How to Use the Feynman Technique to Understand Difficult Topics (Stop Cramming, Start Passing)
You know that feeling. You’ve been staring at your Chemistry textbook for three hours. You’ve read the same page about “Stoichiometry” five times. Yet, if someone asked you to explain it right now, you’d go blank.
It’s frustrating.
Many Nigerian students fall into the trap of “La cram, La pour.” We memorize definitions word-for-word to pass WAEC or JAMB, but two days later? The information has vanished. Gone.
But what if there was a way to learn faster and actually remember what you read?
That’s where this method comes in. In this guide, I’m going to show you exactly how to use the Feynman Technique to understand difficult topics, whether you are preparing for Post-UTME or a stressful university semester exam.
No big grammar here. Just a simple, proven strategy to boost your grades.
What is the Feynman Technique?
The Feynman Technique is a mental model named after Richard Feynman, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist. He was a genius, but he was famous for something else: he could explain the most complicated physics concepts to absolutely anyone.
His philosophy was simple: If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.
It’s not about how many hours you spend in the library or the “night class.” It’s about how you process the information. This technique forces you to stop passive reading (which is lazy) and start active learning (which sticks).
Step 1: Pick Your “Wahala” Topic
Grab a blank sheet of paper. At the top, write down the concept you are struggling with.
Maybe it’s “Photosynthesis,” “Demand and Supply,” or “Organic Chemistry.”
Be specific. Don’t just write “Biology.” Write “How the Heart Pumps Blood.”
Step 2: Teach it to a JSS1 Student (Or Your Younger Sibling)
Here is where the magic happens.
Pretend you are teaching this topic to a 12-year-old. Or better yet, actually try to explain it to your younger sibling or a friend who isn’t in your department.
Write out an explanation on that sheet of paper. But here is the rule: You cannot use jargon or complex textbook definitions.
If you are studying Economics and you say, “Demand is an effective desire backed by ability to pay,” you have failed this step. A 12-year-old doesn’t know what “effective desire” means.
Instead, say: “Demand is when you want to buy Gala, and you actually have the N150 in your pocket to pay for it. If you want it but you are broke, that is not demand.”
See the difference?
When you simplify the language, you force your brain to understand the logic, not just the vocabulary. This connects deeply to building 10 effective study habits every student should develop, because true understanding beats memorization every time.
Step 3: Identify Your Knowledge Gaps
As you are explaining (or writing), you will get stuck. You’ll hesitate. You might realize you know what happens, but you don’t know why it happens.
“Wait, why does the demand curve shift to the left again?”
Good. That moment of confusion is valuable. It shows you exactly where your knowledge is missing.
Most students ignore this feeling. They just skip to the next page. Don’t do that.
When you get stuck, go back to your textbook or lecture notes. Re-read only that specific part until you can explain it simply. This targeted revision is much faster than reading the whole chapter again.
Step 4: Simplify and Create Analogies
Now that you’ve filled the gaps, make your explanation even smoother. Use analogies from daily Nigerian life.
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Physics: Compare an electrical circuit to water flowing through a pipe in your compound.
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Government: Compare the “Checks and Balances” system to how your parents and the school principal keep each other in check.
Creating these mental pictures makes the information “sticky.” You won’t forget it in the exam hall because you aren’t remembering a definition; you are remembering a story or a picture.
For those preparing for major exams, this approach is a lifesaver. We talked about similar strategies in our guide on how to prepare for an exam in a short time, where simplification is key to speed.
Why “Cramming” Fails You in JAMB
You might be thinking, “But I can just cram and pass.”
Maybe for secondary school tests. But exams like JAMB and Post-UTME are designed to trick crammers. They twist the questions.
If you memorized the definition of “Osmosis” but the question describes a scenario involving a soaking garri and water, you might miss it. But if you used the Feynman Technique, you’d understand the concept of water movement, and you’d get the answer right regardless of how they twist the question.
According to JAMB’s official syllabus guides, application of knowledge is graded higher than simple recall. The Feynman Technique trains you for application.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
I’ve seen many students try this and say it doesn’t work. Usually, it’s because they are cheating the process.
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Peeking at the book: If you are explaining the topic while looking at your textbook, you are lying to yourself. You must close the book.
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Using big words: If you use a complex word to explain another complex word, you haven’t simplified anything. Break it down.
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Skipping the “Review” step: If you get stuck and just say “I’ll figure it out later,” you wasted your time. The review is where the learning happens.
Practical Application: A Real Example
Let’s say you are trying to understand Inflation.
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Textbook Definition: A persistent rise in the general price level of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.
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Feynman Explanation: Imagine you have N1,000. Last year, that N1,000 could buy two plates of rice. Today, that same N1,000 can only buy one plate. The rice didn’t change, but your money lost its power. That is inflation. Too much money chasing too few goods.
If you can write that second version without looking at a book, you are ready for the exam.
Final Thoughts
This technique takes a little more mental energy than just staring at a book. It’s hard work. But it is honest work.
When you truly understand a topic, your confidence skyrockets. You stop fearing the “wicked lecturer” or the tricky JAMB questions.
So, for your next study session, pick one difficult topic. Just one. Try this method. Teach it to the empty chair in your room or your reading partner. You’ll be surprised at how fast it clicks.
Need help with difficult subjects like Math or Science? Platforms like Khan Academy are excellent for finding those simple explanations to help you build your own.
Stop cramming. Start understanding.
