So far you are a reader, you will be left with two options, just reading coz you need to pass a time or reading with a committed heart which makes you understand whatever you are reading.
This goes to the student who are left with reading quite a volumnous book, courses upon courses, while some lecturer likes it that you pour whatever its in their handout, some like it you put it down whatever you are given in the handout in your own understanding.
Some are actually good with carrying the whole thing in their head while some like it to read and understand. This has to do with their brain capacity I think, like me I don't have the capacity to cram, but I love to read and understand then put it down in my own understanding.
The effect of cramming is that once you are done carrying the whole thing in your head, once you pour, you forget instantly. While when you read to understand, even after that exam, what's stored in your brain still lingers, and may benefit you when you graduate to the labour market.
Imaging going for an interview, and you are asked about some questions based on the courses you've gone through in school, and you just cracking your brain to see if you'd still remember, that's the effect of cramming. But understanding things would make it easier for you coz all you read is stored in your brain and wont be difficult pouring it out for the interviewer.
A lot of our students now find cramming as an escape route to a course or reading for an examination. They just want to pass that exam, even if they do not understand the content of the question, once they open the question paper and sees the question and the topics they've crammed is among, they get happy, without thinking of the effect it brings after exam.
Which is very for you?
Cramming or Understanding?
Understanding is better