Find the main concepts in your reading, take notes however it works best for you – laptop, notecards, notebook, whatever. Make a quick outline to keep the details with the concepts. Writing it down and being able to look at a quick summary should help you keep it all straight. I know it’s old-fashioned, but it really works 🙂

I’m not sure what subject it’s for, but if the book or textbook is anything that’s on MP3 or CD, it might help to get or download a copy and listen to it – having it visually and audio will help you remember it a lot better.

I always had a high degree of anxiety during my life, so found one evening, that the most effect form of studying for an exam–for me–was to cram until about midnight. Set the alarm for 3 a.m.; awake and go over the same material ONCE; and fall asleep immediately. I’d rush to school the next a.m. and then effortlessly, pour out the answers. Pretty much all A’s. Later in Grad school I learned of (what I think is called) auto-genic lerning. For me, reading through the material in the early hrs of the morning, kept my anxiety at bay until the exam in the a.m. This served me well later through grad school. Might try it–Good luck.

Its really up to you and what kind of learner you are. Can you read many paragraphs and retain information like a sponge? Or are you a visual person? You can make outlines, graphs, and charts if it helps you organize your thoughts so that you make sense of what you are reading. The best way for me to retain lots of information is taking key points and putting them on note cards that way you can take them with you and find a good place to study.

Wright down (not highlight) key points.

Repeat them word for word out load ever few hours (or every chance you get. At least 2x’s a day).

Make word play on it or attact it to something personal. (Colorado’s capital is Denver… another name for a dwelling is “den”…).

Read the material and make sure you understand it. read it again and again until you remeber. Morning is the best time to study.

repetition. jus relate the material to something you know. like a song or something. that helps me.

Scan.Skim.Read.