Memorization is a key factor in how well you’ll perform on the bar exam. If you’re sitting for the July exam, you’ve likely been studying for weeks now. But are you memorizing in a way that fits your learning style? There are three types of learning styles: visual, auditory and kinesthetic. (If you’re not sure which one best describes you, take this quiz to find out.) If you’re a visual learner, images, pictures, color and other visual media work best to help you learn and memorize. Here are five techniques that help visual learners memorize material for the bar exam.
Outlining
For visual learners, seeing things written in an outline makes it easier to memorize the information. If you outlined in law school, you’ll remember this is a great way to visually “see” how the information and law fits together. Now we know it’s not possible to memorize a 30-page outline for every bar exam subject. However, you can take those large outlines and create smaller documents with the essential material. As you think through the material and write it in outline form, you will create a visual pattern that will help you memorize the information. You may benefit from outline study aids such as Lean Sheets and pre-written California bar exam outlines.
Create Diagrams and Visual Images
Putting your notes and outlines in visual annotations will help your mind comprehend the information and memorize it quickly. Think about using graphics and symbols to help you draw out the information in a visual way. For example, if you’re stuck on an area of law that you just cannot memorize, think of symbols or pictures you can draw that may symbolize the rules. You may also want to use flowcharts and graphs when you re-write your bar exam study material.
Watch Videos
Taking information in through video can also be helpful in memorizing bar exam material. Visual learners often pick up physical cues that a person on screen is using and then associate those gestures with words and information. You may benefit from using Adaptibar’s substantive law lectures, which are online videos that take complex law and explain them in a visual way.
The Method of Loci
This powerful method is a great way to memorize information by using imagery association. To use the Method of Loci, imagine a place that you are very familiar with (e.g. your home) and then associate items in the house with the information to memorize. For example, if you need to memorize rules of hearsay, associate each rule with a room in your home. Another example is the route that you often drive or walk (e.g. to your work or school), and then associate the landmarks along the way with the information you need to memorize.
Write, and Re-write
Writing bar exam practice answers is one of the best ways visual learners memorize information. Yet it’s not enough to simply write the answer. The memorization happens during the re-write process. This is where your mind begins to review the law and the words you write on paper connect with the concepts in your head.
Your mind is capable of memorizing more information than you realize. Try a few of these memorization tips as you study for the bar exam and see which ones work best for your visual learning style.
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Did you find this post helpful? Check out some other great articles:
- Can Paper Clips Help You Pass the Performance Test?
- The Power of the Re-Write
- Why Do We Have to Write Out Practice Answers?
- A Slightly Counterintuitive Way to Study for the MBE
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