Memory & Concentration

‘Memory' is one thing that can play into the mind of a student when s/he thinks that the much of the course has been covered. In reality, the student can hardly take 25% of the content that s/he studies for the first time. Many students have been found to wonder around their inability to remember. But the memory is the thing that is strengthened through the students' own effort. This is the frequent revisions. That's why the repetitions are so important during the entrance preparation. It is unlikely that anyone can do away with single readings. As the things are revised, they better stick to the mind. And the discussions among the friends help them to get hold for a long period of time.

‘Memorizing' is also a domain difficult to describe. Each and every person is unique and so is the way of remembering. That's why there's no particular way of having something in one's mind. But some ways can do wonders for the wandering fellows. The students should always know the topics and the chapters and the subsequent headings and the subtopics. This can help in memorizing the portions of the chapters where you have read the subject material from and at least you can make out the relevant terms or the principals about the chapter. Likewise trying to memorize the materials under subtopics in relevance or in contrast to each other can really help the cause. So the study of the material by the comparison and relevance can help understand more and also helps in memorizing the things well.

In the context of memory, the concentration also plays an important role. Concentration should be deep when one is studying. Entrance preparation is a long-term activity that can fill up one's brain in a quite a few days. So concentration is extremely important in keeping the student by the side of book and come out with gaining knowledge. The long study hours and the tight routine can make student go for completion of days task and not really oriented to memorizing. The nature may deviate towards finishing the pages in quickly and thereby the books. But this can result into similar lengthy revisions and hence the waste of time. So concentrating really hard is the theme. How to do so? The question can arise. But it should be simply manage by the things around you.

The disturbances such as loud music/noises, the televisions, can all distract. Some say that they can concentrate while playing the music. This can be true for someone but not for many. Many tend to free themselves from the boredom of the study through music or in front of a movie. But the core of facts is that if someone can think what s/he is reading or writing and is listening to what s/he is reading then it can be considered concentrated: irrespective of the environmental factors.
The main indicator of the memory and concentration of a student is the test at the end of each day about what he/she studied that day. One should always try to revise grossly the topics, the subtopics and the contents and their general presentation in the books or the notebooks. Anyway the ultimate objective of the study is to make to stick in the mind at the end of the day. If s/he thinks there is something missing then that may indicate the lapse in concentration at certain period of the day. So, effort should be made the other day to concentrate fully. This effort makes the habit and the habit makes the character; and that is what's required for the MBBS entrance preparation.

When the exam approaches, then many topics can strike into the mind at the same time and they can confuse and make difficult in concentrating. This can lead to sense of loss of memory and the students can easily give up. This is simply result of the pressure and the nervousness that can go vice versa. The students have to exhibit vigorous concentration in this time and only focus on what is in the routine and leave the other things for the exams. If the preparation has been up to the mark then there will certainly be no problems in the exams. But if the preparation has not been completed then also the student has to do away with this tactics of studying continuously and not wandering around whatever pops into the mind.

Recent research has stated that consolidation of the memory occurs in REM sleep. During REM sleep high level of brain activity occurs. Average time to the first REM period after falling asleep is 90 min. REM period of 10-40 min. each occur about every 90 min. throughout the night. Therefore to improve your memory you should sleep enough, average 8 hours a day.

Therefore the best way is sleep enough to retain the things you studied, and use the following helpful links for your study.

Best of Luck.