Hey All,

I'm new to NLP.For the last three weeks i've been trying to educate myself on NLP.

I have exams coming up in eight months, basically I'm way behind in every subject and well I have to read every book from start to finish and remember alot of information.

I need help in been able to remember facts, definitions and then been able to explain that definition [mainly in economics], drawing diagrams etc...

I'm in a situation were I have three big text books in front of me and I have 8 months to know them inside out.

The subjects which requires me to remember most information are biology, economics and geography.

I'm doing 7 subjects but the three above require the most information to remember.

I'm trying to get a two year course done in 8 months, I know its possible if I put my mind to it but I don't know the best way to study and to remember so much information.

So i guess what i'm asking is for advice on the best ways to study and remember information for exams.
There seems to be alot of well educated people around these forums so any advice would be appreciated, Thanks

Hey sean,

This is how memory works according to me,

Content --> Mostly Visual image of the content (Can be auditory also sometimes, but in terms of studying mostly Visual) -- > Some label attached to it.

You need to start using your imagnation, to convert every thing you study into a visual image, preferable a movie.

For examble, In biology if you are studying the DNA structure.

Picturise the DNA and imagine how there are bonds formed between A and T, G and C. What colours are they made up of ? ... Create the movie of the process of formation and breakings of new bonds.
Look it from different angles. Look it as you are a minute RNA moving all around the place and carrying the codes ..

NOW, as you make the movies, just notice how it is registering in your mind forever and you can play it whenever you want it next.

Also you can read Derren Browns "Tricks of the Mind" where he tells you how to remember anything by associating the visual images.

Let me know how this helps you ?

Nishith

PS : - I dont remeber DNA theory properly, studied 6 years back, i am a engineer.

Also there is photographic memory workshops and seminars and books that you can be a part of ...

Revision and recalling information, facts and figures is particularly challenging especially when we stress about it. This restricts the ability of the brain to function well. At the risk of promoting my own material, I recently produced a CD with the Coach collection to help prepare and revise for exams. If you would like details please contact me privately or go to our Education site. META NLP Education - NLP for teachers, training NLP techniques improving learning, teaching, behaviour
Its easy when you know how to drive your own brain!
Have fun learning
Kate

PhotoReading!!!

The MindSpa system is brilliant for learning, concentration and improved memory.

This is what Richard Bandler says about it :

"I have devoted 35 years to developing tools to make the human brain more user friendly. I find the MindSpa to be of the most important new tools that can open the doorway to better quality of life.
I use the MindSpa on myself....I use the MindSpa on my clients. The results I get are astonishing. Better learning, sleeping, thinking...... the list goes on and on. I intend to use this device to create opportunity, success, and freedom.
Let the future be more wonderful! "

It's available at MindSpa Mind Machine

Oh my

The guy needs a pragmatic approach not "gadgets and gizmo's"

The mindspa is not going to read and write reports thou- etc. and in this case is not something thats going to help-

What's needed is a system of practicality- Tony Buzan as a series of Books the deal with memory training and speed reading - including a how to study guide- which are very really well priced-

I would suggest the "Use your head" book and the "Use your memory book" and "the speed and range reading book" plus Tony Buzan's - "Study Skills Handbook"

I am a photorader- and have been for a number of years- and the system works- yet it's not a system I would suggest using while your under such pressure and time limitations- because there is a learning curve involved- were your energy could be spent of reading and making note rather then learning how best to learn "PR" worth checking out when your not under so much pressure..

A stepping stone would be to check out The Learning Web - Home Page they have a full book online- with ways to help speed up learning-



J

There are a number of things that may help this guy. Bear in mind that we're all different and that what suits one person may not be the right thing for someone else.

It's never good to assume that you have a monopoly on the best advice.

The MindSpa will help him, as it's helped many other people in his position. It should be one of the things he checks out to see if he feels it would be appropriate for him. Just as he should also check out the resources that you've mentioned.

BTW, Tony Buzan endorses a computer-based Mind-Mapping system called iMindMap at Mind Mapping by Tony Buzan - iMindMap™ Official Mind Map Software.

I'm a great fan of mind-mapping. Personally I prefer to use pens and paper. But like I said before, we're all different and I would never say that it's not worth looking at computer-based systems.

Hey can we talk to Sean please?
Sean your task may seem daunting at first but really you can easily do this. What level of qualification are you studying? As I don't know where you are from I can't guess. This will decide how you organise yourself which is really your first challenge.

No exam requires you to remember every fact in every book. So the second thing to figure out is what do you really need to know? Your tutors are the people who can help you here, as well as past papers and the scheme of work. Don't beleive any teacher who answers the question, what do I need to know with everything!!!
Thirdly figure out how you remember things best. Mind maps are good but there are lots of other ways too. I will send you handouts on different memory techniques.
This is your starter for 10 and I will get back to you with some other steps soon
Kate

Thanks edukate for good tips of study and remember for exams.

Hi Sean, I agree with Kate that it is highly unlikely that you need to know everything in those text books. Many textbooks are around 700 pages and even if you read each page over the next 8 months you could be expected to read about 9 pages per day. You could do that easily I bet.
Some of the best ways to remember that I have found are mnemonics, mindmapping and the loci method. Take something that you already know and attach the things that you need to remember. Edward de Bono has some good techniques for creating memory journeys so that you can go on a walk around your town and remember certain things along the route. Memory by association I think it is called. Also, make use of a voice recorder and listen to your notes, I personally found that readin out loud helps my understanding it may or may not work for you too.
Gaps in between remembering things are good too as it seems from current thinking that the proteins used in making memories are created in the gaps between learning. I speculate that in NLP terms this might be the downtime? I leave that to others better at NLP thinking to agree or disagree with that lol.
Have fun while you are studying and as Kate says aim to study with as little stress as possible as this means the blood and oxygen needed for your brain power are flowing better.

Good luck, you can do it! :-)

Penny

Paul McKenna - Exam hypnosis tape was excellent for me when taking 7 degree final exams.. people would tell me I was so calm.. and I sailed through the exams.

was in 1999, in tape form- not sure if they have them in CD's now.

Good luck

Nina

Stop the too much partying, and you actually have to read the pages and not just the titles of those books.

Bury your faces on the page, that way you will remember lucidly in color b&w or either way what was just that really occur and in your mind and that that you have learned to also contineously turn the pages continually.

Get it done and there is no excusing, not if you want to live your life miserably in mediocare or failure. You want Proof?!?

Nina on Paul makes sense.

Hi Sean,

I teach Crime scene Investigation and one method among the many excellent methods already mentioned above is to use the full range of our senses. In that, I mean try one of the tricks I have advised / talked to students about is to eat something they enjoy eating (not too much or you wont get out the door :-) while reading a particular subject (say fingerprinting) when in the exam they have another resource of association, this time gustatory. It seems to work best with your favourite foods as you are more able to relive the experience with smells, tatse etc. They have reported back to me that they have been able to remember with differing degrees of detail the subject they were studying while eating that particular food. I suppose you could try a 3 course meal with 3 different subjects and see what happens. Its worth a try along with the rest of the techniques. But as we say on our courses. If you do something, you get something. If you do nothing, you get nothing. Time to start DOING something... Whatever that means for you.

Good luck.

Hey there just wondering can anyone give me any advice on this and photoreading as well. I feel as though I havent reached my potential for a long time. I know I can achieve my goal but sometimes lack of motivation stops me. How do I overcome this and enjoy education once again and excel in my exams.

seansmc wrote:

So i guess what i'm asking is for advice on the best ways to study and remember information for exams.

Harry Lorayne's Page-a-Minute Memory Book is my personal favorite. It's short, but it's powerful.

Super Memory - Super Student: How to Raise Your Grades in 30 Days is the same material, fleshed out with more real-life examples and practice, specific to the context of being a student. You might prefer that; I don't know.

I'll second the recommendations for Tony Buzan's work, too, especially Mind Mapping with paper and colored pencils/pens.

I'll second the recommendation of Harry Lorayne's work. I own Super Memory - Super Student. It's an easy read and will teach exactly what you need.

Here's a taste of the kind of thing taught in the book. This is for memorizing numbers:

Mnemonic major system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yeah, you'll have to memorize a couple of things up front, but it's not too bad (even the mnemonics have mnemonics!).

Chris Johnson wrote:

I'll second the recommendation of Harry Lorayne's work. I own Super Memory - Super Student. It's an easy read and will teach exactly what you need.

Here's a taste of the kind of thing taught in the book. This is for memorizing numbers:

Mnemonic major system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yeah, you'll have to memorize a couple of things up front, but it's not too bad (even the mnemonics have mnemonics!).

Thanks for the advice. I will purchase the books soon. Could you possibly recommend some NLP courses to go on in the UK over the summer or any other books. I really want to to learn this to achieve my goals.

Hi Zak
You seem to be saying two things. One is about study techniques and the other is about motivation. I would recommend Richard Bandler's book Get the life you want, particularly the section on 'how to get to it'. Use the exercises in this section to discover how to be wantonly motivated to study. There is a course run from the UWE which often happens in the summer. It is really good for accelerating learning etc. I can't remember the uys name just now but I know quite a few peopel who have done it. In terms of planning preparing and getting down to studying for exams, I have acd called revisioun coach which people say is very helpful

seansmc wrote:

Hey All,

I'm new to NLP.For the last three weeks i've been trying to educate myself on NLP.

I have exams coming up in eight months, basically I'm way behind in every subject and well I have to read every book from start to finish and remember alot of information.

I need help in been able to remember facts, definitions and then been able to explain that definition [mainly in economics], drawing diagrams etc...

I'm in a situation were I have three big text books in front of me and I have 8 months to know them inside out.

The subjects which requires me to remember most information are biology, economics and geography.

I'm doing 7 subjects but the three above require the most information to remember.

I'm trying to get a two year course done in 8 months, I know its possible if I put my mind to it but I don't know the best way to study and to remember so much information.

So i guess what i'm asking is for advice on the best ways to study and remember information for exams.
There seems to be alot of well educated people around these forums so any advice would be appreciated, Thanks

Sean

another person posted about Tony Buzan and his Mindmapping book. an excellent practical study aid. I'd also recommend getting a book called BrainGym which provides some physiological exercises that "kickstart" your brain for optimum learning. I do braingym exercises before I do martial arts training yet its equally applicable for studying text