Understanding should not be confused with passive memorization. It means that you have to be actively involved with the material. It may involve asking questions such as "why is this important?" or "how does this work?" and generally go one step further to fully understand the material. Being able to explain concepts to someone else (a relative or a friend) is generally a good sign that you have some understanding of the subject.
After you understand the topic, you should be able to summarize it and reformulate concepts in your own words. This distinguishes whether you have understood the subject or just memorized it. You can take this opportunity to use a diagram or flowchart to map out how concepts are related to each other rather than concise notes. Being able to take complex concepts and accurately rephrase them in simpler terms is a great indicator that you are on the right track!
Finally, practice is an essential habit in learning of any kind. Exposure to different scenarios (be it math problems or biology questions) allows you to familiarize yourself with the subject and increase your understanding.
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