The best study method is usually active recall plus spaced repetition , especially when you combine them with practice questions. That combination is consistently more effective than rereading, highlighting, or making pretty notes because it forces your brain to retrieve information and revisit it over time.

What works best

  • Active recall: close the notes and try to remember the material from scratch.
  • Spaced repetition: review the same material over increasing intervals instead of cramming once.
  • Practice questions or past papers: use them to test exam-style understanding, not just memory.
  • Feynman technique: explain the topic simply, as if teaching someone else, to expose weak spots.

Simple routine

  1. Study a small chunk.
  2. Hide the notes and write or say everything you remember.
  3. Check what you missed.
  4. Review it again tomorrow, then a few days later.
  5. Finish with practice questions or a past paper.

What to avoid

  • Re-reading the same page repeatedly.
  • Highlighting without testing yourself.
  • Cramming as your main method.
  • Making notes that look nice but do not force recall.

Best for most students

If you want one practical answer, use this: learn a topic, test yourself without notes, then review it on a schedule. That gives you understanding, memory, and exam performance in one system.

TL;DR: the strongest study method is active recall + spaced repetition + practice questions.