watch this before your next exam

Summary

In this educational video, Yale computer science student Colin shares his top tips for acing exams. He emphasizes the importance of a positive mindset, gamifying study sessions with tools like Quizlet, and applying Parkinson's Law to set focused study goals. Colin advises organizing study materials into concise, aesthetically pleasing notes and creating self-tests using AI or past exams. He also recommends active recall through Quizlet, reading notes before sleep, and maintaining a relaxed, hydrated state on exam day. With these strategies, Colin is confident viewers can excel in their academic pursuits.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Rewire your mindset: Stop panicking and believe that any test is doable with the right effort.
• 🎮 Gamify studying: Make studying enjoyable by creating Quizlet flashcards and aiming for 100% accuracy as if it's a game.
• ⏰ Implement Parkinson's Law: Set specific, limited time goals for studying to increase productivity and focus.
• 📚 Organize your study material: Focus on the chapters or topics that will be on the exam to avoid wasting time.
• 📝 Create a Google doc: Compile key terms and information from class notes and study guides for easy access and review.
• 🤖 Leverage AI: Use tools like ChatGPT to generate flashcards and questions based on your study material.
• 📑 Take practice exams: Use past papers or online resources to familiarize yourself with the exam format and content.
• 📝 Use Quizlet actively: Regularly practice with Quizlet to reinforce learning and improve recall.
• 🌙 Read notes before sleep: Enhance memory retention by reading study notes right before going to bed for a few nights before the exam.
• 🍽️ Eat lightly on exam day: Avoid heavy meals before the exam to keep your mind alert and focused.
• 🧘‍♂️ Relax and hydrate: Engage in calming activities and stay hydrated to maintain mental sharpness during the exam.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The main focus of the video is to teach viewers how to effectively prepare for exams and achieve top grades with the right mindset and study strategies.

What is the first mindset adjustment suggested by Colin?

The first mindset adjustment suggested is to stop panicking and to believe that any test is doable and acable with the right amount of work.

How does Colin recommend making studying fun?

Colin recommends making studying fun by gamifying it, such as creating Quizlet flashcards and treating the process of getting 100% correct as a game.

What is Parkinson's Law as mentioned in the video, and how does it relate to studying?

Parkinson's Law, as mentioned, is about setting goals and deadlines for oneself. In the context of studying, it suggests scheduling shorter, more focused study sessions to increase productivity and focus.

Why is it important to organize what you need to study according to Colin?

Organizing what you need to study is important because it helps to focus on the relevant material and avoid wasting time on unnecessary chapters or topics.

How does Colin suggest creating a study guide from class notes?

Colin suggests creating a Google doc with key terms from each chapter, dumping all class notes, pictures, etc., and then organizing it into an aesthetic, cheat sheet-like format.

What are the three ways Colin suggests to create practice questions for an exam?

The three ways suggested are: 1) Creating your own questions based on your notes, 2) Using AI like ChatGPT to generate flashcards and questions, and 3) Taking past practice exams or using exam papers from teachers.

How does Colin recommend using Quizlet for studying?

Colin recommends using Quizlet by treating it like a video game, aiming to get 100% as fast as possible, and using it for active recall during spare moments like waiting or before sleep.

What is the benefit of reading study notes before sleep as suggested in the video?

Reading study notes before sleep is beneficial as it enhances memory and helps in remembering the material better when waking up.

What are some pre-exam day recommendations given by Colin?

Colin recommends not eating too much before the exam, relaxing the brain with music or other calming activities, staying hydrated, and getting some sunlight to increase energy levels.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Ace Your Exams with the Right Mindset and Strategy

In the first paragraph, Colin, a Yale University computer science student, introduces his video aimed at helping viewers achieve top grades on their exams. He emphasizes the importance of adopting the correct mindset and strategy for exam preparation. Colin suggests three key mindset shifts: 1) Stop panicking and believe in one's ability to ace any test with sufficient effort. 2) Gamify studying to make it enjoyable by creating Quizlet flashcards and aiming for 100% accuracy as if it were a game. 3) Implement Parkinson's Law by setting specific, time-bound goals to avoid procrastination and increase productivity. Additionally, he advises organizing study materials by identifying key chapters or topics that will be on the exam and compiling them into an organized Google Doc, which can serve as a personalized study guide or 'cheat sheet'.

05:01

🎓 Effective Study Techniques and Exam Day Tips

The second paragraph continues with Colin's advice on how to study effectively for exams. He recommends creating practice questions from study notes, leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT to generate flashcards and questions, and utilizing past exams for practice. He also suggests using Quizlet for active recall and studying in short, focused sessions. Colin emphasizes the importance of reviewing study notes right before sleep for three consecutive nights to enhance memory retention. On exam day, he advises against overeating, staying hydrated, and relaxing the mind with calming music or activities. He also suggests exposure to sunlight to boost energy levels. The paragraph concludes with a motivational note, encouraging viewers to apply the video's tips to excel in their exams.

Keywords

💡Ace

In the context of the video, 'Ace' refers to achieving the highest possible grade or score on an exam. The video's theme revolves around strategies to excel in exams, hence 'Ace' is used to inspire viewers to aim for the best possible outcome. For example, the video promises to teach viewers 'how to Ace all your exams with ease,' emphasizing the goal of mastering exam preparation.

💡Mindset

The term 'mindset' is used to describe the mental attitude or perspective one holds towards a task or challenge. In the video, it is emphasized as the first step towards acing exams, suggesting that a positive and confident attitude is crucial. The script mentions 'rewire your mindset' as a key action, indicating that changing one's mindset can significantly impact exam performance.

💡Gamify

To 'gamify' something means to turn it into a game or make it more game-like to increase engagement and enjoyment. The video suggests 'gamify studying' by creating Quizlet flashcards and treating the process of learning as a game where the objective is to achieve 100% scores quickly. This strategy aims to make studying more fun and less tedious.

💡Parkinson's Law

Parkinson's Law, as mentioned in the video, is a concept that suggests that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. The video advises setting specific and limited time frames for studying to increase productivity and focus, contrary to allocating an entire day which might lead to procrastination and inefficiency.

💡Organize

In the video, 'organize' refers to the process of arranging study materials in a systematic and efficient manner. It is highlighted as a critical step in exam preparation, where the speaker advises against reading all textbook chapters and instead focusing on the relevant ones. The script illustrates this by suggesting creating a Google doc with key terms and organizing them into a 'cheat sheet' for easy reference.

💡Active Recall

Active recall is a learning technique where one actively tries to remember information without looking at the material. The video recommends using Quizlet flashcards to practice active recall, which is said to be an effective way to study. The script describes this process as treating Quizlet like a game, aiming to achieve 100% scores, which helps in reinforcing memory.

💡Quizlet

Quizlet is an online study tool that allows users to create digital flashcards. In the video, it is recommended as a tool to gamify studying and to practice active recall. The script describes using Quizlet during short breaks or before sleep to reinforce learning and improve exam performance.

💡Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting is a dietary approach where one cycles between periods of eating and fasting. The video mentions it as a personal routine of the speaker to maintain energy levels and mental sharpness before exams. It suggests that fasting for the first few hours of the day can help in staying alert and focused during exam times.

💡LoFi Beats

LoFi beats, or 'chill beats,' are a type of music often used to create a relaxed and focused atmosphere. The video recommends listening to LoFi beats or jazz piano as a way to calm the mind before an exam. This is part of the speaker's ritual to get into the right mental state for acing exams.

💡Sunlight

The video suggests exposure to sunlight as a way to increase energy levels and improve mental clarity. It is mentioned as an underrated method to enhance performance, implying that natural light can have a positive impact on one's mood and focus, which are crucial for exam preparation and execution.

Highlights

Rewire your mindset for exam success by treating tests as doable challenges.

Gamify studying to make it enjoyable and engaging.

Implement Parkinson's law by setting specific, limited-time goals for studying.

Organize your study materials to focus on relevant exam content.

Create a Google doc to compile key terms and notes for efficient studying.

Develop your own exam questions from your study notes.

Utilize AI tools like ChatGPT to generate flashcards and questions.

Use past practice exams to familiarize yourself with the exam format and content.

Transform practice questions into Quizlet flashcards for active recall.

Focus on achieving 100% in Quizlet to gauge your readiness for the exam.

Read your study notes before sleep to enhance memory retention.

Frame studying as a privilege rather than a chore to increase motivation.

Avoid overeating before the exam to maintain alertness and focus.

Relax your brain with calming music or rituals to prepare for the exam.

Stay hydrated and get sunlight to maintain energy levels during the exam.

Confidence in exam preparation is key to acing your exams.

Transcripts

[Music]

ladies and gentlemen if you clicked on

this video chances are you have a test

or exam coming up and you want to get an

A+ well you've come to the right spot my

name is Colin and I'm a student at Yale

University studying computer science and

in this video I'll teach you how to Ace

all your exams with ease whether you

have an exam in 2 weeks in 7 days or you

don't want even tomorrow this video is

for you listen I've probably taken more

than 100 exams throughout high school

and college and what I can tell you is

that acing all your exams doesn't have

to be so complicated all you need is the

right mindset and the right strategy so

the first thing you want to do is rewire

your mindset and there are three key

things you must do the first thing is to

stop panicking like a little nerd relax

you need to almost like trick yourself

into thinking that any test you do is

doable that any test is acable as long

as you put in the work now the second

thing you need to do is to start gamify

studying you need to make studying fun

not boring so the way I like to do this

is by creating a Quizlet and treating it

like a game where I'm basically creating

Flash cards for myself and my objective

is to get 100% as fast as possible and

in order to reach that goal of getting

100% it's like playing a game right you

just keep playing the game and through

that feedback loop and active recall

you're actually studying for your test

effectively so guys try to make your

study sessions fun treat it like a game

where you're just trying to max out the

scoreboard as fast as possible now the

third key thing you want to do is

Implement Parkinson's law and this law

is about setting goals and deadlines for

yourself so let me give you an example

if you want to study for your math exam

don't just give yourself an entire

Saturday to study for that math exam

that's highly like unspecific and it's

really broad of a timeline give yourself

2 hours maximum during that Saturday to

study because if you give yourself an

entire day to study you're just going to

end up wasting so much time so what you

want to do is Implement Parkinson's law

where you're scheduling in much more

shorter study sessions and that way

you're going to be much more productive

and much more focused with that said the

next thing you need to do is to organize

what you need to study guys this is very

important when it comes to acing your

exam because in order to Ace your exam

you need to know what's being tested on

your exam in the first place stop trying

to read all the chapters on a textbook

and go memorize the chapters that you

don't even need it's wasting time I mean

you can probably do that if you have a

lot of free time but I'm assuming that

you're trying to Ace your exam in the

shortest amount of time possible so

Colin how do you do this how do you

organize your study notes it's actually

very simple so let's say you have a

psychology exam coming up and you know

that chapters 1 to six will be tested on

the exam so what I want to do is create

a Google doc and type in all the key

terms in each chapter and then literally

just dump all that information your

class nodes pictures Etc and then

organize it later try to make it look

aesthetic I'm talking about aesthetic

where it's sort of like a cheat sheet

where all your study notes are organized

and that's literally everything you need

to know for the exam now once you have

all your notes organized what you want

to do is create a separate Google doc to

create an exam for yourself and there

are three cool ways you can do this the

first way is by coming up with your own

questions based on your notes and this

one is probably the most straightforward

one where you're basically just creating

multiple choice questions for yourself

and open-ended questions based on your

study notes now the second way you can

do this is by leveraging AI so simply

paste all your class notes and all your

study guide from the Google Doc into

chat gbt and ask it to create flashcards

ask it to create questions and then

simply copy paste those questions into a

new Google doc and maybe even print it

now the third way to test yourself is by

taking past practice exam papers online

or from your teacher this method is

probably the one that I've used most in

the past and it's probably the most

effective as well because you have a

sense of what's going to come up in your

test now once you have these practice

questions what you want to do is put

them all on a Quizlet and again you want

to treat those quizlets like you're

playing a video game personally I really

like doing those quizlets whenever I

have like 5 minutes a free time maybe

that's in the car maybe that's waiting

for a class or maybe that's just before

I sleep and using Quizlet is a very easy

way to study and the active recall is

also really effective how do you know

you're studying well with your quizlets

so the moment you stop focusing on

whether you're getting the question

right or wrong and you start focusing on

how fast can I get 100% on the Quizlet

that's when you know you're ready now

another thing you can do that's really

effective is to read your study notes 5

to 10 minutes before you sleep and

ideally you want to do this for 3 days

in a row before your exam date so let's

say your exam is on a Monday you want to

do this on Friday night Saturday night

and Sunday night because when you read

your notes before you sleep it just

enhances your memory and helps you

remember those things when you wake up

also when you're reading your notes at

night don't think of it like study think

of it like you're reading your favorite

book it's not so much of I need to study

but it's more I get to study I have this

privilege of studying in my bed and

reading these notes to increase my

knowledge and when you Frame It That Way

studying just becomes much more fun and

easy so what should you do the day of

your exam first things first don't eat

too much so if you have an exam at 2:

p.m. don't eat too big of a lunch

because you're just going to end up

being sleepy and your brain is not going

to function as fast just eat as much as

you need and don't overload your body

because your brain needs some energy

energy to process that food for me

personally I do intermittent fasting so

I don't eat for the first 4 to 6 hours

of my day but do whatever works for you

the next thing you want to do is to

relax your brain so for me personally I

have this ritual of listening to Loi

beats and jazz piano before I take an

exam and it just keeps me calm and

peaceful and ready to Ace that exam also

make sure you're drinking water and

you're hydrated to keep your mind sharp

and if you can get some sunlight guys

it's probably one of the most underrated

things you can do to increase your

energy levels and F when you're taking

the exam and if you follow all these

steps and tips from this video I have no

doubt that you guys are going to ace

your exams but that's going to be it for

this video I hope you guys got lots of

value from it if you did make sure to

smash that like button and subscribe to

be part of the family God bless the

hustle we're all going to win one day

and I'll see you in the next

one