1. Learning
Styles
What type of learner are you?

2. Why do I need to know my
learning style?
It is useful to you and your lecturers to
know how you learn best
Does it really make a difference?

3. What is VARK?
VARK stands for
Visual
Aural
Read/Write
Kinaesthetic

4. Why do I need to complete the
VARK questionnaire?
VARK helps indicate your learning style
preference.
Every individual has a preference as to how
they take in new information. One of the
ways we can establish your preference is by
you answering the VARK questionnaire.

5. IKEA Test
If you buy something that you have to assemble
when you get it home, do you:
a. open the packaging and try to put the item
together without reading the instructions?
b. read all the instructions before you attempt
to assemble the item?
c. Hand the instructions to someone else to
read them to you, or read them aloud
yourself?

6. Mobile Phone Test
When you buy a new mobile phone, do you:
a. take it out of the box and fiddle with the
pieces before you read any instructions?
b. Read all the instructions before you attempt
to press any buttons?
c. Ask someone else to read the instructions to
you and explain how the phone works, or
read the instructions out loud to yourself?

7. Map Reading
Many people use a map and possibly write down
some directions when finding their way to a new
location. Do you:
a. look at a map and follow all the roads with
your finger?
b. Look at the whole map and then look at every
road?
c. Read out every road to yourself?

8. Results
Please circle the relevant answer below:
IKEA Test a=K b=V c=A
Mobile Phone Test a=K b=V c=A
Map Reading Test a=K b=V c=A
Which one did you have the most of?

9. VISUAL LEARNER
Fleming claimed that VISUAL
learners have a preference
for seeing (think in pictures;
visual aids such as overhead
slides, diagrams, handouts,
etc.).

10. VISUAL LEARNER

11. READ/WRITE
This preference is for
information displayed as
words. Not surprisingly, many
teachers and students have a
strong preference for this
mode.

12. READ/WRITE
If you have a strong preference for learning by Reading and
Writing (R & W) learning you should use some or all of the
following:
•lists
•headings
•handouts
•textbooks
•readings - library
•notes
•teachers who use words well and have lots of
information in sentences and notes
•essays

13. AUDITORY LEARNER
Auditory learners best
learn through listening
(lectures, discussions,
tapes, etc.).

14. AUDITORY LEARNER
If you have a strong preference for learning by Aural
methods (A = hearing) you should use some or all of the
following:
•attend classes
•attend discussions and tutorials
•discuss topics with others
•discuss topics with your teachers
•explain new ideas to other people
•use voice recorder, MP3 etc
•describe the overheads, pictures and other visuals
to somebody who was not there

15. KINESTHETIC LEARNER
Tactile/kinesthetic learners
prefer to learn via
experience—moving, touching,
and doing (active exploration
of the world; science projects;
experiments, etc.).

16. KINESTHETIC LEARNER
If you have a strong preference for Kinesthetic (doing)
learning you should use some or all of the following:
Use all of your senses, Sight, Touch, Taste, Smell, Hearing.
You learn best from
•examples
•lecturers who use real life examples
•hands-on experience
•trial and error
•exhibits
•previous exam papers

17. Conclusion
Do you agree?