How to Review for Exams (UltimateTest Prep Guide)

Summary

This educational video offers a strategic approach to exam preparation, emphasizing the importance of confidence in one's answers. It introduces a three-step framework for effectively reviewing practice questions or past papers, particularly useful during medical school. The first step is understanding why correct answers are right and wrong answers are wrong. The second involves manipulating question variables to think like an exam writer. The third step is tracking confidence levels in topics studied to optimize review time. The video uses a right triangle problem to illustrate these steps, encouraging deep thinking and connection-making for better retention and application of knowledge.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video discusses strategies for effectively reviewing for exams using practice questions or past papers, emphasizing the importance of confidence in one's answers.
• 🔍 Confidence is key when reviewing; it's not just about getting the right answer, but also being sure of your knowledge, which helps with retention.
• 🧠 The 'hyper correction effect' in psychology suggests that when we are confident but wrong, the correction is more likely to be remembered.
• 📈 A three-step framework is introduced to boost confidence: understanding why correct answers are right and wrong answers are wrong, manipulating question variables, and tracking confidence levels.
• 📐 The video uses a right triangle problem to illustrate how to apply the framework, explaining the Pythagorean theorem and how to identify why incorrect answers were provided.
• 🤔 It's important to consider why certain wrong answers are included in practice problems to understand the thought process behind them.
• 🔄 Manipulating the variables in a problem can help you think like an exam writer and prepare for different types of questions you might encounter.
• 📝 After reviewing, tracking your confidence in topics is crucial to avoid wasting time on unnecessary review, which can be done using methods like the 'grow method'.
• ⏱️ The 'grow method' not only tracks confidence but also serves as a study schedule, suggesting which topics to focus on at any given time.
• 📖 The video encourages viewers to watch a follow-up video for a detailed walkthrough of the 'grow method' for effective study planning.

Q & A

What is the main idea of the video?

The video explains how to effectively use practice questions or past papers for exam preparation by focusing on confidence and understanding why answers are right or wrong.

Why is confidence important when reviewing practice problems?

Confidence is important because it helps you gauge how well you understand the material, not just whether you got the answer right. Overconfidence in a wrong answer helps the brain remember that information better through the 'hypercorrection effect.'

What is the 'hypercorrection effect' and why is it useful in learning?

The hypercorrection effect refers to the tendency for people to better remember information when they were confident in a wrong answer. It helps strengthen memory when mistakes are corrected, making the information more likely to stick.

What is the first step in the three-step framework for reviewing practice questions?

The first step is to always make sure you understand why the correct answer is right and why the wrong answers are wrong. Detailed answer explanations help you understand the thought process behind the questions.

What does step two in the framework recommend doing with practice questions?

Step two recommends changing the variables of the questions or answers to explore how modifying conditions can change the correct solution. This helps you think like an exam writer and understand the material more deeply.

How can you manipulate a practice problem to gain more insight according to the video?

You can manipulate a practice problem by changing the conditions, such as solving for a different variable, applying different formulas, or even imagining how the problem might be altered in shape or dimension. This generates more problems and deepens understanding.

Why is it useful to understand why wrong answers were included in a question set?

Understanding why wrong answers are included helps you learn other concepts. For example, wrong answers may be based on different formulas, which helps reinforce learning those formulas as well.

What example does the video give of using a math problem to illustrate the framework?

The video uses a right triangle and the Pythagorean theorem as an example. By solving for the hypotenuse and analyzing why incorrect answers were given, the video demonstrates how to apply the framework to learn deeply from a single problem.

How can you track your confidence level while studying?

You can track your confidence level by rating how well you understand each topic, ensuring that you're focusing your review time on areas where you're less confident, and avoiding wasting time on material you already know well.

What is the 'GROW method' mentioned in the video?

The GROW method is a study strategy mentioned in the video that tracks your confidence in various topics and recommends what to study at a given time. It serves as a time-saving study schedule without needing to plan in advance.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Effective Exam Review with Practice Questions

This paragraph introduces a video focused on effective exam review strategies, particularly using practice questions or past papers. The speaker reflects on their medical school experience, highlighting the importance of using a variety of resources, from extensive question banks to limited past papers, and emphasizes that the key to success is not the quantity of practice problems but the quality of engagement with them. The speaker introduces the concept of 'confidence' in learning, suggesting that self-assessment of confidence before checking answers can lead to better retention, a phenomenon known as the hyper correction effect. A three-step framework is proposed to enhance confidence when reviewing practice problems: understanding why correct answers are correct and wrong answers are wrong, manipulating question variables to deepen understanding, and tracking confidence levels for efficient study planning.

05:05

🔍 Deep Dive into Practice Problem Analysis

The second paragraph delves deeper into the three-step framework for reviewing practice problems, with a focus on the first two steps. It uses a right triangle problem as an example to illustrate how to analyze why the correct answer is right and the wrong answers are wrong. The speaker explains the Pythagorean theorem and how to apply it to find the hypotenuse, then discusses how to think critically about the problem by considering alternative scenarios and formulas, such as the law of cosines for non-right triangles. The paragraph also touches on the importance of manipulating the problem to generate new questions and scenarios, which helps in understanding different concepts and preparing for various exam questions. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the value of this approach in making connections between topics and challenging oneself to think deeply, which is essential for success in exams.

Keywords

💡Confidence

Confidence in the context of the video refers to the certainty with which one knows an answer or concept. It is crucial for effective learning and retention. The video emphasizes that merely getting the right answer isn't enough; one must also be confident in their knowledge to ensure that the information is more likely to stick in memory. This is illustrated when the speaker talks about the importance of ranking one's confidence before checking the answer, as this helps in better learning and memory retention.

💡Flashcard apps

Flashcard apps like Anki or REM notes are digital tools used for studying and memorizing information. In the video, these apps are mentioned as a way to quiz oneself on various topics, with a focus on evaluating one's confidence level after answering. The video suggests that these apps are not just for getting the right answer but also for gauging the level of confidence in that answer, which is key to effective learning.

💡Hyper correction effect

The hyper correction effect is a psychological phenomenon where incorrect information that is later corrected leaves a lasting impression on memory. In the video, the speaker uses a personal anecdote about mistakenly identifying Saruman as the main villain in 'Lord of the Rings' and then being corrected to illustrate how such a correction can lead to a strong and lasting memory of the correct information.

💡Practice questions

Practice questions are used in the video to demonstrate how to effectively review for exams. The speaker explains that the number of practice questions is less important than how they are used. The video suggests a methodical approach to using practice questions, which includes understanding why the correct answer is correct and why the wrong answers are wrong, as well as manipulating the variables to understand different aspects of the problem.

💡Past papers

Past papers are used in the video as an example of study materials that can be used for exam preparation. The speaker shares personal experiences of using past papers with varying degrees of success, emphasizing that the effectiveness of past papers depends on how they are utilized rather than the quantity available.

💡Pythagorean theorem

The Pythagorean theorem is a mathematical principle used in the video to solve for the hypotenuse of a right triangle. It is introduced as a key concept in the process of answering a practice question and is used to explain how to correctly approach and solve a problem involving the lengths of the sides of a triangle.

💡Answer key

An answer key in the video is described as a valuable tool for checking answers and providing detailed explanations. It is not just for verifying the correctness of an answer but also for understanding the thought process behind the correct and incorrect answers, which is essential for learning and improving.

💡Manipulating variables

Manipulating variables is a strategy discussed in the video for deepening understanding and learning. It involves changing the conditions of a problem to see how it affects the solution. The speaker uses this technique to explore different aspects of a problem, such as changing the question or the answer choices to understand the underlying concepts more thoroughly.

💡Law of cosines

The law of cosines is a mathematical formula mentioned in the video for solving triangles when the angles are not right angles. It is used to illustrate how changing the conditions of a problem (e.g., from a right triangle to a non-right triangle) requires a different approach and formula, showcasing the importance of understanding various mathematical concepts for problem-solving.

💡Grow method

The Grow method is a study technique mentioned towards the end of the video as a way to track one's confidence and study progress. It is described as a simple yet effective method for keeping track of what one knows and what needs further review, serving as both a study tracker and a scheduling tool.

Highlights

The importance of using practice questions or past papers effectively for exam preparation.

The key idea is confidence: assessing your confidence level in knowing the answer before checking it.

The hyper-correction effect in psychology: information is more likely to stick in memory when we are confident but wrong.

Step 1: Understand why the right answer is right and why the wrong answers are wrong.

Step 2: Change the variables in the questions and answers to think like an exam writer.

Using one practice problem to generate multiple scenarios by altering conditions, such as changing the question or variables.

Application of the Pythagorean theorem to solve for the hypotenuse of a right triangle.

Explanation of why incorrect answer choices might be included, such as solving for different aspects of the problem.

The value of manipulating practice problems to create different types of questions and scenarios.

Understanding that teachers often test the ability to manipulate and distinguish between different concepts.

Step 3: Track your confidence level for each topic to optimize study time.

Recommendation to use a simple study schedule method, like the GROW method, to efficiently track learning progress.

The GROW method helps to manage study schedules and track understanding, offering a significant time-saving advantage.

Final emphasis on the need to actively engage with and manipulate study material to deepen understanding.

Encouragement to think creatively about possible variations of practice problems to better prepare for exams.

Transcripts

this video is part of our ultimate study

skills series and today we're talking

about how to review for exams using

practice questions or past papers during

med school I remember going through

massive Q banks on uworld for big exams

like the MCAT or the USM Elite Mass like

literally thousands of practice problems

but I've also taken classes where I was

only given a few past papers and I still

made it work and so I realized it

doesn't matter if you have 10 practice

problems or ten thousand if you're not

using them properly then it's going to

be a waste of time so how is this done

the most important idea to understand

here is confidence you know when you use

flashcard apps like Anki or REM notes

after you answer the flashcard in your

head and reveal the answer it asks you

to write how well you know it that's the

important part it's asking how confident

were you with that decision I would

argue that it's smarter to rank your

confidence before even checking the

answer because it's not enough to just

get the answers right you also need to

be confident that you know the answer

and that you'll get it right again we're

confident that we know something but it

turns out that we were wrong that piece

of information is way more likely to

stick in our memory in Psychology this

is called the hyper correction effect

like I remember once I got into it with

my friend that the main villain in Lord

of the Rings was Saruman and you know we

got this heated argument about it then

turns out I was wrong and it's Sauron

not Saruman lost 50 bucks for it and so

yeah I'm never gonna forget that again

so here's a three-step framework to

raise your confidence when reviewing

practice problems step one is to always

make sure you know why the right answer

is right and why the wrong answers are

wrong that's why it's always helpful to

have an answer key to check your answers

and you want the answer key to be a

detailed explanation so it explains the

thought process step two is to change

the variables of the answer choices or

change the variables of the question

itself so for example if you know why

the wrong answers are wrong how would

you change the wrong answers to then

make them right or how would you change

the question itself so that the wrong

answers would be right because once you

can start manipulating the questions and

the answers you'll start to think like

an exam writer I would say try to go

even deeper and ask yourself how could

this question be asked differently on

the test or ask how could the teacher

ask a curveball question or combine

multiple variables into the same

question so now so now I'm going to use

tips number one and two on some practice

problems to see how this all works and

because I love triangles let's do some

trick so let's draw out a right triangle

here

good and let's say this side here is a

four this one over here is six and we'll

be solving for this length here which is

X and I'll put some answer choices from

this problem set here so a is going to

be 12 B is going to be 7.2 and C

is 17.2 so for my long lost memory of

trigonometry and from Googling it like

20 minutes ago I recall that to find the

hypotenuse of a right triangle the long

side that's opposite from that right

angle can be found using the Pythagorean

theorem so the Pythagorean

Pythagorean theorem

I think that's what that writes which is

also equal to a squared plus b squared

if

c squared C being the length of the

hypotenuse the long side so with some

simple plug and chug we get

4 squared plus 6 squared equals c

squared simplifying this down we're

going to get 16 plus 36 equals c squared

16 plus 36 or is that 52 equals c

squared and finally we just take the

square root of each side because this

one has a squared over here plug that

into your calculator or Wolfram Alpha or

whatever and we'll get that c is equal

to 7.2 and that makes B the correct

answer choice now what if this one

practice problem was all you had to

study for upcoming quiz we can use tips

one and two to learn a lot more from

this problem so tip number one is to

know why all the wrong answers are

incorrect and why the right answer is

correct right for math this is much more

black and white like obviously I can

just Google square root of 52 and I'll

know that it equals 7.2 not 12 or 17.2

right but I can also stop and think more

carefully about why answers A and C were

included at all like Y is 12 and Y is

17.2 possible answers that it could have

gotten given this situation so from the

limited amount of information that was

given from this problem what else could

I actually solve for right well I also

know that I can find the area of a right

triangle if I have the height and base

of the triangle and those are two

variables that I am given so the area of

a triangle

is equal to

the height times base divided by 2.

let's do some simple plug and chug here

we have the height of 6 times the base

four divided by 2 and that is going to

equal

doing Simple Math on my head 12. Okay

cool so answer Choice a was solving for

the area of a triangle

whereas B was testing for my knowledge

of the Pythagorean theorem

what about C

I see a 0.2 there that decimal and

answer B which we just solved for which

was the hypotenuse was 7.2 so the only

other variable that I can think of that

would be equal to 17.2 would be the

perimeter of a triangle right just

adding each side length together the

perimeter of a triangle

is equal to a plus b plus c

plugging all of those in we would also

get four plus six plus seven point two

since we just solved for it in the

Pythagorean theorem this is going to

equal 17.2 so C is solving for the

perimeter

of a triangle so now I know why it's

choices A and C were wrong they were

using different formulas one for the

area of a triangle one for the perimeter

and now I know why B was correct because

we used the Pythagorean theorem which

was the right formula for that equation

now let's move on to tip number two how

can I actually change the conditions uh

so that I would solve for a different

variable of this equation overall like

what would it look like if instead of

getting this here I was actually given

7.2 and asked to solve for this variable

right here how would that change the way

that I applied the Pythagorean theorem

so we can just kind of do the same plug

and chug as we just did before

but this time it would look like this we

would have a squared plus

and that would give me this final answer

of a equals to 4 right all right let's

do another one what if for example this

angle right here

was unknown it wasn't right angle

that means that the Pythagorean theorem

wouldn't apply it right I would have to

use a different formula right like the

law of cosines so we go in so the law of

cosines is equal to

C is equal to the square root of a

squared plus b squared

that looks bad

plus b squared minus 2 a b cosine of

that angle

so you see I can just keep manipulating

this one practice problem to generate a

whole different set of problems to solve

for applying different constraints to

solve for different variables like how

would I solve for this angle instead how

would I solve for this angle if it was a

right triangle what if this was a

completely different shape like it had

another triangle over here what if it

was three-dimensional you know it had

this shape like that how would that

change solving for different angles how

would this change the way that I

approached this problem

so effectively I can turn this one

practice problem into like 10 problems

or more this is such an underrated way

to learn because it emphasizes making

connections between topics and really

challenging yourself to think more

deeply connecting ideas like this

differentiates them and makes them more

applicable and usable in different

situations and remember that this is

what your teachers are doing when they

write exam questions they are testing

your ability to manipulate and

distinguish between different kinds of

Concepts alright so let's get back to

the framework the last tip actually

happens after you finish reviewing the

problems for the day and it's a really

important step you have to track your

confidence for every topic you study

otherwise you'll end up wasting precious

time reviewing past papers or even

entire chapters that didn't need to be

reviewed there are different ways to do

this from the old school analog shoebox

method to encoding entire algorithms

let's be real the simpler the better our

preferred way is something we call the

grow method not only does it keep track

of how well I know each topic but it

also serves as a study schedule that

recommends which topics to study at any

given moment which is a huge Time Saver

because I don't need to worry about

planning a schedule ahead of time but I

go way more into detail with a

step-by-step walkthrough on the grow

method in this video right over here and

you won't want to miss it alright bye