Train Yourself to Efficiently Study 10+ Subjects in School

Summary

In this educational video, the speaker, a former top student, shares effective study strategies for managing multiple subjects. They advocate for focusing on two subjects per day in separate study blocks, alternating between problem-based and content-based subjects. The speaker emphasizes the importance of daily goals, understanding over note-taking, and creating self-assessment questions. They also stress the value of recap sessions to solidify learning, suggesting that these methods can significantly enhance study efficiency and interest in various subjects.

Takeaways

• 📚 Studying two subjects a day in separate blocks is more effective than trying to cover multiple subjects in short sessions.
• 🧠 The brain needs time to lay a foundation, associate new knowledge, and encode information, which is why focused study blocks are beneficial.
• 📈 Start with a problem-based subject like maths or physics, followed by a content-based subject like biology or geography to balance practical and conceptual learning.
• 📅 Mimic your school timetable for home study to prioritize subjects that require more attention and practice.
• 🎯 Set daily goals for subjects you're struggling with to ensure consistent progress and improvement.
• 🚫 Avoid wasting time on excessive note-taking; instead, focus on understanding and practicing the material.
• 🤝 Engage in active learning by teaching or discussing what you've learned with others to reinforce your understanding.
• 🔄 Create recall questions or summaries during or after class to convert taught material into a format that aids self-assessment and retention.
• ⏰ Implement recap sessions before or after study sessions to solidify learning and identify areas of strength and weakness.
• 💡 Continuously seek ways to absorb new content more fully and efficiently to enhance overall learning and understanding.

Q & A

How many subjects did the speaker study in secondary school?

The speaker studied around 12 subjects in secondary school.

What was the speaker's routine for studying multiple subjects efficiently?

The speaker's routine involved studying two subjects a day in two separate study blocks, focusing on one problem-based subject and one content-based subject.

Why does the speaker suggest not studying five subjects in one day?

The speaker suggests not studying five subjects in one day because the brain needs time to lay a foundation, associate new knowledge, and encode information, which is difficult to achieve with short study sessions for multiple subjects.

What is the significance of giving uninterrupted time to grasp concepts?

Uninterrupted time is significant for grasping concepts and making connections, which is essential for understanding and retaining information rather than just memorizing facts.

How did the speaker develop an interest in subjects they initially disliked?

The speaker developed an interest in initially disliked subjects by giving them a good chunk of time regularly, which led to understanding and improvement in those subjects.

What strategy does the speaker recommend for selecting subjects to study each day?

The speaker recommends selecting one problem-based subject like maths or physics and one content-based subject like biology or geography for each study session.

Why does the speaker advise against scheduling subjects too far in advance?

Scheduling subjects too far in advance can take the fun out of studying and create stress if something unexpected happens and a subject is missed, leading to a feeling of falling behind.

How does the speaker suggest replicating the school timetable for home studying?

The speaker suggests giving more attention and time to subjects that are done every day in school, as they are more important, and replicating this pattern in home studying.

What daily goal did the speaker set for improving in a subject?

The speaker set a daily goal of doing 100-plus flashcards of anatomy every single day to improve in that subject.

Why did the speaker stop handwriting notes during studying?

The speaker stopped handwriting notes because it was time-consuming and did not aid in understanding or retention; instead, they focused on understanding, practicing, and explaining concepts to others.

What habit did the speaker develop to solidify learning before starting a new study session?

The speaker developed the habit of having a 15-minute recap session about what was learned in the past and pre-read what was to be learned, involving doing multiple choice questions or practicing on previously learned material.

How does the speaker suggest improving the efficiency of absorbing new content?

The speaker suggests always thinking about how to absorb new content more fully and efficiently, possibly by creating recall questions and engaging with the material actively.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Efficient Study Routines for Academic Success

The speaker reflects on their secondary school experience as a top student, managing to study 12 subjects efficiently. They emphasize the importance of studying two subjects a day in separate blocks to allow the brain time to process and retain information. The speaker suggests alternating between problem-based subjects like math or physics and content-based subjects like biology or geography. They also mention the value of daily goals and the importance of understanding and practicing rather than just copying notes. The speaker advises against rigid scheduling and encourages adapting study plans based on school timetables and personal progress.

05:02

🔍 Enhancing Learning Through Active Engagement

The speaker discusses the benefits of creating self-assessment questions instead of traditional note-taking, which saves time and encourages active thinking. They highlight the advantages of having a personal bank of questions for year-round assessment and the increased engagement with the material this method fosters. The speaker also advocates for daily recap sessions to solidify learning and identify areas of strength and confusion. They share personal experiences of teaching subjects to friends as a way to reinforce understanding. Lastly, they encourage viewers to explore strategies for more effective learning and understanding, referencing a related video for further insights.

Keywords

💡study routine

A study routine refers to a systematic plan or sequence of activities that one follows to study effectively. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of a study routine that includes focusing on two subjects per day in separate study blocks, which helps in better retention and understanding of the material. This is in contrast to the ineffectiveness of short, disjointed study sessions on multiple subjects.

💡brain foundation

The brain foundation mentioned in the video script refers to the cognitive process of establishing a base of knowledge upon which new information can be built. The speaker suggests that the brain requires time to lay this foundation, associate new knowledge, and encode information, which is why switching between subjects too frequently can be counterproductive.

💡uninterrupted time

Uninterrupted time is a concept discussed in the video where the speaker advises against frequent switching between subjects during study sessions. Instead, dedicating one to three hours of focused, uninterrupted time on a single subject allows for better grasping of concepts and making connections, which is essential for effective learning.

💡problem-based subjects

Problem-based subjects are those that require solving problems or applying concepts, such as math or physics. The video script suggests starting the study day with a problem-based subject to engage the mind in active problem-solving before moving on to content-based subjects.

💡content-based subjects

Content-based subjects are those that involve learning and memorizing factual information, such as biology, geography, or history. The speaker in the video recommends studying these subjects after problem-based ones to balance the study routine with a mix of practical and conceptual learning.

💡daily goal

A daily goal in the context of the video refers to setting specific, measurable objectives for each study session, such as completing a certain number of practice questions or flashcards. The speaker shares their personal experience of setting daily goals, which helped them stay focused and motivated, ultimately leading to improved performance.

💡repertoire

The term 'repertoire' in the video script is used to describe the range of subjects or skills one is studying or practicing. The speaker talks about expanding their repertoire by giving each subject adequate time and attention, which allows for a more comprehensive understanding and interest development in various subjects.

💡note-taking

Note-taking is the act of recording information during lectures or while studying. The video script criticizes the inefficiency of excessive note-taking and copying, suggesting that it can waste time and detract from deeper understanding. Instead, the speaker advocates for downloading notes or using peers' notes to focus more on understanding and practicing the material.

💡recap sessions

Recap sessions are brief reviews of previously learned material. The speaker in the video highlights the importance of having a daily recap session before starting new study sessions. This practice helps solidify learning by identifying areas of strength and weakness and preparing the mind for further study.

💡active thinking

Active thinking involves engaging with the material in a way that requires analysis, synthesis, and evaluation rather than passive absorption. The video script encourages active thinking by suggesting the creation of recall questions during study sessions, which promotes a deeper level of understanding and retention.

💡absorb new content

Absorbing new content effectively is a key theme in the video, where the speaker discusses strategies for efficiently and fully understanding new information. This includes focusing on one or two subjects at a time, setting daily goals, and engaging in active thinking to ensure that new concepts are thoroughly understood and retained.

Highlights

Studied 12 subjects in secondary school and ranked top three.

Efficiently managed time by studying two subjects a day in separate blocks.

Emphasized the importance of giving uninterrupted time to grasp concepts.

Developed interest in subjects by dedicating substantial time to them.

Suggested alternating between problem-based and content-based subjects.

Mentioned not scheduling too far in advance to maintain flexibility.

Adapted study routine based on school timetable and subject importance.

Recommended setting daily goals for improvement in specific subjects.

Shared personal experience of reducing time spent on note-taking.

Advocated for using other people's notes or digital resources to save time.

Highlighted the benefits of creating recall questions during study sessions.

Stressed the importance of recap or summary sessions to solidify learning.

Suggested engaging with material by teaching others to reinforce understanding.

Encouraged thinking about how to absorb new content more fully and efficiently.

Provided a tip on how to accelerate learning and understanding of new topics.

Offered thanks and sign-off for the video.

Transcripts

I studied around 12 subjects back in

secondary school I was a nerdy kid that

did modely ones every month I was a part

of the ton of clubs I did Aesthetics

talk too so there was a lot going on

back then but I still managed to

efficiently study for all my subjects

really well and at the end of it ranked

as one of the top three students in my

entire hopefully so in this video I'm

going to go through all the onset and I

think realistic tips that I did to stay

on top of everything now I know you want

to study maths English biology physics

geography history on one day so you

counter the perfect routine to work on

everything there's a huge checklist of

tasks but ask yourself this when has

that ever worked if you spend 30 minutes

studying geography develop a bit of

interest in it start to enjoy it and

then I have to switch to maths all of a

sudden think of how useless that is our

brains need time to lay a foundation

associate new knowledge and encode

information so instead of studying five

subjects a day stick to two a day and

revise them in two separate study blocks

that was my routine even on school days

I'd come home get homework done and then

get cracking with one study session

after that one to three hour study

session was done then I'd have a break a

long one and then later in the evening I

do another study blog it works so much

better than just doing 30 30 minutes of

like 600 that day if you don't give

uninterrupted time to grasp Concepts and

make connections you won't be able to

run on more than three facts by the end

of the day and other than the

understanding that you won't be able to

develop interest which I can't stress

how important it is especially if you're

in school and you have to revise for

stuff in the beginning I only really

like biology but because I gave two

different subjects today a good chunk of

time most days of the week I was able to

understand more improve and then develop

an interest in things like maths physics

and the thing is I wouldn't have cared

about those subjects at all if I just

been trying to anxiously get through 10

other things that day now what do you

study each day and how do you not get

bored but still complete your entire

syllabus see you have all these

different kinds of subjects that you

can't learn and approach in the same way

so instead of randomly picking two

subjects make sure the first one you

pick is a problem-based one like maths

or physics and the second one you pick

is a content based one like biology

geography and other Humanity the second

subject you can also be replaced by

neither languages that you have to learn

so one day you'll do maths and then

geography and then the next day you

might do biology and physics both great

Compass by the way but basically you're

picking one subject that requires a more

practical approach and one that is more

content heavy this means that in your

day you're doing exam questions looking

at examples calculations for a solid few

hours and for the next study block you

do YouTube videos you do reading you do

more conceptual understanding memorizing

type things I wouldn't really bother

scheduling ahead of time and planning

which days you're going to do which

combo of subjects I just figure it out

on the day or the night before because

if you do schedule it kind of takes the

fun out of it and hamstrings you into

just focusing on those one things and if

you forgot to do one thing one day if

you didn't have time one day then you'll

be like oh no I haven't done math today

so I have to keep you keep pushing it

forward it's natural to start falling

behind on two or three of your subjects

if you have this much to manage for

school but the smartest way to tackle

this is to think about how your school

timetable works we have some subjects

that we do on our timetable every day

and some will redo them once or twice a

week the subjects you have to do every

day in school are obviously the ones

that are more important they require

more attention and more time to practice

so replicate that with your home

studying as well if you know you're

falling behind on math then give it like

four to five days of studying a week

make that your one practical subject

that you do every single day a tip I

have if you really want to improve is to

have a daily goal for that Math study

book such as finishing 13 multiple

choice questions or 20 practical

questions whatever your scope is from my

recent exams I had a goal of doing 100

plus flashcards of anatomy every single

day because that's something that I knew

I had to improve so I did it every day

and at the end of it became kind of a

game it was quite fun and once I got on

the flow of it my anatomy understanding

really improved purely because I was

putting the Reps in every day one thing

I know wasted 70 of my time in school

was handwriting notes and I swear to God

if I hadn't wasted so much time

rewriting and copying these notes I

would have been able to study in much

less time for much more and I wouldn't

have to cram for every exam just by

having studied every day I had filled up

books that I'd take in class I'd fix

them when I've come home and then I've

condensed them even more and reword them

so that they're shorter for the exams

later on it was like this for every

subject and I knew deep down deep down I

knew that this wasn't helping but I

needed a safety blanket I'm happy I

realized by the end of it that none of

it was going in my head unless I spent

extra time after writing those notes to

reread them and also practice with them

so instead for some subjects I

downloaded notes and for some I asked my

smart friends for theirs and at the end

of it that's what I use for my final

exams I didn't waste time note taking

and instead focus on understanding

practicing and explaining what I know to

other people and I remember this because

I switched like a month or two before my

exams at the moment I switched I went

from studying a full subject in weeks to

studying it in days creating recall

questions in Boss this is again

something I know would have improved my

efficiency and understanding in almost

all of my classes if I'd started it

earlier instead of wasting time copying

from the board or the slide and writing

it down I wish I started converting all

the things we were being taught into

question is right there and then so that

I could use them later on to assess

myself and even if the questions I make

weren't amazing in class it would be

much better if I went home and spent

time to fix and improve those questions

rather than fix and improve the notes I

make the obvious benefit for making them

is because once you've made them you can

then use them to assess yourself for the

rest of the Year this is especially

important if you don't have any access

to positive or questions or question

Banks because then these can literally

carry you throughout your entire Vision

the second benefit is that they take way

less time and require more active

thinking you can't just copy off the

board you have to take in what's being

taught understand it somewhat and then

convert that into good quality questions

and third you'll have more time to think

and engage with the material you'll save

a bucket load of time in the bigger

picture and you'll be able to give more

attention to all of your subjects rather

than just a few building the habit of

doing recap or summary sessions before

or after every study session I did is a

habit I'm really happy about before

starting to study a subject each day I'd

have a 15 minute recap session about

what I've learned in the past where I've

pre-read what I'm about to learn this

involves doing multiple choice questions

or using the textbook questions to maybe

practice on the things that I learned

earlier in the week and if there's

something confusing I take time to

review before moving on I'm grateful for

this habit because even though it feels

like you're wasting time just recapping

the stuff that you did today yesterday

not focusing what you have to do today

it's really the only part of the

learning process that solidifies what

you've learned you'll be able to

identify what you truly remember versus

what you just thought you understood I

sometimes did this with my friends on

Discord or Skype back then and it was

literally just a quick 20 minute session

of me going through the stuff I don't

know and teaching them the stuff that I

do know so yeah that's a really good tip

actually recount with people that have a

similar understanding or slightly better

even understanding than YouTube the last

step I have is to always be thinking

about how you can absorb new content for

your subjects more fully and efficient

in fact I've recently made a video on

how you can accelerate your learning and

understanding of a topic when you come

across it for the first time so if

you're interested check it out right

here thank you so much for watching I

really hope this has helped and I will

see you in the next one