What I found is that depending if it were full blown written exams or multi guess style determines the way in which you learn.
My UK ATCO exams in the 1980s were written, including a 2 hour radar theory paper. Started off with learn and churn stuff about PRI / PRF.
Then questions involved into a thinking style.
What are the considerations necessary when installing an Area Search Radar (250nm range in the South Atlantic). Topical at the time.
The papers were marked before the Oral Board, which would then probe any less than satisfactory written answers, in addition to any other Area Radar topics which took their fancy.
With multi guess ATPLs, I found you put nuggets of information into pigeon holes.
The Oral Board is the airline interview.
An education psychologist is best placed to explain how the brain learns and retains information.