As exam season approaches, students around the world face a familiar challenge – cementing everything they’ve learned throughout the term in their minds, ready for exam day.

But what if the secret to effective revision isn’t just more hours spent studying, but understanding how your brain learns and remembers information?

Recent neuroscience research is providing new insights into how the adolescent brain absorbs and remembers facts.

But there are no quick tricks or “easy” hacks for success in school, said Bogdan Draganski, a cognitive neuroscientist at Insel Bern University Hospital, Switzerland.

Learning is an individual matter, where everyone’s “individual motivational, attentional and cognitive differences” mean there is no one-size-fits-all way of learning, Draganski told DW.

Instead, let’s take a look at what science has to say about optimizing study for exams.

How the brain learns complex information

The brain physically stores memories as connections between neurons, particularly in the hippocampus or amygdala brain regions.

New memories are formed when neurons create new synapses with other neurons, building a network of neural connections. And we need to actively preserve those memories to recall them later.

However, scientists are not sure what happens in the brain when we learn information that is more complex than a single memory.

“The mechanisms that govern the formation, consolidation and successful retrieval of episodic memory remain elusive,” Draganski said.

The neuroscientist added that this is because learning is a highly complex process in the brain, involving the integration of sensory inputs, emotional states, stress levels, cognitive processing centers and, of course, memory networks.

“And all of these are different across individuals, across sex, gender, socio-economic and environmental factors,” Draganski said.

That’s why he said you have to find your own learning process. And it might be different from what you were introduced to in your school.

We learn best from stories

Learning new information and retaining it involves two main processes: encoding, where new information is initially learned, and consolidation, where this information is consolidated into the brain’s memory stores.

Studies suggest that “active recall” — where you actively test yourself on information — improves memory retention compared to passive study, which includes things like rereading notes.

Neuroscientists also show that our brains are hardwired to seek novelty. This means that you are more likely to remember new and interesting things. And vice versa, to stop when your learning environment is predictable – like in some classrooms.

High levels of attention are essential. That’s why it’s important to find several different ways to learn the same subject, whether it’s through educational videos, reading, or other media like podcasts and radio shows. Even drawing or singing what you’ve learned can help reinforce knowledge.

Finding stories about what you’re learning can help, too. Studies show that you keep approx 50% more information from narrative texts than you do from descriptive texts.

How bad is stress for learning?

Research has also shown that stress has a major impact on learning and memory processes.

On the one hand, some stress during learning can actually improve memory formation.

But too much affects memory retrieval. Recent evidence suggests that stress can make it more difficult to update memories with new information.

And when stress becomes overwhelming, it inhibits the brain’s ability to encode information, making learning more difficult and less effective. Extremely stressful situations can create anxiety, which makes learning even more difficult.

It’s hard to balance having enough stress to put some fire into your learning without letting it tip over into anxiety or fear of failure. Too much and on exam day, you’ll have trouble remembering what you’ve learned.

Science-based tips for more effective learning

Draganski had only one piece of advice for teenagers looking to improve their academic performance: “Live a healthy life.” By that, he means maintaining healthy routines around sleep, diet and exercise.

Sleep in particular is vital for learning and memory consolidation. During sleep, the brain processes and organizes information, strengthening connections that aid in recall.

Lack of sleep, by contrast, can lead to impaired concentration, difficulty remembering information, and increased stress levels.

Teens need about 8-10 hours of sleep a night to support optimal cognitive function, so make sure you get it, even if it means “challenging your school authorities if school starts really early in the morning,” Draganski said.

Exercise and stress reduction

Another tip is to exercise often. Physical activity has profound benefits for brain function, especially in teenagers.

Exercise helps manage stress by reducing cortisol levels and promoting the release of feel-good endorphins. Even a short walk or light workout can improve focus, reduce anxiety and make revision more effective.

Finally, Draganski said that a teenager’s success in school depends to some extent on the significant help of parents.

If you can, work with them to create a low-stress environment.

Practicing mindfulness or deep breathing techniques can also help keep stress levels manageable – both for exam-taking and parenting.

Edited by: Derrick Williams

Sources:

Graesser AC, et al., Building inferences during narrative text comprehension. Psychol Rev. (1994) Jul;101(3):371-95. two: 10.1037/0033-295x.101.3.371

Whiting SB, et al., Stress and learning in students: Neuroscience evidence and its relevance for teachers. Mind Brain Educ. (2021);15(2):177-188.doi:10.1111/mbe.12282