The VARK model outlines four learning styles: visual, aural, read/write, and kinesthetic, to help individuals identify their learning preferences and improve their study strategies. Visual learners benefit from diagrams and charts, auditory learners excel with spoken information, read/write learners prefer text-based inputs, and kinesthetic learners engage best through hands-on activities. The model also acknowledges multimodal learners who utilize multiple styles depending on the context.

1. VARK
a guide to learning styles

2. What is VARK?
 Preference for learning
 One’s preference for taking information into the brain
and communicating them “outside”
 Can be used to help you develop additional, effective
strategies for learning
1. Take in information
2. Study information for effective learning
3. Study for performing well on an examination
(Give out information)

3. Acronym VARK?
 V – Visual
 A – Aural/Auditory
 R – Read / Write
 K – Kinesthetic
 MM - Multimodal

4. V – Visual Preference/Learners
 Includes depiction of information in:
 Maps
 Spider diagrams
 Charts
 Graphs
 All the symbolic arrows, circles, hierarchies
 Does not include movies, videos, or PowerPoint
 Does include designs, white space, patterns,
shapes, and different formats that are used to
highlight and convey information

5. V – Visual Learners
 Visual learners best comprehend
information by visualizing relationships
and ideas. Maps, charts, diagrams and
even essays work well for visual
learners.
 Many visual learners need quiet time to
themselves to study. They may speak
fast and they may prefer to work alone
rather than in groups.

6. V – Visual Learners
 You may be a visual learner if …
 Your notes are covered with drawings
 You are good with remembering faces
but not names
 You can spell well
 You’d rather read a story than listen to it
 You’re good with maps and directions

7. V – Visual Learners
 Study tips for visual learners:
 Sit in the front of the classroom so you
can take notes off the board
 Translate your notes into charts,
diagrams and lists
 Use color coding to your advantage
 Study for tests with flashcards

8. A - Aural / Auditory Preference
 Information that is “heard or spoken”
 Learn best from
 lectures tutorials tapes
 group discussion email using mobile phones
 web chat talking things through
 Talking out loud as well as talking to yourself
 Often people with this preference want to sort out
things by speaking, rather than sorting things out and
then speaking

9. A - Aural / Auditory Preference
 Auditory learners are all ears. They tend to
prefer listening to information rather than
reading it or seeing it visually displayed.
 Auditory learners may speak and read slowly.
They tend to be linear thinkers and may repeat
things they hear out loud.

10. A - Aural / Auditory Learner
 You may be an auditory learner if …
 You are easily distracted by noises
 You have difficulty working quietly for long
periods of time
 You are a good listener
 You easily remember what others say

11. A - Aural / Auditory Learner
 Study tips for auditory learners:
 Read aloud when possible
 Join a study group in order to discuss ideas
with other students
 When using flashcards, give responses out loud
 Utilize videos for listening
 Record lectures for reviewing notes

12. R – Read / Write Preference
 Information displayed in words
 Many academics have a strong preference for this
modality
 Emphasizes text-based input and output – reading
and writing in all forms
 People who prefer this modality are addicted to
PowerPoint, the Internet, lists, dictionaries,
quotations, and words, words, words

13. R – Read / Write Learner
 Reading and writing learners are extremely
comfortable with the written word. They prefer
to consume information by reading texts and
can further absorb information by condensing
and rephrasing it. The traditional college
lecture and note-taking environment works
well for the reading/writing learning style.

14. R – Read / Write Learner
 You may be a reading/writing learner if …
 You love making lists
 You enjoy reading and writing
 You prefer to have written directions

15. R – Read / Write Learner
 Study tips for reading/writing learners:
 Review your class notes afterwards
 Use printouts of presentations to follow along
 Seek resources in articles, e-books and essays
 Rewrite ideas in your own words
 Translate visual information into statements

16. K- Kinesthetic Preference
 “Perpetual preference related to the use of experience
and practice (simulated or real)”
 Connected to reality through
 Personal experiences
 Examples
 Practice or simulation
 Includes demonstrations, simulations, videos, case
studies, practice and applications

17. K- Kinesthetic Learner
 Kinesthetic learners are the most hands-
on learning type. They learn best by
doing and may get fidgety if forced to sit
for long periods of time.
 Kinesthetic learners do best when
they can participate in activities or solve
problems in a hands-on manner. They
tend to have good coordination and best
remember what they do.

18. K- Kinesthetic Learner
 You may be a kinesthetic learner if …
 You excel at sports, art or drama
 You enjoy building, making or creating
 You have trouble sitting still
 You fiddle with objects while thinking

19. K- Kinesthetic Learner
 Study tips for kinesthetic learners:
 Study in blocks of time with frequent
breaks
 Walk around while reviewing your notes
 Trace words with your fingers as you study
 Use flashcards, games or activities to
study
 Toss a tennis ball around while you’re
thinking

20. MM – Multimodal Preferences
 Life is multimodal
 Seldom instances where one mode is used, or is
sufficient, so we have a four-part VARK profile
 Those who prefer many modes almost equally are
of two types
 Context specific who choose a single mode to
suit the occasion or situation
 Others who are not satisfied until they have had
input (or output) in all of their preferred modes.
 They take longer to gather information
from each mode and, as a result, they
have a deeper and broader
understanding