{"id":32183,"date":"2016-02-18T10:00:04","date_gmt":"2016-02-18T17:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2016\/02\/boost-your-memory-and-your-gmat-score-pt-2\/"},"modified":"2016-02-18T10:00:04","modified_gmt":"2016-02-18T17:00:04","slug":"boost-your-memory-and-your-gmat-score-pt-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/boost-your-memory-and-your-gmat-score-pt-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Boost Your Memory\u2014and Your GMAT Score Pt. 2"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"What\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

Enhancing your memory with music and associations could enhance your GMAT score. #PredictYourScore<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In the first part of this series<\/a>, we explored the use of mnemonic devices and spaced repetition for supplementing your study strategy and making strides beyond your predicted GMAT score<\/a>. Today, we\u2019ll continue with some further memory enhancing techniques using associations and music.<\/span><\/p>\n

Enhancing your GMAT score<\/b><\/h4>\n

The narrator of Marcel Proust\u2019s <\/span>In Search of Lost Time<\/span><\/i> discovers the power of involuntary memory, as it’s often called, when he bites into a madeleine (a kind of French sponge cake) and is suddenly transported back to memories of his childhood. You\u2019ve likely had similar experiences of nostalgia: a particular taste, smell, or melody instantaneously linking you to the distant past.<\/span><\/p>\n

The human brain is peculiarly associative, and the slightest, most obscure detail is often enough to compel us to recall something from our youth as if it happened yesterday. Fortunately for you, harnessing this power of association can help you win big on <\/span>Test Day<\/span><\/a>. All of the complex, multifaceted content you need to know for the <\/span>GMAT<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>GRE<\/span><\/a> can be committed to memory by using some simple mnemonic tricks.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Baker\/baker effect<\/b><\/h4>\n

How do you use association to earn a higher GRE or GMAT score? One of the most common techniques is to employ visual or spatial cues that help consolidate and engrain specific information in your memory. The idea is simple: Associative learning is more effective than rote memorization simply because it makes a more significant impression.<\/span><\/p>\n

This should intuitively make sense. We know that many people find it difficult to remember the name of somebody they\u2019ve met only once unless there\u2019s some other association attached to that name. In what Researchers call the <\/span>Baker\/baker effect<\/span><\/a>, two groups of people are introduced to a man. One group is told that the man\u2019s name is Baker and the other is told that the man is a baker. It turns out that the latter group is better at recalling the piece of information they\u2019ve been given, since the idea of a baker calls to mind a network of associated sensations: the smell of fresh bread, the taste of pastries, the image of a bakery, etc.\u2014more parts of the brain are engaged by the word \u2018baker\u2019 than by the proper name.<\/span><\/p>\n

Memorization by association<\/b><\/h4>\n

Knowing that visual cues make a more lasting impression on your brain, you can use the technique of association to master either the GMAT or the GRE, depending on which entrance exam you\u2019re taking. Let\u2019s say, for example, you encounter the word \u2018taciturn\u2019 when reviewing your deck of <\/span>vocabulary flashcards<\/span><\/a>. You might then visualize somebody \u201cturning\u201d away from a conversation to remember that \u2018taciturn\u2019 means \u201cinclined to silence; reserved in speech; reluctant to join in conversation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Another approach is to grow your GMAT vocabulary and <\/span>verbal skills<\/span><\/a> by assigning definitions to an associative object or person. For example, you remember the definition of the word \u2018garrulous\u2019\u2014which means \u201cexcessively talkative, especially on trivial matters\u201d\u2014because it reminds you of your particularly chatty Facebook friend Gary. Use whatever feels most natural for drawing associations that might clue you in on the meaning.<\/span><\/p>\n

The method of loci<\/b><\/h4>\n

Associative learning can also help with short-term recollection, such as when you\u2019re answering <\/span>GMAT Reading Comprehension<\/span><\/a> questions. Although the passage will remain on the screen while you answer the questions, knowing precisely where to find important information\u2014key arguments, opinions, or positions articulated by the author\u2014can save you time. Try plotting reference points in your short-term memory that will help you zero in on specifics demanded by the questions.<\/span><\/p>\n

One approach, known as the method of loci, is to imagine the passage as a house, with each room in the house representing different parts of the text and specific objects in each room assigned to more granular details. Then, when it comes time to answer the Reading Comprehension questions, you can simply \u201cwalk through\u201d the passage and you\u2019ll have a clear map of where key points are located in relation to one another.<\/span><\/p>\n

Name that tune<\/b><\/h4>\n

Visual and spatial associations aren\u2019t the only effective way to supplement your memory. Music can be equally compelling, and you likely already have strong memory associations with your favorite songs. There\u2019s something about music that hooks us\u2014sometimes a bit too effectively, such as when you get a song stuck in your head.<\/span><\/p>\n

That catchy aspect of music is precisely what you want to seize on when studying for the GMAT. You probably remember the ABC song from childhood. You may even still compulsively hum the melody when reciting the alphabet. Just as that song helped you learn your ABCs, memorizing GMAT content is easier when you set it to a simple, catchy tune.<\/span><\/p>\n

Music and math<\/b><\/h4>\n

Let\u2019s say you\u2019re trying to learn the formula <\/span>D<\/span><\/i> = <\/span>rt<\/span><\/i>. Since familiar children\u2019s songs have the simplest melodies and are easiest to remember, we\u2019ll use \u201dMary Had a Little Lamb.\u201d To commit the formula to memory, all you have to do is sing it as a musical phrase: \u201cDistance equals rate times time\u2026 rate times time\u2026 rate times time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Be sure to sing it repetitively and out loud during your study sessions (give your roommate fair warning). Then, when you need to use the formula on <\/span>Test Day<\/span><\/a>, you\u2019ll find that the melody will immediately pop into your head, and along with it all the crucial information you need to know to solve the problem.<\/span><\/p>\n

The best way to enhance your study strategy and <\/span>improve your GMAT score<\/span><\/a> is to use a combination of mnemonic devices, spaced repetition, associations, and musical memorization. Apply the different techniques where they make most sense to you, and get creative with inventing your own methods.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now that you know more about how enhancing your memory can help enhance your score, get started\u00a0testing your knowledge.\u00a0Take our Score Predictor\u00a0quiz (about 10 minutes!) <\/a>to help you find out how you might do on the GMAT.<\/em><\/p>\n

The post Boost Your Memory\u2014and Your GMAT Score Pt. 2<\/a> appeared first on Business School Insider<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Enhancing your memory with music and associations could enhance your GMAT score. #PredictYourScore In the first part of this series, we explored the use of mnemonic devices and spaced repetition…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":120,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"1","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,558,243,940],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32183","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gmat","category-kaplan-blog","category-blog","category-gmat-prep-gmat","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32183","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/120"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32183"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32183\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32183"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32183"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32183"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}