The 1 3 5 7 Rule in Studying: How to Remember Everything for JAMB & WAEC
Ever read a textbook until your eyes hurt, only to wake up the next morning and realize you’ve forgotten almost everything? It’s frustrating. You burn the midnight candle, drink Nescafé to stay awake, and deny yourself sleep, yet the information just refuses to stick.
I used to be exactly like that. I would “la cram and la pour,” only to “la forget” everything two days after the exam.
But here is the secret most first-class students won’t tell you: It’s not about how long you study; it’s about when you review. This is where the 1 3 5 7 rule in studying changes the game. If you are preparing for JAMB, WAEC, or your university semester exams, this method might just be the difference between an ‘A’ and a carryover.
What Exactly is the 1 3 5 7 Rule in Studying?
The 1 3 5 7 rule is a revision strategy based on “spaced repetition.”
Instead of reading a topic once and abandoning it until the night before the exam (which is a recipe for disaster), you revisit the material on specific days to lock it into your long-term memory.
Think of your brain like a bush path. If you walk through it once (Day 1) and never come back, weeds will grow over it within a week. But if you walk that path on Day 1, Day 3, Day 5, and Day 7, the path becomes clear, permanent, and easy to navigate.
The Breakdown: How to Apply It (Step-by-Step)
Here is how you can use this rule practically for your next test or exam.
Day 1: The Download (Learn it)
This is your primary study day. You attend the lecture, read your note, or study the textbook chapter. Let’s say you are studying “Cell Division” for Biology.
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Read the material thoroughly.
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Take notes.
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Understand the core concepts. Don’t just scan; actually learn it. This is the foundation.
Day 3: The First Review (Refresh it)
Skip Day 2. Give your brain a break. On Day 3, go back to that topic. Don’t read the whole textbook again. That’s a waste of time. Instead, skim through your notes and headings. Your goal here is to remind your brain, “Hey, this info is important.” You might realize you’ve already forgotten 40% of it. That’s normal. This review fixes that.
If you are struggling to create a schedule for this, you might need to look at 10 effective study habits every student should develop to help organize your timetable better.
Day 5: The Recall Challenge (Test it)
This is the tough part. On Day 5, do not open your notes immediately. Try to remember the key points from memory.
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Can you explain the stages of Mitosis without looking?
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Can you solve that Math problem from scratch? If you get stuck, then check your notes. This “active recall” forces your brain to work hard, which builds stronger memory connections.
Day 7: The Final Polish (Master it)
A week later, do a final review. By now, the information should feel familiar. You aren’t learning it anymore; you are owning it. If you can explain the topic to a friend or your younger sibling on Day 7 without stuttering, you are ready for the exam hall.
Why Most Nigerian Students Fail at Retaining Information
I’ve seen many smart students fail JAMB not because they aren’t intelligent, but because their timing is wrong. They act like the “Cram and Pour” gang I mentioned in my previous articles.
They read a topic on October 1st and don’t look at it again until the exam in December. By then, it’s gone.
The 1 3 5 7 rule fixes this because it forces you to interrupt the “forgetting curve.” As a student in Nigeria, the syllabus is huge—from 10 subjects in WAEC to 4 in JAMB. You cannot rely on cramming alone.
To truly excel, you need to prepare for an exam in a short time using smart strategies, not just hard labour.
Using This Rule for JAMB and WAEC Past Questions
This method works like magic for past questions.
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Day 1: Solve a year (e.g., JAMB Chemistry 2020). Mark your corrections.
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Day 3: Review the questions you failed. Why did you fail them? Read the explanation.
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Day 5: Attempt those specific “failed” questions again without looking at the answer key.
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Day 7: Pick a few random questions from that year to ensure you still have the logic down.
This is extremely important if you are aiming for competitive courses. For instance, if you want to get into one of the best universities in Nigeria for medicine, a score of 200 won’t cut it. You need to remember nearly everything.
Does It Really Work? (The Science)
Yes. Psychologists call this the “Spacing Effect.” Research shows that information is easily lost over time unless you consciously review it at spaced intervals. A famous study by Hermann Ebbinghaus revealed that we forget about 75% of what we learn within just 48 hours if we don’t review it.
You can read more about the science of spaced repetition here to see the data for yourself. Also, platforms like Khan Academy utilize similar algorithms in their learning tools to help students retain math concepts.
Conclusion: Stop Cramming, Start Strategizing
School is stressful enough without the added pressure of forgetting what you read. The 1 3 5 7 rule in studying isn’t difficult; it just requires discipline.
So, stop being the student who reads for 12 hours straight only to forget it all. Be the smart student who studies less but remembers more. Grab your calendar, mark your Days 1, 3, 5, and 7, and watch your grades climb.
Are you ready to try this out for your next test? Let me know how it goes.
