Difficulty Concentrating and Memorizing for Pharmacy Exams

by Pharmaearth
(Canada)

Hello I am a pharmacy student. Finished my degree, and now I am giving my registration exams. I find it so difficult to concentrate and memorise my subject.

Hundreds of diseases and their treatment management. When I read I find it easy to remember but next day its all gone. Evaporated from my brain. I cannot easily recall what I read day before.

I really want to succeed and pass my all registration exams as well as improve my memory, and I want to make my mind very strong.

For example, if I read a chapter one day I forget it the very next day. Most importantly I cannot focus even for half hour for studying. Lack of concentration as well as memory.

Doug's Reply. It's common to understand while reading but not remember it later. While reading, your short-term memory (a.k.a. working memory) holds the information in your mind temporarily while you consider it. But short-term memory can only manage a small amount of detail at one time.

Thus, if you don't employ memory-aid techniques for tagging the information (such as visualization memory systems), and especially if you don't concentrate while reading, the information may not begin the transfer to long-term memory (a process known as consolidation).

A FEW SUGGESTIONS:

1) Recite the material. Don't read straight through a chapter. Read one paragraph, and place in your mind the facts mentioned in that one paragraph. Then set the book aside and mentally recite those facts without looking at the text.

Recitation is a powerful memory technique. It forces the information into your brain and gives you immediate feedback on the quality of your studying.

After all, if you can't remember the facts from the paragraph you just read, you obviously won't remember them the next day.

2) Ask questions. In every part of the text, ask - and ANSWER - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How.

Another reason people don't remember is they are not "engaged" with the material. Passive readers remember little. Be an ACTIVE reader.

3) Join a study group. Find someone else who is studying for the pharmacy registration exams. Quiz each other on the diseases, treatments, medications, etc.

Having someone ask you questions highlights weaknesses in your knowledge. To answer questions verbally you must truly know the material.

4) Take steps to improve your concentration. Meditation, brain games, diet, sleep - all can influence concentration and memory.

I hope you find these ideas helpful. Best of luck.

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