how to STUDY for an exam THE NIGHT BEFORE (and still get all As)

Summary

In this video, Salim, a medical student with 7 years of experience, shares six essential tips for efficient exam preparation. He emphasizes working backwards by summarizing key points, focusing on intensity rather than time, and utilizing multisensory learning. He advises replicating exam conditions during study sessions to reduce stress and using real exam questions to improve application skills. Salim also discusses dealing with sleeplessness before exams, suggesting studying briefly to feel productive. Lastly, he recommends avoiding high-carb breakfasts on exam day to maintain energy levels.

Takeaways

• 📚 Start studying by focusing on the key concepts and summaries found at the end of textbook chapters.
• 📝 Create a document to track key points and concepts, and use active recall to review them regularly.
• ⏱️ Prioritize study intensity over study time by applying Parkinson’s Law: study intensely for 1-2 hour blocks per topic.
• 🎥 Use multisensory learning techniques, such as watching videos, to reinforce learning and retain key details.
• 🧘‍♂️ Minimize exam stress by simulating exam conditions during your study sessions: no breaks, no distractions.
• ❌ Avoid creating your own questions close to the exam; instead, use real exam questions or questions from other sources to practice.
• 📝 Keep track of wrong answers in a document to review and practice active recall on those mistakes.
• 😴 Don't stress if you can’t sleep the night before the exam – get up, study briefly, then try sleeping again.
• 🍳 Avoid high-carb breakfasts on exam day to prevent feeling tired during the exam.
• 💪 Learn how to maintain focus when feeling tired during exam season by using strategies to study effectively.

Q & A

What is the first study tip Salim suggests for dealing with a lot of content?

Salim suggests working backwards by looking at the end of a chapter in textbooks to find summaries of key points and copying them into a document for easy review.

How does Salim recommend using active recall to improve study efficiency?

Salim recommends testing oneself on the key concepts and definitions written down in the document, which helps retain more information than just skimming through content.

What mistake do students often make regarding study time, according to Salim?

Students often focus on the amount of time they study, like 10 hours a day, which can lead to surface-level work and lack of productivity.

How does Salim suggest focusing on study intensity instead of time?

Salim suggests applying Parkinson’s Law by studying in blocks of an hour or two for each subject or topic, and using a multisensory learning approach by watching videos on the topics being studied.

Why does Salim advise against using the Pomodoro Technique during exam season?

Salim advises against it because it can create a habit of taking breaks every 25 minutes, which may not be feasible during an exam and could increase stress.

What should students do to reduce exam stress according to Salim?

Students should make their study sessions mimic their exam conditions by hiding their phone, not playing music, setting a timer equal to the exam length, and not leaving their seat more than once.

Why does Salim suggest avoiding making your own questions when preparing for exams?

Salim suggests avoiding making your own questions because it's easy to deceive oneself into thinking one knows the answer even if the question wasn't done properly, due to the lack of a marking criteria.

What alternative does Salim propose instead of creating one's own exam questions?

Salim proposes practicing real exam questions or questions from other people to get a range of question styles and improve the ability to apply learned knowledge to different scenarios.

What is Salim's advice on sleep during exam season?

Salim agrees that getting a good amount of sleep is important, but if one can't sleep, they shouldn't force it. Instead, they should study until feeling tired to use the time productively.

What is Salim's tip for breakfast on the morning of an exam?

Salim advises avoiding a breakfast high in simple carbs as it can make people feel tired, which is not desirable during an exam.

How does Salim address the issue of feeling tired during exam season?

Salim addresses the issue of feeling tired by discussing strategies in another video on how to study even when tired to maintain focus during exam season.