Easy Memory Tricks for Maths, NAPLAN and Selective Entry
09 May 2026 · Pi Leo Academy
Many students say the same thing before a test: “I understand it when I study, but I forget it later.”
That does not usually mean the student is careless or “bad at remembering”. It often means they are using a study method that feels busy, but does not help the brain bring information back when it matters.
The secret to memorising is not staring at notes for longer. It is practising how to recall them.
Whether your child is preparing for NAPLAN Maths, Selective Entry, a school test, or weekly homework, these simple memory tricks can make revision calmer and more effective.
1. Use the cover-and-recall method
Reading notes feels easy because the answer is already in front of the student. But tests do not ask students to recognise information. Tests ask them to retrieve it.
Try this in 4 steps:
- Read one small section of notes.
- Cover the page.
- Say or write everything remembered.
- Check the notes and fill the gaps in a different colour.
This turns study into a mini test. That is a good thing. The more often students practise recalling information, the easier recall becomes in a real exam.
2. Break big topics into tiny chunks
The brain remembers small pieces better than giant lists. Instead of trying to revise “fractions”, students can split the topic into bite-sized chunks.
Same value, different form.
Divide top and bottom by the same number.
Use a common denominator first.
Divide by the bottom, multiply by the top.
One chunk at a time feels less stressful. It also helps students see exactly which part they know and which part needs more practice.
3. Make a memory hook
A memory hook is a short phrase, picture, rhythm or rule that helps the brain grab the idea quickly.
Perimeter is the path around the outside.
Area is the space inside the shape.
Share the total equally.
A straight line makes 180 degrees.
Memory hooks work best when students create their own. A silly phrase, a quick sketch, or a personal example can be much easier to remember than a polished definition from a textbook.
4. Teach it to someone else
If a student can explain an idea simply, they probably understand it. If they get stuck explaining, that shows exactly where the memory gap is.
A student does not need an audience. They can teach a parent, a sibling, a whiteboard, or even an empty chair.
Use this sentence starter:
“The trick is...”
For example: “The trick is to convert the mixed number into an improper fraction first, then multiply.”
This method is especially useful for Maths because students remember the process, not just the final answer.
5. Space the revision over several days
One long study session can feel productive, but memory fades quickly when revision is squeezed into one night. Short sessions spread across the week usually work better.
This is a quiet but powerful trick. Students remember more when they revisit ideas just as they are starting to forget them.
6. Keep a tiny mistake notebook
A mistake notebook does not need to be long. In fact, it works best when it is simple.
For each mistake, write:
- ✓ What type of question was it?
- ✓ What went wrong?
- ✓ What is the correct trick or step?
- ✓ One similar question to try again later.
Before a quiz or mock test, students can revise their mistake notebook instead of rereading everything. It is personal, targeted, and much less overwhelming.
7. Use pictures for abstract ideas
Many students remember Maths better when they can see it. A quick diagram can make an idea stick.
Draw bars, circles or number lines.
Use a 100-square grid or a money example.
Use boxes for unknown values.
Mark equal sides, right angles and missing lengths.
The drawing does not need to be beautiful. It only needs to help the student think clearly.
8. Finish with a two-minute brain dump
At the end of a study session, ask the student to close everything and write down the most important things they remember.
A good brain dump includes:
Key formulas, useful shortcuts, common mistakes, one solved example, and one question they still want to practise.
This gives the brain one final chance to organise the lesson before moving on.
A simple weekly memory routine
For busy families, keep it simple:
- ✓ 10 minutes of cover-and-recall.
- ✓ 10 minutes of one-question-at-a-time practice.
- ✓ 5 minutes reviewing one mistake.
- ✓ 2 minutes writing a brain dump.
That is less than half an hour, but it trains the exact skill students need in tests: remembering clearly, calmly and independently.
How Pi Leo Academy can help
Pi Leo Academy gives students structured practice for NAPLAN Maths and Selective Entry, with topic quizzes, one-question drills, mock exams and explanations that help students understand the steps behind each answer.
The best study habit is not memorising everything at once. It is building a rhythm where students practise, recall, review and try again.
Start small. Recall often. Review mistakes calmly. That is how memory becomes confidence.