10-24-7 : It is the combination to your brain. Review new material frequently- 10 minutes after learning it (after class or right after school), 24 hours later go over it again, and then 7 days later give it another quick review. It sounds like a lot of work but it doesn't take long to give it a quick look over, and if you review in this way, the info will be locked in your brain. It's a lot easier than cramming the night before an exam!
Also when you study, or read from a textbook, make jot notes or use a highlighter to keep focused on the main points.
Teach someone else what you have learned- putting it into your own words to explain it to someone else is a surefire way to ensure that you understand a concept.
