Understand before you memorise
A formula you understand is far easier to recall than one you only copied. For each equation, ask what every symbol stands for, what its unit is, and why the quantities relate that way. Knowing that acceleration is change in velocity over time means you can rebuild the equation even if the exact form slips.
Group formulas by chapter and meaning
Rather than one long list, organise formulas by chapter, and within a chapter by idea:
- kinematics equations together,
- heat equations like Q = mc(theta) and Q = mL together,
- electrical equations like V = IR and P = IV together.
Grouping gives each formula a home, so recall has a route to follow.
Rebuild the list from memory
Active recall beats re-reading. Once a week, write out a chapter's formulas from a blank page, then check against your notes and fix the gaps. This repeated retrieval is what moves formulas into long-term memory, far more than reading a printed list again.
Practise choosing the right formula
In the exam, the hard part is often picking the correct equation, not reciting it. Do mixed problems where you must decide which formula fits, and check whether the given quantities match the symbols. This trains selection, not just storage.
Know what is given in the exam
The SPM Physics (4531) papers do not provide a formula sheet, so every formula must be recalled from memory. Focus your memorising on the equations that are not provided, and on knowing how to use every equation, since even given formulas earn nothing if you cannot apply them.
If a chapter's formulas keep slipping, a short one-to-one session connecting each formula to a worked example usually makes them stick better than another read-through.