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21 Best, Easy Memorization Techniques for Students

memorization techniques for students

How do you remember things? Is it easy? Do you have memorization techniques?

Let’s face it, there are many more things you need to pay attention to in life today than there was even 10 years ago. In fact, we are now expected to remember, learn, and instantly recall nearly 1,000 more pieces of data per day than what our grandparents did 100 years ago.

If your memory could use a boost, these techniques are a way to increase your abilities. Just remember, there are also phone apps, low-tech note taking, and friendly reminders to help you recall important information when you need it.

Here are 21 ways to improve your memory of facts without complex and obscure pneumonic or special drugs. And, no, learning by osmosis isn’t on this list!


Take the first letter of a group of words you need to memorize and create a catchy new word. Then, practice the individual words so you know what each of the letters mean. This technique is favored in elementary schools because it is easy to teach children. Of all the memory techniques, this one is the most common.

memory improvement acronyms

The color spectrum: ROY G BIV – Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet


This one is very similar to acronyms, but instead of creating a new word, each first letter is converted into a cute sentence.

Order of solving mathematical equations - Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally – Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction

acrostic to improve memory

The order of the planets is another sentence, but since Pluto was demoted, most of us can’t use that old one anymore.


In this technique, you have a numbered list that needs to remain in order. First, you associate a particular word with a number, and usually this association stays with you for all lists. Then, the word list becomes part of a story where the associated word is attached to the list in a fun way.

rhyming keys memory improve

bun = one; shoe = two, tree = three, etc.

diary, meat, fish, etc.

Think of cheese on a bun (one), livestock with shoes on (two), a sack of grain suspended in a tree (three), etc.

Method of Loci

This is similar to visualization (covered later), but you are associating particular objects with a location you know and setting a trigger to remember them all.

memory techniques loci

Most people do this by remembering what their cabinets look like. To do this successfully, you must clearly have visualized placing the new food or taking out the last food in order to remember properly.

This method works for some people, but it is often not used.


When learning a new term or word in another language, you can create a visual or rhyme with words you know to recall the new term. This is a reminder technique, it won’t actually help you recall information exactly until you learn it.

Latin: Spectate – He can only see when his spectacles are on.

Image-Name Associations

This works best with names. You take a particular feature of a person and associate it with their name. People who are excellent with names are able to choose the particular feature for a person and link it correctly. This technique requires practice, and many people start by writing down the information first.

Frank – Blue Eyes – Frankie Blue Eyes

how to remember names


When there a series of terms or words you need to memorize, especially if they are in order, create a story that leads you to the next word.

The lake has high levels of mercury, and it sends its fruitful messages to Venus, who blushes red and replies to Earth, about her Father Mars, and Grandfather Jupiter, about the ocean of Saturn, while they saw a child playing naked in the waters of Uranus and Neptune. We used the trigger words referencing Roman Mythology to remember the order of the planets.

Sleep on It

Studies have shown that when we sleep for 15 minutes after learning a complex topic, our brains review and relearn the topic in our sleep. Additionally, that topic has neural connections that solidify 50% quicker than when you don’t sleep.

sleep as memory enhancer

This only works when the study period is well attended and you aren’t falling asleep reading it or in class. This is also the one of the few natural memory enhancers that we all can do without turning to a supplement, drug, or other artificial means.


People who can remember details about a particular object very well have a technique of detailing. They are able to associate those details with the whole picture because they take in so many details about that object.

This can be applied to topics you are learning. In my class Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, we needed to learn about electron orbitals and how they mix and match. I was able to detail all the potential matches and was able to see a pattern. I was able to detail that particular topic and still retain that knowledge until this day.


A step up from a Method of Loci, visualization creates images and sequences around certain objects. Meditation often uses visualization and the unconscious way the mind is able to process information.

If you need to bring a package with you, you could visualize it sitting on the seat next to you in the car. Holding that image every time you look at your package will create a sense of belonging. Then, when you get in the car, if your package isn’t in the right spot, you’ll know.

improve memory visualization

If you are learning how to increase your memory, this is a great technique to start understanding how memories form.

Learn by Mistake

For some people, purposely making a mistake and attaching the emotion of the mistake to the wrong answer can lead to remembering the right answer. The negative emotion is a stronger trigger than the praise for getting it right. Children who are in abusive homes or driven to perfectionism often utilize this technique.

This works well for choosing one of just a few answers, such as using baking soda rather than baking powder. It’s not a useful technique for things like names.

Repetition – Listening

Some people are able to learn by listening to something repeatedly. These people are auditory learner. Often times, learning a language is repetition by listening. Lectures, audio books, and sermons are attractive to people who learn in this manner.

Repetition – Doing

Most people are able to learn a new skill by repeatedly doing something over and over. These people are physical learners. Sports, martial arts, music, and drawing are learned by repetition by doing.

This is a skill employed by most workplaces. The workforce teaches people by demonstration, then allows the person to repeat it. For most people, this is acceptable. But, if you are of a learning type that is more introspective, this is very distracting.

Repetition – Reading

Facts can be learned by force when they are read multiple times. Most sciences are learned by repetition by reading. There are a certain few people that are able to read about a topic and understand what is happening and how to do it.

Unfortunately, we only retain about 10-25% of the material we read the first time. For introspection learners, reading something 2-3 times places the learning curve to 90%.


If you have a list of things to remember, organizing the list in a predictable flow can help you piece together the missing information.

In picking up 8 objects from the grocery store, if you skip the bath soap (#5 on the list), you’ll know when you hit the dog food (#6) that something was missing. Then, you can go back over your list and find the missing item.

Story Lining

For people with good imaginations, creating a story from the items you need to learn creates a fun and diverse way to remember more complex topics. The story breaks down items into easier to identify pieces and strings them together in predicable ways. You are then able to move through the story as you seek the information.

This is the basis of most myths and legends. In the original text, you’ll find pieces of information repeated and the stories occurring in a predictable order. This is to make sure that as the stories were passed through the generations, they remained the same.


Actors often will read their lines, and act them out in an exaggerated fashion to learn the parts. Acting out the information in a dramatic way can create associations to help you remember the necessary information. A bit of embarrassment also increases our likelihood to remember.

actors memorization techniques

Single Line

Another acting technique is to learn a single line at a time. Two pieces of paper are used to block all other information and the line is read. Then, the previous line is read and the actor recites the next line. This creates positive associations for each line and the triggering line before it.

Many TV actors attribute this technique for learning their lines in very short periods of times. When practiced and used properly, most actors can memories a whole 30-minute show in less than 2 hours.


Studies show that the act of walking increases memory formation by 25%. The motion allows parts of our brains that are idle during resting study to activate. The ability to unconsciously walk allows the conscious mind to focus more on the task to be learned.

improve memory by walking

Children with ADHD benefit from this technique because it also helps to expend nervous energy while studying. A study on Alzheimer’s patients also found physical activity works to slow the memory loss processes. It’s one of the ways to prevent memory loss, or learning how to increase your working memory.

Cheatsheets/Being Fed A Line

The actress Angela Lansbury was famous for using an earpiece to be fed her lines during taping of a TV show, and more importantly, during her run on Broadway. Being prompted with a piece of the information was enough to allow her, and many others, to continue on during times when old age has robbed her of extensive memory.

We do not advocate cheating on a test, however, a cheatsheet can help you study. Simply write down the beginning of what you need to learn and allow your mind to supply the missing information. While this won’t improve your memory, it can be a quick way to recall information.

Hand Copy

Students who hand-writing their notes and assignments are able to remember as much as 80% more of the information than those who use electronic devices. Hand-writing stimulates a portion of the brain that incorporates the physical, auditory, and intelligible parts of our learning processes. The combination provides more memory enhancements than other techniques.

improve memory by handwriting

In areas where final revisions are more common, most students are expected to re-write their notes at the end of the year and organize the information. The act of re-writing is a memory technique.


Memory improvement tips are good, but don’t try all of these at once. One or two are enough to increase your particular way of learning. Memory strategies are a process in order to build easy, go-to techniques. Like any other skill, it takes practice and dedication.

If all else fails, there are several apps and courses to improve memory available online. Some are free, most are paid for. Many allow multiple reminders and repetitive reminders. And don’t give up. Some people will not be able to remember some aspects of information. That’s OK. These and other external aids will improve your life if you use them.



Leave a Comment:

  • Raghav says:

    Much better

    • Dima says:

      Hello, Raghav!

      I’m very happy our information has helped you. Please share your experiences with us. What exact techniques have you used from our list? Maybe you’ve used something different from the other sources? Your tips will be very beneficial to our readers.

      Thank you!

  • Joyce Easterling says:

    I scored 9 out of 10 on the verbal test. Only 1 was out of order.
    On the visual test I got all 15 and in the right order. Wow! Thank you, this will help.

  • kim says:

    nothing helped

    • Dima says:

      Hey Kim!

      Some of these techniques take time to practice and get used to.

      If you tried them once and they didn’t work, we recommend trying them again.

      If they truly do not work after several attempts, we recommend talking to a professional doctor to see if they’re any health issues that are preventing you from being able to learn to your optimal ability.

  • Jessica says:

    Thanks Dima,
    i have tried out these techniques for memorization, it helps me lot.Once again thanks for sharing the useful article. Also i have practice the following tips to memorize,


    which technique is used to memorise sentences…. like history or political science long notes

    • Dima says:

      Hey AMRITA!

      Most of the memorization techniques we mentioned can help you memorize sentences, dates, and other data.

      It depends on the person who’s doing the memorization.

      For some people, just repetition is needed. For others, they need some of the devices that we mentioned in the article. You will have to experiment to see what works best for you.

      Another reason we recommend experimenting with these techniques is because sometimes several skills work for people depending on what they’re learning and studying.


    i scored 15 out 15 in visualisation test…. and 4 in verbal..
    I can’t remember dates do you have any videos for that as a political science student i am struggling remembering long notes and important dates.

    • Dima says:

      Hey AMRITA!

      Good job on the visualization.

      It sounds like you are a visual learner.

      There are many videos out there that will help you learn via visualization. Unfortunately, we do not have any of those available.

      If you find some you really like, send it to us and we’ll be sure to post it for other people

  • Stuart Stevensen says:

    Very interesting. It really help me memorize a lot of things.
    Thank you and God bless you.

    • Dima says:

      Hey, Stuart!

      Thanks for the kind words.

      We really want to help people be able to remember the things they need to remember.

      Would you like to share what exactly you used and how you used it so other people will benefit from your experience?

  • Harvy says:

    Hi Dima,
    I cant seem to find any of the above helpful I am trying to browse the internet lately but I dont get a helpful reply.

    Like when I use the Ryming Technique nothing of the words I should memorise would Rhyme, make them in a poem figure there is too much to memorise so please help me with this

    As a student

    • Dima says:

      Hey, Harvy!

      If these techniques are not helping you, we recommend visiting your school’s counselor and discussing the problem with them.

      There could be other issues going on that are interfering with your ability to learn and memorize.

      We wish we could give you a direct response to your specific concerns, but we just don’t know you or your issues.

      Talking to your school counselor will help you get specific and personalized help.

    • Gel says:

      Your brain is organized by relationships and thinks in 3D. That’s why it’s easy to remember places and structures. Now you can use your brain’s knack for relationships and space to boost your creativity and intelligence with mind mapping in 3D with augmented reality by ScapeHop

  • Shame says:

    I read these techniques because I want to improve my memorization skills. I hope that it will help. In our class we are always reporting and if it is my turn to report I have a mind block I forgot all my reports and I’m ashamed. What advice you can give to me so I can report very well?

    • Dima says:


      One of the things we could recommend to you is not only using these memorization skills, but also speech classes and public speaking classes.

      These will help you become more comfortable in front of people and produce less stress when you have to report.

      That will help your mind work better and let the memorization techniques work for you.

      The one organization we can recommend is Toastmasters International, they have chapters throughout the entire world.

  • hey…those are quite cool ways to improve memory!!thanks for the information.Read my article about scientifically proven Memorizing techniques also- http://sciencenation.rf.gd/2017/12/28/81/

  • Anne says:

    Remember, better using visual 3D diagram such as Mind Mapping in Augmented Reality. Leverage the information into the bubbles. Mirror how your brain processes information through Mind Map AR by ScapeHop.

  • mulenga says:

    Thank you for your cooperation

  • Tobias says:

    Oh hi Dima

    This helped. just wanted to meme this up a little

  • farida says:

    Many thanks, I will definitely try. I am now taking medications to improve memory and brain work from https://nootropicboost.com. Nootropics are needed in almost any kind of activity, since the human brain and nervous system are not always able to respond to your needs as effectively as possible.

    • Christina Major says:

      Hey Farida!

      Thanks for letting us know about this. Many of the techniques we have here work very well for people who need to learn. Many of the nootropics, the ones we recommend here, help people work efficiently and fast and school and college settings. Sometimes having that little extra boost, helps. Just be sure to use them as directed and do your research to make sure they will not affect any other medications you take.

  • Sharon says:

    6 & 13, I’m a visual person. So my question is how do I study for a job exam that requires you to memorize addresses in four different routing Codes(A, B, C, D). But they give you a code chart to study for 7 minutes only, and it has 3 address with a street number range in A,(100-500 West St. 50 – 199 North Ave and 1000 – 1500 Morgan Dr.) Then two more addresses in B, that may be the same street name but the street number sequence has changed. Then another set in C, that would have two new streets and one previously used in A or B, and the number range is different. On routing, code D it’s for addresses that don’t fit in the street number range or they threw in an address that wasn’t given. How should I prepare for this type of memorization? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    • Christina Major says:

      Hey Sharon!

      This is a challenging problem. As a visual learner, sketching and drawing pictures associated with the street names and numbers will be a great benefit for you. We also recommend talking to your professors and discussing your learning needs and the challenges you’re finding in your studies. They may have recommendations for memorizing the information that we have not thought of.

      Also, as one of the techniques, you can write down what needs to be memorized over and over again. Another technique may be making associations of the street names and numbers with the other words/names you may easily remember. You can also take the first letter in the street name and first number in street number and remember only these. It will be easier for you to recall all the street name and number later.

  • Edgard says:

    Great article. There are indeed many ways to memorize and you list a good deal of them.
    I coach people, mainly adults, who want to learn another language. For the last 22 years, I have been worked at the http://www.englishacademy.be where I always get questions about how to memorize a new language fast.
    Repetition, storylining, and visualization were already on my list of answers. I will check the other solutions on your list! 😉

    • Christina Major says:

      Hey Edgard!

      Thank you. We’re glad we could list out some things that will help you. Learning a language is challenging. Telling stories and teaching is a great way to help learn new topics and new words.

  • Bahar says:

    There are many ways to learn vocabulary, however not all ways work. We need a better definition of “work”. You want to not only remember the word BUT you also want to be able to use it spontaneously.
    The more you learn the vocabulary the more you will be strong in conversation and another competitive world in English. Making flash cards and a new app is also a good way to memorize the words.
    I personally use this app for learning English, it’s called “WordUp”, so helpful, has a lot of synonym whit correct Pronunciation, there are a few short films which show you how to use that particular word in Sentence.
    you can find it on https://wordupapp.co
    Thanks a lot for sharing this.

    • Dima Stukota says:

      Thank you, Bahar for recommending this app! Recently we’ve reviewed another great course about improving the memory and speed of reading and understanding – Become a Superlearner course from Jonathan Levy. This is the world’s top course on accelerated learning.

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