Cramming isn’t effective as a long-term learning method. Wow, you could knock me over with a big, fat history book.

Cramming: Not A Long-Term Study Strategy

So is cramming effective or not? A new study by UC–San Diego psychologists confirms what you may suspect deep down: The answer is no. Hurried memorization is a hopeless approach for retaining information. But it’s not all bad news. The team offers a precise formula for better study habits, and it doesn’t necessarily entail dogged discipline and routine.