Why is cramming night before exam not as effective as studying at intervals for

1. 76

   ngurecoposted 12 years ago

   Why is cramming night before exam not as effective as studying at intervals for longer span of time?
   
   Why do we easily remember things better when they have been studied over a long span of time?

   replyreport
2. 84

   BraidedZeroposted 12 years ago

   Well first off, cramming the night before is very effective for some people. So they would argue that it is more effective the other way around. It will vary from person to person. But to go off of logic here, it is more effective because of repetition. If you see something once you are less likely to remember it compared to someone that has seen it 5 times.

   replyreport
3. 69

   HLKeeleyposted 12 years ago

   Cramming is not learning. Studying over a period of time is not just memorizing, but learning the material. When you know most of the material, it is easier to take a test knowing most of the answers. Based on the knowledge you accumulated you can make educated guesses on other questions you get stuck on.

   replyreport
4. 91

   DzyMsLizzyposted 12 years ago

   It has to do with how your brain works and sorts things into short-term memory or long-term memory.
   Information learned over time, and repeated at intervals, goes into long-term memory.  Information "learned" once only in a short span of time goes into short-term memory. 
   The practice of "cramming" is the classic example of learning something only long enough to pass a test, and as soon as the test is done, the information is likely lost and forgotten. 
   Would you want your brain surgeon to have studied for his finals only by cramming?

   replyreport