Try to Understand, Not Memorize - Study Tip #8
Have you ever sat down with your notes, read the same sentence over and over, and still felt like nothing stays in your head? You underline, highlight, and repeat the words—yet when the test comes, everything seems to vanish. That’s the trap of memorization.
For me, this applies when I’m trying to learn complicated math formulas for an actuarial exam. Memorizing them is tough. But when I understand how a formula is built and what each part means, I can still use it—even if I forget the exact version during the test.
Here, I’ll show you why memorization fails in many cases, and how to incorporate understanding more easily into your studying process!
Why Memorization Fails
Memorization focuses on input without processing.
It’s like copying someone’s notes without knowing what they mean—you might reproduce the information, but you won’t be able to use it when the context changes.
Sure, memorizing facts might help you survive a quiz the next day. But the knowledge often evaporates quickly because it’s not connected to anything deeper. It doesn’t stick, and it doesn’t build toward real mastery.
Memorizing is like saving a phone number you never dial. Understanding is knowing why you’d call and what to say when someone picks up.
The Power of Understanding
Understanding is when you can explain a concept in your own words, solve a problem that uses it, or recognize it in a new situation. When you understand, you’ve built mental connections—and those connections last.
Think of understanding as building a framework. Each new idea has a place, a reason, and a relationship to something else. You don’t just know that something is true—you know why.
How to Focus on Understanding
Here are a few ways to shift from memorizing to truly understanding.
❓Ask “Why?” and “How?”
Don’t stop at what something is—dig into why it works that way. Why is the formula structured like that? How does this concept connect to what you already know?
(e.g., the formula for the present value of an annuity due is the sum of cash flows, each discounted by a given interest rate—it forms a geometric series.)
🧑🏫 Use the Feynman Technique
Try explaining the topic as if you're teaching it to a 10-year-old. The gaps will show up fast, and you’ll be forced to simplify and clarify your thinking.
(e.g., an annuity due is like receiving money from your parents at the beginning of each month.)
🔍 Build examples and metaphors
Come up with your examples, even silly ones. If you’re studying probability, try to use simple instead of complicated exams, and familiar to you.
✍️ Solve real problems
Don’t just read theory—apply it. Doing exercises, especially ones that require you to adapt what you’ve learned, forces you to understand the underlying principles.
Conclusion
Memorization might get you through a quiz, but understanding will carry you through a career.
In fields like economics, statistics, or actuarial science, being able to use what you know is far more valuable than being able to recite it.
So the next time you study, pause and ask yourself: Do I really get this? Could I explain it to someone else? If the answer is no, don’t worry—that’s where the real learning starts!
If you’d like to explore some of the concepts mentioned in this post further, I’ve included a few helpful links below.
Feynman Technique: The Ultimate Guide to Learning Anything Faster - https://fs.blog/feynman-technique/
Demystifying Learning through Examples - https://educationrickshaw.com/2021/10/30/demystifying-learning-through-examples/