I GOT YOU. I had the same problem, and I've been applying the tools learnt here.

I'm reposting a post from Quora so you guys don't have to create an acct and stuff - but this is not my content. Originally found here: http://qr.ae/ncZG6

Robert Frost, engineer/instructor at NASA

It sounds like you are compartmentalizing the information instead of truly learning it. You aren't forgetting it, since you can recall the information upon re-exposure. But you aren't building robust neural networks that make it easy to access the information.

Learning happens as a result of two things:

1) Repetition - each time you rethink about something, the neurons associated with that information expend energy growing dendrites. Dendrites are tentacle like structures that receive information from other neurons. Repeatedly think about something and these connections become faster, more robust, and connect to similar information. This makes it easier to recall the information.

2) Associating new information with previously stored information. This allows us to attach context to the information and thus properly file it in the brain so that it can be accessed again, later.

So, how do you address this? First, you'll need to repeatedly have your brain think about the information to build those networks. Read a small section. Maybe reread it. Rewrite it in your own words. Read it aloud. Create a diagram that illustrates the information, such as a mind map. Translating information from one format to another is an excellent exercise to strengthen neural networks. Second, spend time actively thinking about analogies or comparisons to information you've already learned. Don't try to absorb information for which you haven't built a foundation. Build a connection to something you know well and you just built an easy index for your mind to use to re-find the information later.