The following 4 techniques are all effective methods for this task: 1. Repetition. Good old-fashioned rote learning. It isn't fast. It isn't interesting. But it works ... eventually! The more repetitions that are used, the faster the results. 2. Flashcards. Each card contains the name of the state on one side and the name of the capital on the other. You work through the cards trying to recall the matching data on the opposite side of the card to the one that you are looking at. 3. Songs. Our memories work best when we are able to involve our senses. So a song, incorporating the names of the states and capitals can be very useful. Such songs are often amusing, too, which makes them even more memorable. 4. Imagination. One of the most effective techniques for memorisation is the combination of a journey and an imaginary story (the more bizarre, amusing, shocking, the better).