We all have our favourite, of course.

And what works for us, is what’s best for us. But how do you know if you’ve stumbled upon the best system for you?

Well, it turns out, so says Jeffrey Karpicke at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, that no matter what form of note taking you make, by far the most effective thing that you can do is…

wait for it…

…repeatedly recalling the information you’ve learnt.

Numerous other researchers, including Andrew Butler of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, have reinforced that view. Schoolchildren, university students and neurological patients rehabilitating all have better memories when they test themselves regularly.

Did someone mention the Learning Cycle?