1. Studying begins with paying attention in class. The focus should be on compiling as much information as you can. Type your notes if the subject does not involve math or hard science. Then, you should thoroughly review your notes no later than 12 hours after each lecture or class period. This helps immensely with long-term information retention.

2. To help with short-term retention, write down things that must be memorized by hand when studying. If you are able, do so three or four times. By the third or fourth time, you should be able to replicate 95% of the text without referring back to the original notes.

3. Be done with things 48 hours in advance. Test on Tuesday morning? That means you should finish studying by Sunday morning. Essay due on Friday afternoon? You should be putting the final touches on your draft on Wednesday.

4. Study only one subject at a time. Do not attempt to study for multiple classes simultaneously.

5. Vary your study locations. Don't camp out just in your room or the lounge or the library - mix it up. This improves memory retention because you will not associate information with particular places or features of those places.

6. There was a famous scientist who did this but I can't remember at the moment. His technique for learning new things and retaining information was to write it down like he was going to teach somebody.

7. If your problem has less to do with not retaining information and more to do with being unable to apply information in new ways or engage in critical thinking, join the debate team.

8. Always go to class. Write as much information in your notes, even if you don't understand what it means. After class, read the textbook to try and clarify those missed/unclear concepts, while the information are still fresh.

9. I always try to finish my exam review 2 weeks before and notes 1 week before the exam. That leaves like 3-4 days of intense studying of really trying to understand the material and any underlying concepts.