How I Make the PERFECT Revision Timetable with Spaced Repetition

Summary

The speaker shares their personal study strategy for tackling a large exam syllabus in just 27 days. They emphasize the ineffectiveness of rigid timetables and instead advocate for a flexible, weekly revision plan incorporating space repetition. The method involves categorizing topics, planning revisions in spaced intervals, and adjusting the plan as progress is made. The key is to master topics in fewer repetitions by studying effectively and focusing on practice questions, ensuring a manageable and adaptable study routine.

Takeaways

• 📅 The speaker finds traditional day-to-day timetables for studying ineffective and prefers a flexible weekly revision plan.
• 🧠 Space repetition is crucial for effective learning as it helps the brain retain information by revisiting topics at increasing intervals.
• 📝 It's essential to write out all the topics needed for an exam to get a clear overview and manage the study load.
• 📚 Grouping topics based on how you want to revise them can make the revision process more manageable and less overwhelming.
• 🔍 The speaker emphasizes the importance of tackling weaker areas first to give them more repetitions and solidify understanding.
• 📈 A personal space repetition formula is suggested: revise on day one, day four to five for the second revision, and two weeks later for a third revision if needed.
• 📝 Create a weekly revision timetable that is flexible and allows for adjustments based on progress and understanding of the material.
• 🔄 The speaker advises against revising all topics sequentially and then repeating the process, instead, interweave first, second, and third revisions.
• 📆 Each day, spend a few minutes transferring tasks from the weekly list to the daily calendar, treating the daily plan as a flexible suggestion rather than a strict schedule.
• 📝 Make each revision session specific, with clear goals for what needs to be achieved during that session.
• 🗂️ The speaker shares a personal revision plan as an example, illustrating how to apply the discussed strategies in a real-world context.

Q & A

Why did the speaker find traditional timetables ineffective for studying?

The speaker found traditional timetables ineffective because they are inflexible and can easily become disrupted. Falling behind or having topics take longer than anticipated requires rescheduling, which can be too much effort and can lead to abandoning the plan altogether.

What is the main issue with space repetition according to the speaker?

The main issue with space repetition is the practicality of applying it to a large number of topics. It's easy to space out a few topics, but when dealing with dozens, planning and spacing them over months becomes impractical.

What strategy does the speaker suggest for effectively using space repetition?

The speaker suggests studying so effectively at each revision that topics can be mastered in two or three repetitions. This approach avoids the inefficiency of going through topics multiple times and allows for more time to be spent on practice questions.

Why is the speaker's revision method considered practical?

The speaker's revision method is practical because it incorporates space repetition in a flexible and manageable way, allowing for adjustments as the revision process unfolds and ensuring that the study plan is followed in real life.

How does the speaker plan to categorize the topics for revision?

The speaker plans to categorize topics based on cases, as they are studying medical conditions divided into cases by the med school. This approach simplifies the revision process by reducing the number of individual topics to track.

What is the speaker's formula for space repetition?

The speaker's formula for space repetition is to revise a topic on day one, then revise it again on day four to five, and for easier topics, aim to skip the third revision after two weeks.

Why does the speaker recommend using a weekly timetable instead of a daily one?

The speaker recommends a weekly timetable because it is more flexible and easier to stick to. It accommodates unpredictable weeks and allows for adjustments without the pressure of falling behind.

How does the speaker plan to deal with the second revisions of topics?

The speaker plans to do second revisions of topics 4 to 5 days after the initial study, ideally within the same week or the week after, to adhere to the space repetition formula effectively.

What is the speaker's approach to handling the final week of revision?

The speaker leaves the final week mostly blank, allowing for adjustments based on the progress made in the previous weeks. This approach acknowledges that plans often change and need to be flexible.

How does the speaker suggest using a calendar for daily tasks?

The speaker suggests transferring the most important or appropriate tasks from the weekly list into the daily calendar, treating the calendar as a flexible suggestion for the day rather than a rigid plan.

What is the significance of the Eisenhower quote mentioned by the speaker?

The quote by Eisenhower emphasizes that while planning is essential, the actual plan can become useless over time. It's important to be flexible and adapt the plan as needed, especially during the revision process.