Retaining information calls upon two separate but related faculties in the brain. One is the ability to recall concepts, such as how the body synthesizes proteins or how to find the circumference of circles using their diameters. The second type of memory is that which we usually call "rote memorization" and often calls for "verbatim" learning. As an example, it's not enough for a student to know that energy is related to mass. He or she must know that energy equals mass times the speed of light squared.

Different disciplines call upon varying strategies for retaining information. If you're learning Hamlet's "To Be or Not to Be" soliloquy, for example, it's critical that you master every word, and in the right order. If you're studying military history, on the other hand, it's less important to know what, specifically, Napoleon said at Waterloo, so long as you remember that he lost and why (there are several competing theories in this case).

Tips for Retaining Information

For those who must memorize instead of merely retain general info, comprehension is your meal ticket. Trying to memorize anything, be it a theorem, a famous phrase, a chemical formula, or what have you, without understanding the principles behind it is almost impossible. Those who successfully master a set of principles, however, often find that they've nearly memorized their specific articulation as well. In short, understand the idea behind its expression, and the expression will surely follow.

Students seeking to retain general knowledge are best advised to make it as relevant or contextual as possible. Using everyday examples from the home to understand, say, how pressure is influenced by volume and heat, is one sure-fire way to make it stick. It's also wise to practice retrieving general information from time to time, especially at "off" hours, to help keep it in your head for those moments when you do need it. Thus, you may try recalling important concepts from math class or physics while showering, eating, or shooting hoops.