10–15 minutes twice a day.
• Actively memorize – like using flashcards, asking yourself questions, teaching someone else.
• Connect new information with what you already know, such as applying a principle to your everyday life.

3. Do light exercise before studying

Exercise is not just good for physical health, it also makes your brain sharper. During exercise, more oxygen starts reaching the body, and the hippocampus (which is considered the seat of memory) becomes active.

• 15–20 minutes of brisk walking or two minutes of stretching every day increases brain power.
• 150 minutes of light exercise (such as brisk walking, cycling, yoga) per week is also sufficient.

4. Include short breaks in long study sessions

We often try to study continuously for hours, but doing so reduces your concentration. This is the reason why the mind starts wandering while studying continuously.

The most popular is the interval study method — like the Pomodoro technique:

• 25 minutes study
• 5 minutes break

Repeat this cycle four times, then take a longer 30-minute break.

During the break, stay away from the screen, close your eyes, drink water or stretch.

5. Identify your best time

Everyone has a different “peak performance time”. Some are better at studying early in the morning, some at night. It is important to identify this and study at that time.

• Morning: You get full sleep, the brain is sharp.
• Night: After studying, the learned information works divine in sleep.

Identify the right time for you, and study accordingly.

6. Adopt Active Retrieval

Actively remembering information is more effective than just reading.

• Read a topic and make questions for yourself and answer them.
• Make flashcards (physical or digital) and read them.
• Teach a friend – put yourself in the role of a teacher.

This helps in longer memory retention.

7. Spaced Repetition

Rather than studying all at once, it is better to study in small chunks – like episodes of a TV show.

Revising at systematic intervals reduces the chances of forgetting and helps retain information better.

8. Adopt multisensory learning

Add a mix of visual, audio and written resources to your study. Examples:

• Write down formulas and make images.
• Record and listen to audio tracks.
• Create concept mock videos of a topic.

Learning in different ways helps the information sink in.

9. Make studying social – Study Groups

If you like to study in groups, small study groups are very effective.

• Debate on topics, ask questions and solve answers together.
• Giving lectures makes your preparation clear.

10. Create an environment that maintains concentration

It is important to choose the right environment to study:

• Choose a quiet place, like a desk or a corner of the library.
• Keep the mobile on silent mode, turn off notifications.
• Play soft instrumental music, or use noise-cancelling headphones.

11. Importance of rest and health

Good sleep, balanced diet and regular rest have a positive impact on your ability to study.

• Take 7–9 hours of sleep a day.
• Eat fruits, vegetables, dry fruits and water.
• Reduce screen use before sleeping.

12. Make a goal-based plan

Divide the big preparation into smaller parts and prepare a list for each day.

• “I have to solve 5 maths questions today”
• “I have to learn 2 paragraphs of Economics”

When you accomplish these goals, you feel satisfied and motivated.

13. Review and improve constantly

Review your study methods every week:

• Is the method working for me?
• Which method is working best for me? Having trouble?
• Is there anything new to add?

Change your strategy accordingly and constantly improve yourself.

14. Use tech tools

Some useful apps and tools to aid your studies are:

• Quizlet: For creating flashcards.
• Forest: For tracking focus time.
• Notion, Evernote: For notes and planning.

Conclusion

Exam preparation is not just a process of cramming, it is a wisely chosen study method. By adopting the above mentioned methods — like Chunking, Pomodoro, Active Retrieval, studying at convenient times — you can make the best strategy for the exam.

These methods are backed by research around the world and can help you:

• Keep your memory fresh
• Increase your concentration
• Remember information for longer
• Avoid burnout

When you study with a sense of purpose, your efforts are more effective and you get better results in a timely manner.