Test yourself: the number one way to make it stick
Reading notes puts stuff in. Testing yourself pulls it out. And pulling it out is what makes you remember it. Teachers call this retrieval practice.
Why it works
Every time you remember something, it gets easier to remember next time. Getting it wrong helps too, as long as you check the right answer straight away. Plus, testing shows you exactly what you don’t know yet. Rereading never does that.
5 ways to test yourself
- Brain dump. 5 minutes, blank page, write everything you know about a topic. Then check your notes and add what you missed in a different colour.
- Flashcards. Question on the front, answer on the back. Say the answer before you flip it.
- Blank equation sheet. Write every equation and its units from memory. Then check.
- Quizzes and exam questions. Notes closed, then mark it.
- Draw it from memory. A circuit, a wave, a motor. No peeking.
๐ก Notes closed means notes closed. If you peek, you’re just rereading again.
Try it now
Specific heat capacity. Without looking, write down: what it means, the equation ฮE = m c ฮฮธ with all the units, and the steps of the required practical. Now check. Whatever you missed is today’s revision.
Use these on the site
- Quizzes and physics games for quick tests
- GCSE Focus Questions: every bit of the spec as a question
- Fill the gaps and mind maps
- Topic tests and exam-style questions
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