IGCSE English as a Second Language: Listening, Writing, and Speaking
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A good memory is often seen as something that comes naturally, and a bad memory as something that cannot be changed, but actually there is a lot that you can do to improve your memory. However, it does mean taking responsibility and making an effort. Here are the experts’ top tips.
We all remember the things we are interested in and forget the ones that bore us. This no doubt explains the reason why schoolboys remember football results effortlessly but struggle with dates from their history lessons! Take an active interest in what you want to remember, and focus on it consciously. One way to ‘make’ yourself more interested is to ask questions ? the more the better!
Repeating things is the best way to remember things for a short time, e.g. remembering a phone number for a few seconds. ‘Chunking’ or grouping numbers helps you to remember them, e.g. the following numbers would be impossible for most of us to remember: 1492178919318483. But look at them in ‘chunks’, and it becomes much easier: 1492 1789 1931 8483.
Another way to make something more memorable is to think about something visual associated with it. Form a mental picture, and the stranger the picture the better you will remember it! If an English-speaking person studying Spanish wanted to remember the Spanish word for duck, ‘pato’, he/she could associate it with the English verb ‘to pat’ and imagine a picture of someone patting a duck on the head.
To remember long lists, try inventing a story which includes all the items you want to remember. In experiments, people were asked to remember up to 120 words using this technique and when they were tested afterwards, on average they could remember ninety percent of them!
If we organise what we know in a logical way then when we learn more about that subject we understand that better, and so add to our knowledge more easily. Make well-organized notes. Be sure things are clear in your mind. If not, ask questions until you understand!
Many experts believe that listening to classical music, especially Mozart, helps people to organise their ideas more clearly and so improves their memory. Sadly, rock music does not have the same effect!
If you do not want to lose your memory as you get older, you need to keep your brain firt, just like your body: ‘use it or lose it‘ is the experts’ advice. Logic puzzles, crosswords and mental arithmetic are all good ‘mental aerobics’.
Physical exercise is also important for your memory, because it increases your heart rate and sends more oxygen to your brain, and that makes your memory work better. Exercise also reduces stress, which is very bad for the memory.
The old saying that ‘eating fish makes you brainy‘ may be true after all. Scientists have discovered that the fats found in fish like tuna, sardines and salmon – as well as in olive oil – help to improve the memory. Vitamins C and E (found in fruits like oranges, strawberries and red grapes) and vitamin B (found in lean meat and green vegetables) are all good ‘bran food’, too.
Caffeine may not be good for you, but like exercise, it increases your heart rate and sends more oxygen to your brain. A cup of coffee really does help you concentrate when you sit down to study. And if you don’t like coffee, don’t worry – experts believe that chewing gum has the same effect!
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Akshaya S T
Singapore
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41 responses
Hey! I’m a grade10 student and I’m gonna face my boards this march 2018 and my mock exams are approaching this Dec but I’m freaked out as for my boards I’m having History paper1 and Maths paper2….how do i just organise myself??? Please help me prepare for this…..
Hello Adhi,
You must first make a timetable for these 2 subjects, and make sure that you have enough time to finish the revision for both. Take small step at a time, so you don’t feel overwhelmed.
Hello there,I m a grade 10 student from MALDIVES.i am going to be sitting in the exam 0ct/nov 2017. I have 2 IGCSE subjects(English 0510,and maths 0580 extended). The other3 subjects are GCSE (physics5040,chemistry5070,and biology5090) I do well in English although I m expecting a A* I do need improvement in letter and article. So I m struggling with new vocabulary. As for chemistry and maths to be honest I have all my expectations down. At 8th grade maths was easy but in grade 9 and 10 I find a lot of difficulty tbh its soo hard ? . From grade 9 onwards I don?t understand the concepts in the lessons even if my teacher explains I tried looking at youtube videos also but until now I still find chemistry boring I m trying really hard to improve it but I m unable to do chemistry pastpapers even by looking at the marking scheme! I tried getting help frm friends who finished their IGCSES but until know I am failing in each exam. This site is my only hope for gods sake can you please help me !!!! as for physics I do undersatand the notes but I am unable to do the past paper as past paper questions need a lot of common sence to do n I lACK in that department. My bio teacher recently changed and the new teacher is really bad in explaining stuff so I am finding difficulty in understanding the (plant and humanreproduction chapter,inheritance chapter).the new teacher isn?t familiar with igcse she dosent know how to answer the questions. So its really hard to do past paper questions even if I refer to the marking scheme. I would love to take your revision courses but my parents refused. My classmates are very competitive in studies so they don?t explain even if I ask.Can you please respond to this message through my email ? please???? I will be very grateful. I have exam fear now also I m telling my mom that Ill fail in chem n maths. I really want to do great and be in this countries top ten awards so please help me. I have a lot of dreams for the future so please don?t let me down.
Hi Zarahilmy,
First of all, you can improve your vocabulary by learning a small number of new words every day. You can visit sites like vocabulary.com. Remember that you must practice putting your new words into your writing and speaking or risk not retaining them in your brain. Use repetition exercises when you first learn a word — and consider other learning techniques, such as index cards, recording yourself reciting your words, association games, and mnemonics – whichever works best for you.
You can also use the exam model answers (https://www.skolatis.com/igcse-exam-resources/) to improve your writing.
With Maths, Physics, and Chemistry, you?ll need a lot of practice. Start your revision as early as possible and spend at least 2 to 3 hours every day on revising. But, you have to first, RELAX. You can?t solve problems when you?re stressed. Relax your mind. By doing this, you will be able to focus more. Read this, it helps: https://www.skolatis.com/how-to-handle-your-stress-when-exam-is-approaching/
1. Learn and understand the key concepts and formulas. Familiarise/memorise the key equations/formulas (refer to the latest syllabus on what is expected: https://www.skolatis.com/cambridge-igcse-subjects-syllabuses/ ).
2. Do revision based on the latest syllabus and practice with the latest past exam papers (https://igcsecentre.com/cambridge-igcse-past-exam-papers/ ). Pay attention to the most common mistakes you always seem to make. Make notes and revise them, so you can avoid making the same mistakes in your actual exam.
Tips:
Minimize your reference checks. Try solving a problem with the formula without looking it up. You MUST do this as many times as you can. You will be able to remember the formulas/key equations better when you repeat this step.
You can also try associating the formulas with certain things you enjoy, for example, a TV show. You could also use Quizlet – it?s a fun flashcard website that turns your flashcards into games, and more. You can also use Quizlet to improve your Vocabulary.
Lastly, start your revision early. DO NOT wait until the very last minute to do your revision. Come up with a study timetable and make sure you follows them.
Hi! I’m very like this page and I want to summary it. But I don’t have much time. Can you summary ” 10 ways to improve your memory” to me? Please!!!!
Hi Sheila,
This article is actually a “Summary” 🙂
We have included only the main part. Otherwise, it would be a book! 😀
Heyy IGCSE Team,
I’ve already completed all Paper 6’s for Science IGs, and the Practical Papers for ICT. I am very worried about how I would do for the other main Papers. I have exams on 16,17,18,19 and I do not know how to prepare myself for them. Please give me some tips and suggestions on helping me do my best during those stressful days.
Thank you 🙂
-Gimani
Hi I am Ali and I just wanted to know about the recommandation before exam in any centre