For example, if you keep in mind that you are reading the material for an exam, this will help you focus on important dates, events, and people.

For example, if you will be reading about Islam, type in “Islam” in your search engine. Then, click on an article, for example a Wikipedia article, and familiarize yourself with the basic tenets of Islam.

Skimming the material primes your memory, orients your thinking so you can focus on important information, and helps you formulate a bigger picture of the content, which makes it easier to remember important information.

Increase your reading endurance by steadily increasing the amount of time you read each day or week. For example, if you read in short segments of 10 to 15 minutes one week, read for 20 to 25-minute segments the next week.

You can also underline concepts, or write down ideas that come to your mind as you read. This is a form of active reading, which helps you engage with the material instead of just taking it in passively. Active reading will help you absorb and remember the material better. [6] X Research source

For example, if Thomas Jefferson was born in the same month as your mom, by linking his birthday to the birthday of someone you know, you will be able to remember the date better. It’s hard to understand difficult concepts if you don’t have a good understanding of the underlying fundamentals. If you’re having trouble understanding what you’re reading about, it might help to go back to the basics. [9] X Expert Source Josh JonesCEO, Test Prep Unlimited Expert Interview. 15 November 2019.

For example, remember an important date, such as when a battle began, by imagining the battle in your head with the date in big letters. You could also try drawing out the battle scene and writing the date of when it began and ended underneath it.

You can also use word association to remember important facts. For example, create rhymes or songs to help you remember important information. [12] X Research source

By asking and answering these questions, you will be able to remember relevant information much better.

The goal isn’t to recreate whole passages in your own words. Just write down a quick summary or outline of the main points. Try to stick to a few bullet points or short paragraphs.

Go back and re-read the information you had trouble relating and remembering. Then, discuss the information with a friend or family member again.

After 1 or 2 days, go back over the content. Re-read the important concepts and ideas, and quiz yourself.