Discover how mnemonic rules can make your study easier

If you have studied a lot in this life, I imagine that even if you do not know what MNEMOTECHNIC RULES, you have surely used them intuitively to memorize texts, lists or other complex concepts. Mnemonic rules are memorization techniques extremely useful for facilitating learning and remembering information effectively.

Mnemonic rules are linguistic tricks that the student creates to remember information that can be difficult to memorize, such as dates, definitions, or sequences of data. They are useful for any type of student, from children in school to adults preparing for competitive exams.

En ecobachillerato.com I found three useful ways to create mnemonic rules that I will share with you, although There are infinite variants which depend on the creativity of the person who designs them. There is no fixed rule, what works for one person may not work for another, so the key is to find what best suits your mental process.

Cartoon technique

This popular technique, based on the saying “a picture (or story) is worth a thousand words,” makes it easy to remember data that is linked to a narrative with a logical or imaginative structure. It is ideal for remembering dates, numbers or long sequences:

Example:

«007-727-180-7-10-2230-2300-2. Agent 007 boarded the 727. He saw a 1,80 meter tall stewardess and decided to ask for a 7 Up to break the ice and talk to her. On his watch it was 10 o'clock. The plane landed at 22:30 p.m., he asked her out and they met at 23:00 p.m. Afterwards, they had dinner and chatted until 2 a.m.

The comic strip combines imaginative numbers and facts that are easy to remember.

Chain technique

Another popular technique is chain, which consists of relating the words of a summary or outline through a simple sentence created by the student. It is very useful for remembering lists or sequences. This technique exploits the association between words to build a chain of information that is easier to remember.

Example:

"Lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine and neon" is transformed into the phrase: «The BBC doesn't work». Each initial of the phrase represents one of the chemical elements of the periodic table.

Creative prayer

This technique allows us create new words that serve as a reminder. It is based on mixing syllables or making an acronym from the words or concepts that we need to remember. It is a great way to make quick associations and memorize content in a more fun way.

Example:

«Aratota Bridge» It is a word invented to remember the route of the Tagus River (Aranjuez, Toledo, Talavera de la Reina, Puente del Arzobispo, Alcántara).

Predicting exam questions

Another technique that is not exactly a mnemonic rule, but is very effective, is to try to predict the exam questions. To do this, we need to analyze what the teacher emphasizes in class, such as topics that he insistently repeats, what he highlights on the board or what he considers essential for us to understand.

It is also recommended to talk with classmates to exchange views on possible questions that might appear on the exam. Doing this exercise regularly helps you focus on the crucial topics and be better prepared.

More mnemonic techniques you can use

In addition to those mentioned above, there are other innovative techniques that will help you memorize better:

• Acronyms: This consists of creating a word using the first letter of each term you want to remember. For example, to remember the stages of the sales process (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action), you can use the acronym "AIDA".
• Keywords: ideal for learning vocabulary in other languages. It is based on associating the word in the foreign language with a word in your native language that sounds the same or similar. For example, "pillow", which means "pillow" in English, can be associated with "pillo", creating a sentence like "the rascal sleeps on his pillow".
• Rhymes or songs: Using rhymes or songs can make facts easier to remember. Many people memorize multiplication tables or math formulas using this technique.
• Loci method: Known as the “Memory Palace,” this technique allows you to associate the concepts you want to memorize with familiar locations in your home or any place you know well.

A good combination of these techniques, combined with regular class attendance and continuous work, can make memorizing large amounts of information easier and help you approach the exam with greater self-confidence.

You now have effective tools for memorizing information! Now all that's left is to put them into practice and find out which one works best for you.