How to Study 3x Faster Instantly (from a Top 1% Med Student)

Summary

Salim, a med student, shares his insights on effective studying, emphasizing simplicity over complex routines. He advises using a branched system with up to three methods: memorization, understanding, and time management. Salim stresses the importance of preparing with questions, reflecting on study methods, and balancing academic work with extracurricular activities to build a strong portfolio. He also highlights the necessity of improving thinking speed to excel in competitive environments.

Takeaways

• 📚 **Efficient Studying**: Salim emphasizes that studying efficiently means spending less time and achieving higher grades.
• 🤔 **Simplicity is Key**: High-performing students use simple study routines that are sustainable and effective.
• 🌿 **Branched System**: Limiting study methods to a maximum of three (memorizing, understanding, time management) provides flexibility and covers all bases.
• 🧠 **Active Recall and Spaced Repetition**: For memorization, active recall and spaced repetition are effective techniques.
• 🔍 **Feynman Technique**: To understand complex concepts, Feynman's technique is recommended to ensure comprehensive understanding.
• ⏱️ **Time Management**: Focusing on covering a set amount of topics or questions daily rather than studying for a set number of hours.
• 📖 **Exam Preparation**: The best way to prepare for exams is by practicing questions to understand what examiners look for.
• 📈 **Method Reflection**: Reflecting on exam performance and study methods helps identify areas for improvement and adaptability.
• 🏆 **Beyond Studying**: Top students understand the importance of building a portfolio through projects and research to stand out.
• 💡 **Thinking Skills**: Developing higher levels of thinking skills is crucial for becoming a top student and increasing study efficiency.

Q & A

What is the main advantage of studying efficiently according to Salim?

Studying efficiently allows you to achieve the highest grades while still having time for other aspects of life.

Why does Salim suggest keeping study routines simple?

Salim believes that simple routines are more sustainable and require less effort, making them more effective in the long run compared to complicated routines.

What is the branched system Salim refers to for studying?

The branched system is a method where Salim limits himself to using a maximum of three study methods at a time to maintain flexibility and effectiveness.

What are the three main study methods Salim uses?

Salim uses active recall and spaced repetition for memorization, Feynman technique for understanding complex concepts, and a focus on completing a certain amount of topics or questions for time management.

How does Salim suggest preparing for exams?

Salim recommends preparing for exams by doing practice questions, which helps to understand the examiner's perspective and improves pattern recognition.

What percentage of study time during exam season should be spent doing questions according to Salim?

Salim suggests that 90% of study time during exam season should be dedicated to doing questions.

Why is method reflection important in studying, as mentioned by Salim?

Method reflection helps in evaluating the effectiveness of study techniques and identifying areas for improvement, leading to more efficient studying.

How does Salim apply his experience from medical school to studying?

Salim applies the principle of learning by doing, which is common in medical school, to studying by focusing on practice questions and method reflection.

What is the importance of building a portfolio according to Salim?

Building a portfolio is important because it supplements studying, increases the ability to apply knowledge, and helps stand out by showing commitment and credibility in the field.

How does Salim link the ability to think faster with being a top student?

Salim links faster thinking to being a top student because it allows for more efficient studying and better performance in competitive academic environments.

What additional resources does Salim provide for further study improvement?

Salim provides videos on the three main study methods he uses, and another video discussing the 6 levels of thinking to help viewers improve their study skills and thinking abilities.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Mastering Study Efficiency

Salim, a medical student, shares his insights on how to optimize study time to achieve top grades without excessive hours. He emphasizes simplicity in study methods, advocating for a 'branched system' with no more than three techniques: memorization, understanding, and time management. He suggests active recall and spaced repetition for memorization, Feynman technique for understanding, and focusing on topics or questions rather than hours for time management. Salim also stresses the importance of preparing for exams with practice questions to understand what examiners look for. He shares his experience of reducing study time significantly by reflecting on his study methods after exams or coursework, adjusting his approach based on performance. Lastly, he points out that efficient studying is only part of the picture; building a portfolio through projects and research can enhance both study efficiency and professional credibility.

05:03

🧠 Enhancing Cognitive Thinking

In the second paragraph, the focus shifts to the importance of cognitive thinking skills in addition to study methods. It suggests that even with the right study techniques, slow thinking can limit one's potential. The paragraph hints at a related video that discusses six levels of thinking, from beginner to genius, and how to accelerate the development of these higher thinking skills. The implication is that becoming a top student requires not just efficient studying but also the ability to think quickly and effectively.

Keywords

💡Study Efficiency

Study efficiency refers to the effectiveness of one's study methods in achieving desired academic outcomes with minimal time and effort. In the video, Salim emphasizes the importance of maximizing study efficiency to balance academic success with other life aspects. He shares his personal experience of transitioning from a B grade to an A+ by optimizing his study routine, which is a testament to the video's central theme of achieving academic excellence through smart, rather than hard, studying.

💡Branched System

A branched system in the context of studying is a methodological approach where a student limits their study techniques to a maximum of three different methods at a time. This concept is introduced by Salim as a way to maintain flexibility and adaptability in one's study habits. He uses this system to manage memorization, understanding, and time management, illustrating how it can be tailored to individual needs and learning styles.

💡Active Recall

Active recall is a learning technique where one actively tries to remember information without looking at the material. Salim mentions using active recall for memorizing facts, such as in anatomy, which is critical for his medical studies. It is highlighted as a fundamental technique within his branched system, underscoring its role in efficient studying.

💡Spaced Repetition

Spaced repetition is a memorization technique where one reviews information at increasing intervals over time, which is proven to enhance long-term memory retention. Salim integrates spaced repetition with active recall for memorization tasks, demonstrating its utility in his study routine and its contribution to achieving high grades.

💡Feynman Technique

The Feynman Technique is a learning method that involves explaining a concept in simple terms to ensure complete understanding. Salim applies this technique to grasp complex medical concepts, such as those in neurology, highlighting its importance in the video's theme of mastering challenging academic material.

💡Time Management

Time management in studying refers to the strategic allocation of study time to optimize learning outcomes. Salim discusses focusing on covering a certain number of topics or questions per day instead of studying for a set number of hours, which exemplifies the video's message of prioritizing efficiency over quantity.

💡Mock Exams

Mock exams are practice tests that simulate real exams to prepare students for the actual testing conditions. Salim reflects on his performance in mock exams to identify areas of strength and weakness, which is a key part of his method reflection and a testament to the video's theme of continuous improvement.

💡Method Reflection

Method reflection involves self-assessment of one's study techniques and their effectiveness. Salim describes reflecting on his approach after exams and coursework to refine his methods, which is a central strategy in his journey to academic success and a key takeaway from the video.

💡Portfolio Building

Portfolio building refers to the accumulation of projects, papers, and other academic work that demonstrate a student's expertise and commitment beyond grades. Salim mentions that top med students build their portfolios alongside their studies, which not only enhances their learning but also sets them apart in competitive fields, tying into the video's broader message about academic and professional success.

💡Thinking Levels

Thinking levels refer to the cognitive abilities and thought processes that range from basic to advanced. Salim alludes to a video where he discusses the different levels of thinking, from beginner to genius, which is relevant to the video's theme of achieving academic excellence by improving one's cognitive capabilities.

💡Prioritization

Prioritization is the act of arranging tasks or activities in order of importance. Salim points out that top students do not prioritize studying over everything else, which is a crucial lesson in the video about balancing academic pursuits with other aspects of life to achieve overall success.

Highlights

Studying efficiently can lead to high grades while saving time for other life aspects.

Simple study routines are often the most effective.

Limiting study methods to a maximum of three can increase flexibility and effectiveness.

Active recall and spaced repetition are effective for memorization.

Feynman's technique is recommended for understanding complex concepts.

Effective time management focuses on topics or questions covered rather than hours studied.

Exam preparation should involve practicing questions to understand what examiners look for.

During exam season, 90% of study time should be spent on doing questions.

Method reflection after exams or coursework can improve study efficiency.

Focusing on less relevant topics can lead to lower performance.

Practicing questions is more beneficial than re-reading notes or watching lectures during exam season.

Building a portfolio through projects and research can enhance study efficiency and stand out.

Academic success is not just about studying; it's also about building credibility and contribution to the field.

Thinking faster is necessary to become a top student in competitive environments.

There are six levels of thinking, and understanding them can help reach the top level faster.

Transcripts

Imagine if you could study for half the time  others do, and still get the highest grades..

I’m Salim, I’ve done an undergrad and postgraduate  degree, and now I’m a final year med student.

So I’ve spent thousands of hours on studying,  

and figured out the best way to use my study  time so that I can get the highest grades as  

efficiently as possible, and still  have time for other things in life.

So I’ll go through the most important things that  

can help you do this too ****- and the  4th point alone saved me about 10 hours  

of studying a week and helped me go from  a B grade to an A+ almost straight away.

So first, I have a question - did you click  on this video hoping for a complicated  

and detailed guide that’s going to magically  make your studying 10x more efficient?

Because if so, that’s not what  effective studying is about.

What I’ve noticed with every high  performing med student is that,  

they don’t have a complicated study  routine - because Simple Works Best.

The idea of keeping it simple is to  minimize how much effort it actually  

takes to study - so using a complicated  routine of colour coding every subject  

and scheduling down to every hour of your  day isn’t going to help you study better;  

it’ll only work for a few days until you  get tired of seeing such a busy routine.

And now you might be thinking, how can  you keep it simple, how can you study in  

a way that’s both effective and sustainable so  that you get the highest grades consistently?

The best way I’ve found is  by preparing yourself with  

a branched system - and I’ll explain what this is.

This is typically a system where you  limit yourself to using a maximum of  

three methods at a time, so that you have  flexibility in your approach to studying.

For me, the main three I stick  to includes one for memorizing,  

one for understanding, and  another for time management.

For example, if i’m learning  anatomy or memorizing simple facts,  

then using an active recall and spaced  repetition system is all I need.

But if I’m trying to understand difficult  concepts which is typical in neurology,  

then I’d use Feynman’s technique to  make sure I fully understand a topic  

so that I can answer any question  on them, no matter how difficult.

And if I’m aiming to manage time effectively with  studying, I’d focus on getting through a certain  

amount of topics or questions a day, as opposed  to aiming to study a certain number of hours.

I have videos on all three of  these things which I’ll link below.

Doing this gives you a small amount of  flexibility so that you have all of your  

bases covered, because chances are if one  technique doesn’t work for one subject,  

one of the other two techniques is going to help.

And you don’t have to use the three I mentioned  - try different systems out for a few weeks,  

and see what works best for your workflow.

So now, I have a question for an important point -  when you have an exam, what do you do to prepare?

There’s the saying that, if you fail  to prepare, then you prepare to fail.

But just as important is that, if  you do prepare but in the wrong way,  

then you’ll develop the wrong habits that stop  you from getting the grades that you want.

And what is the wrong way - from what  I’ve seen over my 8 years at uni,  

people that prepare for exams by studying  in groups in exam season don’t use their  

time that well, which makes sense  when you’re with your friends.

And people that also just re-read  their notes or watch lectures  

during exam season also don’t do too  well or use their time effectively.

And this video is about the most efficient way to  study for the best grades - and the best way to  

study for exams regardless of your subject,  is making sure to prepare with questions.

In med school, or with doctors and surgeons,  you learn everything you need to know by  

doing - whether that’s a surgical procedure  or administering a medication to a patient.

The best way to get better  at them, is by doing them.

Doing practise exam questions gets  you into the mindset of the examiner,  

as you see the mark scheme and learn  for what they look for, or get better  

at looking out for patterns in questions  and the topics that consistently come up.

In exam season, 90% of your studying should be  

doing questions ****- there’s nothing  else to say for this point, just do it.

And now, there’s something in med  school that we’re basically forced  

to do multiple times throughout the  year after our hospital placements.

And when it comes to doing them,  we don’t really like doing them,  

because it’s a bit of chore  and it gets quite repetitive.

But when I’ve chosen to do it for  studying, it’s made the difference  

between me potentially spending 30 hours  on a subject, to then only having to spend  

under 10 hours ****- which adds up to 100s  of hours saved across multiple subjects.

And this is making sure to  have a method reflection.

At med school, whenever I have any mock exams,  real exams, coursework, or large milestones,  

I make sure to do three things - I reflect  on how they went, how effective my methods  

and approach was for doing them, and how  I can make sure to do better in future.

For example for a mock exam, I noticed that  I did well for neurology and cardiology,  

but i didn’t do as well for paediatrics -  so I reflected on what I did well on for the  

first two and how I could apply  it to improve on paediatrics,  

and also thought about why I  didn’t do well for paediatrics.

And I found that I focused on less  relevant topics instead of the core topics,  

and not surprisingly, i didn’t  do as many practise questions.

As you keep going through these 3 things to  reflect on your studies throughout the year,  

you’ll become much more efficient with how you  use your time and importantly become adaptable,  

so that if you don’t do well in something,  you’ll find ways to improve quickly.

And now I have an important  point - being able to study  

efficiently is a small part of the bigger picture.

One thing I learnt from studying was that,  the time you spend in academics away from  

studying is just as important as sitting  down to study - and what do I mean by this?

Basically every top student at  med school doesn’t just study,  

they don’t prioritise studying over  everything else, because getting  

the highest grade nowadays isn’t enough  to differentiate yourself from others.

And why does that matter - well, why do you  want a high grade in the first place - it’s  

so that you beat your competition to  get into the course or job you want.

And something that top students do that  helps them both study better and stand out,  

is making sure to build their portfolio.

This is about doing projects that supplements your  studying, whether that’s publishing a paper on a  

topic you’re interested in, or working  on a research project with a professor.

This helps you study better because your  ability to apply knowledge increases,  

making the time you do spend  on studying more efficient.

But it also helps you stand  out because it shows that  

you don’t just study all day - you have  evidence of your commitment and a show of  

your credibility to contribute to the  wider field, instead of just focusing  

on a small exam that doesn’t really  mean anything to anyone besides you.

And this adds on to the problem that, you can have  the right study methods, but if your ability to  

think is slow, it puts a break on how much you  can actually get done, limiting your potential.

And especially because school  or university gets competitive,  

being able to think faster is  necessary to become a top student.

So in this video here, I talk about the 6  levels of thinking from beginner to genius,  

and how you can reach the top level in a fraction  of the time- so watch the video to learn more.