Study Skills?
 

What are some tricks to improve general memory of things we read?

I am in the military and really working at getting ready to test for E7 this year...and well I am looking for some tips. Last year I missed it by 4 points so I am not taking chances to miss it again.

We are tested on Professional Military Education (PME) and our career field knowledge (SKT)...if only this was just K9, I have to know everything from the cop career field and the PME for the Air Force. So 200 questions pulled from a test bank of about 15,000 (according to the study tools computer program I purchased).

The first chapter of the PFE is on basic study skills, but I am just thinking someone may have a nice trick that works for them.

So watcha got? SmileWavy

I've heard that it's a good idea to study for 45 mins, relax for 15, repeat. Something about the 15 min relax period gives the brain a chance to "digest" the stuff that it's just studied, and then it's ready to move on again.

Lots of repetition seems to help as well.

What is it you needed again?

ha ha less time on the internet might help me as well.

I think what works best depends on the person.

In college, one of my roommates and I were both finance majors. He learned by rote and had to work problems repeatedly. I learned by figuring out the underlying principals. He would study 3 hours a day and all night before a big test. I would study more in the beginning and taper off. The night of the test I would do a quick review if anything at all.

My roommate needed to constantly remind himself of all of the concepts. I needed to learn them early and if I didn't know them by test time, it was too late for me.

Just a thought...

Is this really a question of motivation rather than study techniques?

no...I wake up at 5 am, get to my office early to study at least 1 hour. In the evening I relax and then study for another hour at least, sometimes 2. My question is I recognize questions and answers as I have seen them before, but the true ability to recall the information verbatem just seems to be lacking. The test is written with 2 answers that just seem wrong and easy to spot...the other two seem right as rain but which one is more correct?

Does this make sense?

Re: Study Skills?
 

Sleep. It's astounding how memory and learning is dependent on sleep. Don't overstudy, either. I approached mathematics this way. Now I'm able to multiply. :p

I'm with legion, if I really understand a concept, I will do well, but that works best with stuff like math and science. For other things it's more about memorization.

Yes. Sounds like any multiple choice exam, really. Do you have a study guide, with answers and an explanation of why one answer is "more correct" than another?

Also, if your test is what I imagine, I wonder if they try to trip you up with language or minute details. That's where you have to be careful.

Can you post one of the questions?

Sure I can post one. Just a few while I load the program.

The Air Force organizes, trains, equips and sustains itself according to the air and
space expeditionary force (AEF) concept by creating a mindset and culture that
embraces what unique characteristics of aerospace power?

A: Range, flexibility, precision and speed
B: Flexibility and precision
C: Precision, range and flexibility
D: Range and speed

Sounds like you have two questions. For memory, you have to figure out how you learn best. Eg/if I read it I'm asleep. However, if I listen to a lecture (and take notes) I can do well on a test without ever buying the textbook. Doing questions is also helpful. You have to find what's best for you. BTW research suggests that listening to something with a rhythm (like rock) helps one remember better.

Test taking is a completely different skill. Thing that works the best is boiling the question down to it's essential elements, and asking yourself what the tester "wants". Safety above all else, lower costs, multiple redundancies etc.

Yeah you all seem to have the idea and thank you for your replies. I think it's just such a broad range of information that I am having a problem going from 1 chapter to another and retain the information from the other chapters.

Smithy - I pick "C." But I have to go to lunch now. Don't tell me the answer. I want to read the question again, and answers, and figure how I came to that conclusion.

Damn good question - and sort of tough as I'm not in the Air Force. SmileWavy

Ah...multiple choice tests. Fortunately, I was born a good test taker.

BTW, for your above question, I would guess "A". However, if speed is specifically excluded for some reason, I could see why that answer was put in to trip people up.

I find on those kinds of questions I have to get in a mindset where I neither underthink nor overthink the answer. I have to make sure to not fall into the easy traps, all the while not ruling out the right answer because I'm looking too hard for a trap. Make sense? I also have to accept that I will misjudge a few questions...

Multiple choice test, don't overthink/overanalyze the question. Go with your first choice, as it is usually the right one.

Study tips, find someplace away from where you watch tv or work on the computer. Kitchen table is good at the house, desk is good at work, it will focus your mind on studying and not those other options. The 45/15 set up given earlier is the one that I have heard the most about.

For me studying is finding the motivation to do it. I am hoping to finish my masters in May of 07. My new motivation is to be finished. I assume your motivation is to get promoted. Always keep that in mind. I recently took a test for a new job I studied more in the two weeks for that test then I believe I have studied all year for my masters. But that is because I want that new job so bad and used it as motivation to study more.

Good luck with the promo.

Thanks, yeah my motivation is to be an E7 for my return to the US next summer. I am at a point where I likely won't be in a K9 job because of being an E6, so better be an E7 where I can set up for retirement and put up with a little less BS. =o) $$$ is a good motivator as well.

Ok I am off to study, will give the answer to the question above tomorrow unless Leland or another AF guy beats me to it.

More often than not, on multiple choice tests, the longest answer is the correct one. Shouldn't use that as a substitute for studying, but may work if it comes down to a coin flip.

So, as I said, I select C.

Of course, not being in the AF, I'm guessing, but here's how I figured out my answer, whether right or wrong:
Keywords like "culture" or phrases like "according to..." tell me there's a deep-seated notion of the AF that coincides with the AEF, so I wonder "What is it the AF and AEF share?"

I think space exploration is complicated and intricately planned. It is never rushed, and if the AF is like the AEF, it also isn't rushed. However, space exploration has to involve sharpness (precision), often involves great distance (range); and things can go wrong in space, which may involve adjustment (or flexibility). Speed goes against all these attributes because sometimes speed can create sloppiness that would effect precision, range and flexibility.

I don't know, though. That's just my layman's point of view. At least I gave it more thought than saying "Eeney, meany, miney, mo."

HD - People learn in many ways. You just have to know which way you learn best, visually (reading), audio (hearing), kinetically (movement), abstractly (conversion), musically (repetition), existentially (what it means to you), socially (what it means to others). Trying to teach the material to somebody is also a good method.

Or you could cheat…

The correct answer is (A)

Yeah I have heard the too long to be wrong idea in the past, but with these test writers that will get you nothing from what I have seen.

I have noticed progress this year and it seems to be working as last night and this morning I was able to focus a little better.

Thanks fellas for the ideas and this should keep me motivated. :D

if you review the material one time, it is in your head, all you have to do is make the connections to recall the info. these connections strengthen each time you review the info.

or just write really really small, and use both hands:D

smitty..i think you're gonna wanna lay down that cowbell. maybe your playing of it during study is..distracting? i don't know..if i'm the only one i'll shut up.. ;)
ryan

Ah nuts! :(

A , of course it was..the other choices don't come close.
Read,highlight, read again..as others have said...go with your gut on the ones that trouble you.
Do not overstudy..you just get confused.
Rika

"C"
 

I would select "C"... but what do I know, I was a lowly USN Corpsman (E6) when I was discharged in 1991.

A is the only answer with all 4. It even reads right . Given the choices.
Rika

But test writers generally avoid having the right answer first, last or middle (eg/of 5). So if you have no idea, and have to truly guess, avoid those three.

i would guess 'd' only because 'range and speed' would seem to have more to do/relate with 'power' than flexibility or precision. they're different concepts to my way of thinking.
ryan

You want to be able to do this
it fast (speed), get there (range) ,be able to adapt to the situation's
( be flexible)
hit what your going after (precise),
Rika

I agree that I just need to stay motivated and not go too deep into it. This morning was a chapter on Investigations, while reading it was like an episode of CSI going through my head so it kept me interested. The job stuff is not too bad, it's the general Air Force knowledge stuff that has me by the fine hairs. lol

I went to the Board wearing winter top/summer pants,
if your not military..you have no idea how BAD this is.
had overslept, guys going in before me..I heard screaming inside ,folks coming out devasted, my Plt. leader is besides himself..my goof will reflect on him..oh well this will be quick, go in ,simple ?, no-one says anything about my uniform..
boardscore =I maxed it ???
few weeks earlier in our clinic I had a Pt. she was examined by our Dr. a civilian from the ME
this in the days of on-call..like you got a Pedi. guy for car trauma.
I disagreed with the Dr and got her to the ER and treated right.
She was the wife of the Command Sgt. Major.
Told me afterwards, you know squat about the uniform..
but your a darn good medic.
Karma at it's finest.
Rika

i agree that flexibility and precision are extremely important..even necessities..just thinking the question is being a little tricky by getting the test taker to think purely in terms of power. what is the correct answer here?

The answer is A,
it reads right, and given the clues..it's the only answer that comes close to answering the ?
if I had a taskforce..it needs to be able to do what ?
Rika

I have a attempted a few different methods of studying for these sorts of tests (certification tests in my case; not military).

The first round of certifications I attained through reading, note taking and practicing as well as practice testing. The problem I find with practice tests the more advanced I get in a subject is that...well...sometimes they are just plain wrong. However with these methods I had the highest pass rate.

Recently I had simply been reading the material itself and then take practice tests. Well; that didn't work very well and my pass rate was low.

Now, working on a more advanced certification I have gone back to the old ways of reading the material, taking notes and practicing as well as practice testing. The key is not to remember the test for me as much as it is to simply KNOW the material. I even think it requires less effort; I don't study as hard but I study BETTER. I take some time for each subject to get to know it so that when I review I'm truely reviewing and not restudying.

Incidentally I recall my Dad trying to make E7 many times and failing by very few points each time. Repeated failures can really do some damage to a man. I don't know where his mistakes lay but I find it is best to get out and away from home and work distractions and go someplace where you can simply study. If there are kids at home or honey do lists you've simply got to get away from it. For me work is the place that I study best because I can practice it here. Most of the folks I work with work later hours so I come in early and have a few hours to study alone.

Best of luck man.

Don't study it - learn it, know it and it won't matter much how the wording is.

Sometimes depends on how current the test is vs what you're studying. Happens in my field all the time.

rika..agreed that all four are essential in combat, for sure. just seems like maybe a trick question focusing specifically on power and betting that many test takers would just bite at #1 because they're all..important. you don't think? who posted the question anyway?
ryan

ME

i should have known. quit bein' so selfish, gene... ;)