4 Proven Steps on How to Use the Feynman Technique for Studying (Stop Cramming Today)

4 Proven Steps on How to Use the Feynman Technique for Studying (Stop Cramming Today)

 

Ever walked into an exam hall feeling 100% prepared, only to look at Question 1 and your mind goes completely blank?

It’s a painful experience.

In Nigeria, we call the standard study method “La Cram, La Pour.” You memorize the textbook definition of “Osmosis” word-for-word, recite it like a parrot, and hope the examiner asks you to “Define Osmosis.”

But here is the problem: WAEC and JAMB are evolving. They don’t just ask for definitions anymore; they ask for applications. If they twist the question slightly, the student who crammed will fail, but the student who understands will pass.

So, how do you actually understand complex topics like Stoichiometry or Government policies? You use a method designed by a Nobel Prize-winning physicist. Here is how to use the Feynman technique for studying to crush your next exam.

4 Proven Steps on How to Use the Feynman Technique for Studying (Stop Cramming Today)

What is the Feynman Technique?

Named after Richard Feynman, a physicist who was famous for being able to explain quantum mechanics to people who knew nothing about science, this technique is simple.

The logic is this: If you cannot explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.

It forces you to stop deceiving yourself that you know the material just because you highlighted the whole textbook.

Step 1: Pick the Topic That Scares You

Grab a blank sheet of paper. Write the name of the concept at the top.

Don’t pick something easy. Pick that topic in Physics or Economics that makes you want to sleep. Let’s say it’s “Elasticity of Demand.”

Most students avoid their weak topics. They read the easy ones to feel good. But to get a high score in JAMB, you have to attack the hard stuff first. Write it down.

Step 2: Teach it to a “Junior Student”

Now, explain the concept on that paper as if you are teaching a JSS1 student or your grandmother.

This is the most important step.

Do not use the big grammar in your textbook. If you write, “Elasticity is the responsiveness of quantity demanded to a change in price,” you have failed. That is the textbook speaking, not you.

Instead, can you explain it like this? “Imagine you buy Gala every day for N100. If the price jumps to N150, will you stop buying it? If you stop buying it immediately, your demand is elastic. If you grumble but still buy it because you are hungry, your demand is inelastic.”

If you can’t break it down into simple language, you don’t own that knowledge yet.

Getty Images

Step 3: Identify Your “Pot-Holes”

As you are trying to explain it simply, you will get stuck.

You might explain the first part well, but when you get to the formula or the graph, you start stuttering. You might realize you don’t actually know why the demand curve slopes downwards; you just memorized that it does.

Good. You have found a “pot-hole” in your knowledge.

This is where the magic happens. Go back to your textbook or open your notes. Re-read only the part that confused you. Fill that gap. This is active learning, and according to study guides from top institutions like the University of Ibadan (UI), active engagement helps you retain information 50% better than passive reading.

Step 4: Simplify and Use “Naija” Analogies

Once you understand the gap, go back to your explanation. Simplify it further.

Use analogies that relate to your life.

  • Biology: Don’t just memorize the heart’s function. Compare the heart to a water pump in your compound.

  • Physics: Compare electric current to the flow of water in a pipe. Voltage is the pump pressure (or NEPA trying to push light).

If you can turn a complex abstract idea into a real-world Nigerian scenario, you will never forget it in the exam hall.

Why This Works for WAEC & JAMB

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) chief examiners’ reports constantly complain that students regurgitate notes without understanding.

When you use the Feynman technique, you are essentially conducting a mock exam on yourself. You are forcing your brain to retrieve and process information, not just store it.

It takes more mental energy than just reading, yes. It is tiring. But would you rather be tired now or devastated when the results come out?

Final Thoughts: Be Honest with Yourself

The Feynman technique is an honesty test.

It exposes what you don’t know. It destroys the illusion of competence. You might think you have finished reading a chapter, but this technique will show you that you only know the definitions, not the logic.

Try it today. Pick one topic, pretend you are the tutor, and see how well you can teach it. If you can teach it, you can pass it.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *