Method

Description

Best For

Skill

Keyword System

Elaboration & association

Difficult, unfamiliar terms (foreign language, science)

Novice

Link & Story
 

Build a narrative around the list

Simple Lists

Novice

Journey System

Associate landmarks in a well-known journey with the items in the list of information.

Long Lists (can be ordered)

Novice

Roman Room System (Loci)

Identify objects in a well-known room and associate the grouped information inside the room’s context.

Grouped Information (better for information where order is not important)

Novice

Number/Rhyme

Rhyme each item’s number in a list with a vivid image. Associate the image with the item to be remembered.

Ordered Lists, 1-10 or 1-20

Intermediate

Number/Shape

Identify a shape which looks like each list item’s number. Associate the shape with the item to be remembered.

Ordered Lists, 1-10

Intermediate

Calendar Peg System

Peg a vivid image with each month of the year. Associate the date and event you want to remember with the month’s image.

Ordered Lists, Date Specfic Information Jan-Dec

Intermediate

Alphabet Technique

Identify a word which begins with the same sound as each letter in the alphabet. Associate the word’s image with the item to be remembered.

Middle-Length ordered lists, up to 24 items (A-Z)

Intermediate

Major System

Phonetic Mnemonic

Very Long Numbers

Advanced