Cannot retain revision. Stress!

Luckylucy

I am sat in my university library, feeling like I am going to have a breakdown.

I have an exam at 9.30 and no matter how much I revise I cannot retain the information as soon as I look away from my notes/books/power points etc...

I've tried, flow charts, colour, sticky notes, tapping. Practice papers, brain storming and other things but there is just nothing there!

I don't understand how I can read and understand this and make notes with the stuff in front of me but not recall it within seconds of removing it from vision.

Sometimes I can inner speak a jumbled 'answer' to it in my head but I can't translate that onto paper.

I am so frustrated! :mad: I know I am going into this exam tomorrow to just sit blankly staring at questions I can't answer. I know that seems defeatist but it's been the same for years.

I've barely slept since Wednesday and I still can't remember a bloody thing!

PudseyDB

Been there, done that!

Did you know....apparently we need to sleep for our brain to process and store things to memory?

Not sure how true that is.....but I do know that if you don't know it by now, you won't make much different trying to cram as much as you can before 9,30am tomorrow.

Good luck! Hopefully it wont be as bad as you fear

FBaby

You are memorizing and getting it all in, it just that your brain is in getting in mode, not getting out. I bet you today will feel better and you will surprise yourself when you sit in front of the test.

Good luck this morning.

fluffnutter

Stop doing it! You're making yourself stressed and it's this stress that's clouding your mind. Put simply you're unable to concentrate. If you've worked hard throughout the course, revision is simply clarifying and crystallising that information you already know. Your continual changing of method won't help either - you're getting bogged down with technique. How you revise isn't really that important so to waste energy darting around trying to find a way of revising will just detract you from your task in hand. The 'revision' becomes a job in itself, when what you should be focussing on is the information.

Walk away from your books - what you're doing is counter-productive. Obviously revision's a useful thing and helps most people but right now it's not helping you. If you feel like this again, you're better off getting some exercise and fresh air, and trying to eat and sleep well.

And btw, you wrote this last night with your test this morning. That's not revision, that's cramming. No wonder you're stressed. Good luck this morning.

trolleyrun

If you haven't slept for several days, you will find it hard to retain information. When I was at uni, the only way I could remember things was to read it in my own handwriting. I also colour coded my writing. I think you'll need to find something that works for you. You also need more sleep. Easy for me to say, of course. Are you eating enough? Your brain needs fuel.

Another method I use these days is the association "game". If there is something I must remember, I make up a story to go with it, or associate it with something else. This seems to work for me, but we're all different.

Good luck on your exam. I'm sure there's much more stuff in your memory bank than you think. Just take your time.

pollypenny

I agree with Fluff.

Far too late. You should have a good night's sleep before an exam, not cramming past midnight.

I always felt that I was looking at something for the first time, especially some lit crit.

Hope the exam goes as well as it can and work out a better revision plan for the next.

indesisiv

I came across this a few weeks ago. Well worth a read.

elliebellie

trolleyrun wrote: »

If you haven't slept for several days, you will find it hard to retain information. When I was at uni, the only way I could remember things was to read it in my own handwriting. I also colour coded my writing. I think you'll need to find something that works for you. You also need more sleep. Easy for me to say, of course. Are you eating enough? Your brain needs fuel.

Another method I use these days is the association "game". If there is something I must remember, I make up a story to go with it, or associate it with something else. This seems to work for me, but we're all different.

Good luck on your exam. I'm sure there's much more stuff in your memory bank than you think. Just take your time.

Completely agree with this approach, even now if I have something I absolutely have to remember, I would write it down rather than put in phone or type into an electronic note. I think the act of writing really helps to embed the information. Colour coding too, worked a treat for me.

You will probably surprise yourself in the exam, as one bit of information will lead to another and so on.

Good luck and do your best to stay calm, not easy but deep breaths and away you go :-)

valk_scot

It's a sad but true fact...for your brain to work at its optimal level you have to take care of it. Sleep, decent nutrition, bit of regular fresh air, minimal caffeine and alcohol. Late night cramming fuelled by black coffee and Pro-Plus is not wise. You'd have been better off going for a brisk walk round the block then going to bed.


And yes, I used to cram too. Everyone does! But it's simply not as effective as a decent study plan, sadly.

pearl123

Too late to cram. However, I suspect you can remember more than you think you can. Good luck

bloolagoon

I find audio works for me. I record my notes and listen back, I retain more that way. I put important stuff to music to make it stick.