Read, cover, test

This is one of the most basic learning activities - you probably use it already. It involves simply reading something or looking at a picture or diagram, then covering it and seeing if you can write down what you've just read or seen. Here are some ways to make this activity even more useful.

Instead of just writing down what you read, imagine teaching it to someone. In your mind, go through what you'd say, how you'd explain something, how you'd help your pupil to draw a diagram. Teaching is also a great way to check that you really understand, rather than just being able to repeat it.

Instead of writing the stuff down, see if you can come up with a question about the information, which you then answer in your own words.

Wait a couple of minutes before writing - just think about the information or visualise it somehow. This is great to putting material into long-term memory.

As always, play around with the information; have a bit of creative fun with it. Massage it. Look at it from different angles.

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