“I knew the answer to that question! I just couldn’t remember it for the test!”

“我记得这个问题的答案，只是在测试中想不起来！”

Have you ever left an exam feeling this way? It’s a common problem that students encounter, and the problem really stems from the fact that we sometimes memorize when we study when we should be learning when we study.

你是否曾经在测试中有这样的感受？这是学生遇到的很常见的问题，产生这种问题的原因是当我们应该学习知识时，我们只是记忆了知识。

If we simply memorize information as we prepare for an exam, the information is bound to fade from our memory--and sometimes it fades before we need it!Some studies say that we lose up to eighty percent of what we take in.

如果我们在准备考试时只是简单地记忆了知识，那么这些知识会逐渐忘记，有时甚至在我们使用之前就会忘记！一些研究表明我们会遗忘80%我们记忆的知识。

Information stored to short term memory is also difficult to recall when we're under stress. And we're normally under some stress during an exam.

在压力较大时，短期记忆的知识同样难以回忆起来。而在考试中我们都面临一定的压力。

So how do we make sure that we’re learning as opposed to memorizing?

那么我们如何确定我们掌握了知识而不是简单记忆知识呢?

1,  Identify learning outcomes. This sounds like stating the obvious—you’re supposed to learn the material in the book, right?

1.确定学习成果。这听起来很容易，你应该学习课本中的材料，不是吗？

But in reality, the answer is not so obvious. Your learning outcome will be different from one class to another.

但实际上，这个问题的答案并不简单。你的学习成果每堂课都是不一样的。

For example, in math class, it is obvious that you will learn steps for solving problems, but the real learning outcome is that you understand the meaning of the steps.You must understand they why of everything you do to solve an equation, although this can happen after you've practiced and memorized the steps. If you don’t, you will not be able to answer problems that are slightly different from those you’ve practiced.

例如，在数学课上，你可以学到解决问题的步骤，但真正的学习成果是你对解决方法的理解。你需要理解解方程时的每一步，尽管这些问题都是在你理解和记忆步骤的基础上。如果不能理解知识，在解决一些和你的练习有出入的问题时，你可能无法解决问题。

Every teacher has learning outcomes in mind when he or she designs the class. You will probably find the expected outcomes listed on your class syllabus. If you can’t find them this way, then simply ask the instructor.

老师都会在设计课程时预期课程的结果。你可以根据课程的教学大纲来预期应该达到的学习成果。如果这样不能明确要求的话，也可以直接询问教师应打到的学习成果。

2.  Read to understand. How long does it take you to read an entire textbook chapter? When you read to understand, it should take you a few days! Don’t worry, you don’t have to spend an entire two days reading.

2.以理解为目的的阅读。你阅读整本书花费多长时间呢？当你为了理解而阅读的时候，可能会花费几天的时间。

When you read a textbook chapter, you should preview the material and observe topics and subtopics. If you are very intentional about this, it will provide a framework for the information you’ll read.

当你阅读一本教科书一章时,你应该预览材料并且观察每章的总标题和副标题。如果你留意这些信息,它将为你阅读的内容提供一个知识框架。

As you read the chapter, be sure to notice and look up any words you can’t define on your own.

在你阅读章节的时候，一定要关注并且查找任何你不熟悉的词汇（无法给出定义）。

Stop after each paragraph or page and close your eyes. Summarize what you’ve read in your mind. If you can’t, go back and review until you can summarize.

在阅读完段落或页面之后闭上眼总结你读到的内容。如果无法总结出，则返回再阅读直到可以总结出。

A day after you’ve read the chapter, go back and review. Any time you revisit information you’ve taken in, it makes the information sink in further.

在你阅读完章节内容一天之后进行复读。任何一次对知识的复习，你都会更深地掌握知识。

3.  Test yourself. Practice tests are the best tools for determining whether you’ve learned information or you’ve merely memorized steps and definitions. But your practice test must be challenging.

3.自我测试。测试练习是自我检测的有效工具，可以帮助判断你是记忆了步骤和定义还是真正学习了知识。但你的练习测试需要具有一定的难度。

Team up with a study partner and challenge each other with practice exams. What if a study partner isn't an option? You can still test yourself.

可以和你的学习伙伴组队来相互测试。当不能和学习伙伴一同测试时，你仍然可以进行自我测试。

In a class with lots of terms and definitions to learn, use a stack of flashcards to begin the process of memorizing the definitions. Then, (once you have memorized them all) choose two random terms and see if you can describe how they are related to each other. It's a kind of do-it-yourself essay question.

在一些有很多专业术语和定义的课程中，你可以制作一叠卡片开始记忆这些定义。然后，（一旦你可以全部记忆单个的定义或专业术语），可以随机选择两个术语来测试自己是否能描述清楚这两者之间的联系。这是一种简单的自我问答形式。

4.  Teach others. One of the best ways to turn a memorized fact into a learned fact is to teach others. This activity also requires that you team up with one or more students in your class. Put a study group together and assign topics from your study guide or chapter questions. Then have each student take a turn to teach the others.

4.教授给其他人。另外一种可以将记忆的转化转化为理解的内容便是教授给他人。这个活动同样需要与班内的其他人合作（一个或多个）。组建一个学习团队并且按学习指南或章节问题为每个人分配主题。然后每个学生依次轮流为其他人讲授。