After months of hard work, I can officially say I am a DECA ICDC qualifier! Last weekend, my team and I competed at the state level and won! But getting to this point isn’t easy. Not only did I have to memorize a significant amount of information, but I also had to ensure I could recall it under pressure. Through trial and error, I discovered strategies that worked, and I wanted to share them with anyone preparing for an academic competition. 

1) Writing it out 

One of the first things I did to memorize information was to write it out. Countless studies, including one conducted by the University of Tokyo, have shown that writing on paper enhances memory retention and brain activity. To take advantage of these benefits, review the information you need to present and plan your script on paper. This process encourages your brain to develop full sentences and make sense of the material. In DECA, I used this method as the foundation for my presentation. Whenever I felt stuck while practicing, I took the time to sit down and calmly write down the information. 

2) Active recall 

If you’re deep into the study side of social media, you’ve probably heard the term active recall—but what does it actually mean? Active recall is a simple yet effective study technique that involves actively retrieving information from your memory without external prompts. While practicing my presentation, I worked hard to remember what I had to say without having any visual cues. To do this, I simply turned my computer away and practiced presenting the information to a wall. In doing so, I could pinpoint the slides I struggled with the most and develop strategies to remember key points without looking at my presentation. 

3) Chunking 

In simple terms, chunking is a study technique that involves organizing information into manageable sections. But why might this be useful? Well, when focusing on retaining large amounts of information, chunking allows you to break it down into digestible parts that, over time, overcome short-term memory limitations. While memorizing my presentation, I counted the number of slides I needed to learn and divided them across the days I had for preparation. For example, if I only had three days to memorize 15 slides, I would focus on memorizing five slides per day, ensuring I could recall the information before moving on. 

4) Simulated practice 

The best way to practice for competition day is to simulate it as closely as possible. At DECA State, I was fortunate enough to room with not only my partner but also people who were more than willing to listen and act as judges. Over time, I became so familiar with the material that presenting it no longer felt intimidating—especially not my roommates. By finding someone willing to spend 10 to 15 minutes listening to your presentation, you can practice how competition day will go and make any last-minute tweaks to your presentation. 

5) Confidence 

Sometimes, memorization only takes you so far—confidence carries you the rest of the way. One of the hardest lessons I had to learn before my DECA presentation was how to be confident, especially when speaking in front of a judge. Before walking into your competition, remind yourself that you know your material, and this judge is just another step in the process. It’s normal to feel nervous but don’t let that define your presentation. Walk in and treat talking to the judge just like the countless days you spent practicing. Remember to smile, use hand gestures, and trust that everything will come naturally—just as you practiced. 

If you’re reading this and are competing soon, remember that you’ve got this! Good luck and happy studying!