How To Succeed in Exams Using Mind Mapping

Definition of Mind Mapping

Mind Maps are used to represent information and ideas in a visual form that the mind finds easier to remember. A central image or theme is located at the centre of the Mind Map and topics and subtopics are arranged around that central theme or topic.

Whether you want to plan, organize, memorize or be creative Mind Mapping is the most effective note taking technique and there are now a number of different Mind Mapping software tools available to facilitate the creation of Mind Maps.

Why create Mind Maps

Mind mapping is the most effective way of studying, generating new ideas, summarizing and organising information you want to recall. Mind maps can also facilitate creativity, problem solving, decision making and the generation of new ideas.

When revising for an exam it is crucial to be able to review the information quickly and efficiently. Mind Maps enable you to do this as they contain images which are easier to remember and can summarize the information and enable you to review that information at a glance. Also the most important information is located nearer the centre. The mind works best when it can see how the different topics or ideas are associated. With Mind Maps related information is linked by branches and connections. All of this insures that the mind has more connections or hooks to retain the information and prevent it from being lost from long term memory.

How to create a Mind Map for revision

When revising for an exam it is best to determine what level of knowledge you have of that subject before you start. When you build upon that knowledge it will be easier to develop associations and connection from the knowledge you have already gained. Therefore create a Mind Map of what you already know. You may be surprised at how much you can recall.

Obtain a large sheet of paper or if you are using Mind Mapping Software create a central image or theme at the centre of the page. This will represent the main topic. Then write down the main subtopics related to that central topic by creating branches moving out from the central keyword. Add sub- branches to these subtopics containing keywords or short phrases summarizing key ideas that you can recall from memory and try to see how the different sub-topics and elements are associated.

Linear note taking is monotonous and boring. The key information does not stand out, they take longer to write and do not provide a quick way of summarizing the important information needed for an exam. Mind Maps highlight the important information by placing it nearer the centre in larger writing with images that can quickly sum up a key idea or topic. Try and sum up information with a few words or even better 1 keyword or image. Use plenty of colour and images. Organize the information like this helps you to build associations and is very usefully when you want to recall information at a glance.

After you have recalled as much information as possible obtain the books that are most important for revision purposes. Flick through these books viewing the main chapter headings. Also take a look at the contents pages. Now speed read these books focusing in on the most important information and try and build upon what you already know. There is a common myth that speed reading significantly reduces comprehension and retention of information. Speed reading can actually increase retention of information as it enables you to gain a broader perspective of a subject or topic important for memory and can also help your mind piece together the information particularly when you come to read the information in more depth.

Give priority to those books that provide the most usefully and comprehensive information for study and exam revision and study them in greater depth.

Continue to add more detail to your Mind Map, more branches, Keywords and images summing up the main topics and subtopics after reading each section. Use symbols, pictures and group related information where appropriate.

This will aid in recalling the information you have just read, will help to maintain important knowledge in your long term memory and will greatly assist when reviewing the subject before the exam.

As your knowledge of the subject grows your Mind Maps should grow and become more detailed. Areas of knowledge gained from books, lectures, videos etc should be added to your Mind Map and summed up in a few words. More branches will be created and move further from the central theme. A lot of useful information should now be stored in your Mind Map which will be useful for the exam. If your using Mind Mapping Software you should add notes providing more in depth information if needed.

As you approach the exam you should be able to recall in detail the knowledge gained by glancing at your detailed Mind Map which should now contain a detailed summary of your entire subject or topic.

The images will greatly assist in recalling information at a glance and the Mind Map itself will help you to see how all the elements and sub-topics are associated and ordered. Also you will not have to read through loads of notes to get to the key information.

The mind can remember and recall knowledge much easier when it can visualise a subject from a broader perspective and can see how the different topics and subtopics are ordered and associated. . Combine this with the power of images which speak a thousand words and give the mind more mental hooks to latch onto then you have a very powerful and effective method for learning.

If you want to learn more about how to Mind Map and how Mind Mapping could benefit you check out creativemindmapping.com which provides a blog on mind mapping and a review of Mind Mapping Software tools that are available right now