A math GENIUS taught me how to LEARN ANYTHING in 3 months (it's easy)

Summary

The speaker shares a transformative learning technique they discovered at 17, which helped them ace their A-level math exam in just three months and achieve top marks. Despite skepticism from their teachers, this method proved highly effective. The speaker details how working through countless math problems, identifying weak points, and testing oneself consistently led to success. They emphasize the importance of focus, persistence, and feedback, drawing parallels to similar strategies found in Scott Young's 'Ultralearning.' The video also highlights the importance of mental health and encourages therapy through a partnership with BetterHelp.

Takeaways

• 🧑‍🏫 The speaker discovered a highly effective learning technique that enabled them to complete a 2-year A-level math course in 3 months, scoring over 95%.
• 🙁 The speaker faced discouragement from their math teacher, who told them they were unlikely to succeed in math.
• 👨‍🏫 A new teacher, Mr. Simpson, introduced the speaker to a new method of learning math, which involved solving problems by filling in missing steps.
• ✏️ The technique focused on solving problems repeatedly, working on examples, and identifying gaps in knowledge by covering parts of the solution and trying to fill them in.
• 📈 The speaker’s confidence grew quickly, and they started selecting more challenging problems as they progressed.
• 📚 By the end of the process, the speaker had solved thousands of math problems and scored 99% in their mock exam.
• 🤯 Despite this success, the school did not believe the speaker had improved so dramatically and accused them of cheating, banning them from the math department.
• 📝 The speaker highlights seven steps for effective learning: learn how to learn, focus, do the task, work on weaknesses, test yourself, get feedback, and understand why answers are correct.
• 💡 The speaker draws parallels between their learning method and the strategies discussed in Scott Young's book 'Ultra Learning'.
• 💻 The speaker also emphasizes the importance of mental health in learning and shares a personal experience of struggling with it, encouraging others to seek therapy when needed.

Q & A

What was the key learning technique that the speaker discovered?

The speaker discovered a learning technique that involved filling in gaps in solutions to math problems. By attempting to solve parts of the problems that were hidden, they learned math by doing it rather than passively reading solutions.

How did the speaker's teacher, Mr. Parkinson, initially respond to the speaker's struggles with math?

Mr. Parkinson dismissed the speaker's potential in math, suggesting that the speaker might get a 'D' and that math wasn't for them.

Who introduced the speaker to the new learning technique, and how did it work?

A part-time teacher named Mr. Simpson introduced the speaker to the technique. He provided worksheets with part of the solutions missing, encouraging the speaker to fill in the gaps and learn math by solving problems.

What was the turning point in the speaker's confidence in math?

Within a couple of weeks of using Mr. Simpson's method, the speaker's confidence grew. They began spotting errors in Mr. Parkinson's lessons and pointed them out.

How did the speaker perform in their mock exam, and what was the reaction from Mr. Parkinson?

The speaker scored 99% in their mock exam, but instead of receiving praise, Mr. Parkinson accused them of cheating and disqualified the result.

Why did the speaker find the final months of school traumatizing?

Despite excelling in math, the school never accepted that the speaker hadn't cheated, banning them from the math department and almost expelling them. This made the last three months of school a difficult experience.

What happened to Mr. Simpson, the teacher who helped the speaker?

Mr. Simpson was a temporary teacher who eventually disappeared without a trace. The speaker never got the chance to thank him for his help.

What are the seven steps of the learning technique that the speaker shares?

The seven steps are: 1) Learn how to learn the subject, 2) Focus and dedicate time, 3) Practice by doing, 4) Work on your weakest points, 5) Test yourself frequently, 6) Get feedback, and 7) Understand why an answer is correct.

Why is it important to work on your weakest points when learning something new?

Working on your weakest points accelerates improvement. It's tempting to practice what you're already good at, but focusing on the more challenging areas leads to faster progress.

How does testing yourself help with learning, according to the speaker?

Testing yourself not only reveals what you don't know, but also reinforces learning. By actively engaging with problems and testing knowledge, you can deepen your understanding and improve faster.