Rote Memorization: Why “La Cram, La Pour” Will Fail You in WAEC & JAMB (And What to Do Instead)
We’ve all been there. The exam timetable is out, the pressure is mounting, and you realize you have ten topics to cover in two days. Panic sets in. So, what do you do? You grab your textbook, start chanting definitions like a song, and try to force every single word into your brain.
This is the classic “La Cram, La Pour” strategy. In academic terms, it’s called rote memorization.
You might think you are studying, but you are really just holding water in a basket. It feels full for a minute, but by the time you reach the exam hall? Empty.
I see this happen every year during WAEC and JAMB. Students who “read” all night come out crying because the questions were slightly twisted. If you want to stop scraping by and start smashing those A’s, you need to understand why rote memorization is your enemy and learn how to actually study.
What Exactly is Rote Memorization?
Let’s break it down. Rote memorization is simply repeating information over and over until it sticks, without actually understanding what it means. It’s like memorizing the lyrics to a Burna Boy song in a language you don’t speak. You can sing it, sure. But if someone asks you, “What does that line mean?”, you’re stuck.
In school, it looks like this:
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Memorizing the definition of “Osmosis” word-for-word but failing to explain it in your own English.
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Cramming chemistry formulas without knowing when to apply them.
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Reciting history dates but not knowing why the event happened.
It works for reciting the alphabet. It does not work for passing Physics.
Why “Chew and Pour” is Dangerous for Nigerian Students
You might be thinking, “But sir, it worked for me in JSS 3.”
Maybe. But the higher you go, the harder the questions get. WAEC, NECO, and JAMB are not designed to test your ability to photocopy a textbook with your brain. They are designed to test your understanding.
When you rely on rote memorization, your knowledge is brittle. It breaks easily.
Imagine you memorized a specific answer for a Biology question. Then, in the exam, WAEC changes the phrasing of the question just a little bit. A student who understands the concept will smile and write the answer. The student who crammed? They will panic because the “trigger words” they memorized aren’t there.
This is why we emphasize building effective study habits you should develop rather than just looking for shortcuts.
The “Blank Out” Effect in the Exam Hall
Have you ever walked into an exam hall feeling confident, sat down, opened the paper, and suddenly… your mind goes blank?
That is the biggest side effect of rote memorization.
Because you didn’t build connections between the ideas, your brain can’t find the information when you are stressed. Anxiety blocks your memory recall. If you had understood the topic, you could derive the answer or explain it in your own words. But because you only memorized a script, once you lose one word, you lose everything.
It’s painful. And honestly, it’s a waste of your time. You don’t want to be the student who “knows book” but fails exams.
Better Alternatives: How to Actually Understand
So, if cramming is bad, what should you do? You need methods that force your brain to work.
1. The “Teach It” Method (Feynman Technique)
This is my favorite trick. It’s simple: Read a topic, close the book, and try to explain it to a 6-year-old (or your empty room).
If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it.
Don’t use big grammar. Break it down. If you are reading about “Demand and Supply,” try to explain it using the price of gala or pure water. If you get stuck, open the book, re-read that part, and try again. This helps you retain information 10x better than staring at a page.
2. Use Past Questions the Right Way
Don’t just memorize the answers to past questions (that’s still rote learning!). Use them to test your gaps.
Pick a year, solve it without looking at the answers, and mark yourself. For the ones you failed, go back to your textbook and read that specific topic. This is exactly how to prepare for an exam in a short time without burning out.
Also, utilize resources like the WAEC e-Learning portal. They literally show you what examiners are looking for and where students usually fail. It’s a cheat code that too many Nigerian students ignore.
Conclusion: Study Smart, Not Just Hard
School in Nigeria is stressful enough without making it harder for yourself.
Stop trying to be a photocopier. Be a student. Rote memorization might get you through a class test, but it won’t help you defend your project in university or pass a tough professional exam later in life.
Start small. Pick one difficult topic today and try to understand the “why” and “how” instead of just the “what.” Your grades (and your sanity) will thank you.
For more tips on navigating school life, you can check out reliable educational psychology resources like Verywell Mind’s guide on study techniques to see how memory really works.
