How to Cram for Exams the SMART WAY

Summary

In this video, Amy from Valoran shares her expertise on efficient cramming, having achieved high scores on AP exams while balancing sports and sleep. She emphasizes the importance of focus, efficiency, and a stoic mindset to maximize study output. Amy outlines a strategy that includes getting the big picture, prioritizing concepts, targeting practice problems, addressing weaknesses, and maintaining sleep to ensure optimal performance. Her tips aim to help students prepare effectively for exams, even under time pressure.

Takeaways

• 📚 Embrace Efficiency: The key to successful cramming is to maximize output while minimizing input, focusing on the most important concepts first.
• 🧘 Stay Stoic: Maintain control over your reactions to stress, as external events cannot be controlled but your focus can be directed towards studying.
• 🎯 Prioritize Focus: Focus is essential for intensive studying, allowing you to absorb more information in less time compared to a less focused approach.
• 📉 Get the Big Picture: Start by understanding the overarching concepts and connections between topics, which helps in remembering and applying knowledge.
• 📝 Prioritize Concepts: Use resources to determine the weight of each concept and create a list in order of importance to guide your study plan.
• 🔍 Target Practice Problems: Engage with practice problems rather than general summaries, as they provide a targeted review of necessary information.
• 🔄 Active Recall: Use active recall techniques by reviewing or redoing questions to reinforce memory and understanding.
• 🚫 Eliminate Distractions: Remove distractions such as phones and music to concentrate fully on the study material.
• 🔄 Target Weaknesses: Identify and address areas of difficulty from past work to improve understanding and boost scores.
• 💤 Preserve Sleep: Avoid sacrificing sleep, as it is crucial for cognitive function and overall performance on the test.
• 🌟 Health First: Remember that health is more important than grades, and maintaining well-being is essential for effective studying and test performance.

Q & A

What is the main theme of Amy's video?

The main theme of Amy's video is to provide effective and efficient cramming strategies for exam preparation.

How did Amy manage to balance her academic and extracurricular activities while getting good sleep?

Amy managed her time efficiently, using her experience and learnings from cramming to achieve high scores in her AP exams, playing Varsity Sports, and getting into a top 10 University while maintaining an average of 8 hours of sleep a night.

What is the key to successful cramming according to Amy?

The key to successful cramming, according to Amy, is efficiency, which involves maximizing output while minimizing input.

What mindset is critical for efficiency during cramming?

A stoic mindset is critical for efficiency during cramming, focusing on control over one's reactions to high-stress situations rather than external events.

How can one increase the intensity of studying according to the script?

One can increase the intensity of studying by focusing on the task at hand, which allows for the absorption of more information in a shorter amount of time.

What is the first step Amy suggests to take when cramming?

The first step Amy suggests is to get the big picture by using a syllabus or notes to skim all concepts at a high level, understanding the story and connections between different concepts.

Why is it important to understand the 'story' behind a subject when cramming?

Understanding the 'story' behind a subject helps in connecting different concepts and remembering them better, as humans tend to connect and remember stories more effectively.

What is the second step in Amy's cramming strategy?

The second step is to prioritize concepts based on their weight in the exam, using resources to determine the importance of each concept and creating a list in order of priority.

How can practice problems be used effectively in the cramming process?

Practice problems act as a cheat sheet, highlighting the essential information minus the details. They should be used to target the most important concepts first, working down the priority list.

What is the purpose of targeting weaknesses during the cramming process?

Targeting weaknesses helps to address areas where one has previously made mistakes or struggled, which can have a significant impact on improving the score and boosting confidence.

Why is it important not to sacrifice sleep during the cramming process?

Sacrificing sleep can negatively affect performance and memory retention, making it crucial to strike a balance between studying and getting enough rest.

What advice does Amy give about health and grades in relation to cramming for exams?

Amy advises that health is more important than grades and should be prioritized, even during the stress of exam preparation.