Encoding specificity is the theory that if you have similar conditions when retrieving information at encoding then you are more likely to have a better memory. This goes for when you are studying to when you are trying to remember a specific memory. If you are studying in the library at a certain desk, it is more than likely that if you go to the same desk the next night you will have a better chance at remembering the information you learned than if you go to study in a completely different environment, like your dorm room.
When I was in high school, I had a hard time studying. I took into consideration all the tips and tricks that teachers give you, but one of the things that I remember helped me most was consistency. When I studied, I made sure that I studied in the same place every time. It helped me not only remember what I was studying, but my brain immediately realized that I was in study mode and it was easier to adjust.if I used a blue pen to write notes, I would usually use a blue pen while I was taking the test so I could jot down notes on the side and easily recognize what I was writing. When I would go to extra help sessions before the test, I would notice that the things I learned in that room right before were the things that were ingrained in my mind the most during the test.
Another example of encoding specificity is when I am trying to remember certain events that have happened. I have noticed that whenever I go to a place that feels familiar, certain aspects of it will come together and all of the sudden help me to retrieve certain memories that I only had bits and pieces of because the environment had similar conditions to when I first had the memory, so it was easier to retrieve.