Same Study skills › Studying for tests › Self-quizzing and brain dumps
What is a brain dump?
In a brain dump, students close their notes and write everything they remember about a topic. Then they open the notes and check: what did they get, what did they miss, and what are they unsure of? The missed parts are what to study next. Cornell notes' cue questions work the same way.
- Step 1: notes closed, write it all down.
- Step 2: notes open, check and mark.
- Study the missed and unsure parts next.
Why schools teach it
It's the fastest way to find the gaps
A brain dump is retrieval practice with no equipment. Writing from memory strengthens what kids know and shows exactly what they don't. That's more useful than another read through notes that all look familiar.
Many teachers start review days with a brain dump, sometimes called blurting, and some use it before tests to reduce worry.
At the kitchen table
What to say, and what to skip
Say this
Close your notes. Write everything you remember.
Now check. What did you miss?
Cover the notes column. Answer your cue questions.
Cornell cuesWhat will you study next?
The gaps
Skip this
- Peeking during the dump.The point is to find out what's really there.
- Feeling bad about what's missed.Missed items are the study plan, not a grade.
- Stopping after one dump.Do it again a day later to see the progress.
See it in action
A brain dump on the water cycle
Dump
sun heats water · vapor rises · clouds form · rain fallsCheck
✓ evaporation ✓ clouds · missed: the word “condensation” and the four kinds of precipitationNext
Flashcards for condensation and precipitation, then dump again tomorrow
A brain dump can be a list, a mind map or sketches. What matters is notes closed first.
Free practice sheet
Make a brain dump sheet
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Parents also ask
How long should a brain dump take?
Five to ten minutes.
Is blurting the same thing?
Yes. Blurting is another name for a brain dump.
Can parents quiz instead?
Yes. Ask the cue questions out loud and let your child answer before looking.
Does it help with test worry?
Some kids find that writing down what they know first helps them feel calmer.