The Learning Styles Myth

Learning Styles Chart

Most students think they’re struggling in school because they’re not smart enough, not disciplined enough, or not studying long enough. But the real problem runs deeper: America’s education system is teaching students the wrong way to learn.

What 85% of Americans (APA) have been taught—by schools, the internet, and even tutors—is not just unhelpful, it’s actually harming students’ ability to study effectively. At the center of it all is one of the most widespread (and dangerous) misconceptions in education today: the Learning Styles Myth.

You’ve probably seen the charts before: visual learner, auditory learner, kinesthetic learner, social learner. Maybe you’ve even proudly identified yourself as one. The problem? Decades of peer-reviewed psychology research show that tailoring study habits to your “style” does nothing to improve retention or performance. Learning styles are preferences, not pathways to stronger memory. Yet schools still push this myth so hard that many teachers can’t even get hired unless they promise to incorporate it into their classrooms.

The truth is, effective studying isn’t about labeling yourself—it’s about following a process. A process that cognitive psychology has proven reduces study time, strengthens recall, and builds long-term mastery. Unfortunately, schools don’t teach this process, and most “study tips” online bury the real science under time-wasting fluff.

That’s why this system was created: to cut through the noise, dismantle harmful myths like learning styles, and replace them with the simple, research-backed techniques that actually work.