THE TOPPER'S SYSTEM: Learn New and Old Content AT THE SAME TIME

Summary

The video script emphasizes the importance of balancing new content learning with revising old material for exams. The speaker suggests prioritizing new content and integrating it with the old, using a method of spaced repetition and active recall. They recommend reviewing new topics immediately after class, creating mind maps for a solid foundation, and then using recall questions and practice exams to reinforce learning. For old content, if not well-established, the advice is to revisit it as if new, using the same process of skimming, mind mapping, and creating questions. The script also highlights the effectiveness of this approach through personal experience and encourages viewers to watch additional resources for a deeper understanding of the study techniques discussed.

Takeaways

• 📚 Prioritize learning new content each week before revising old content to stay current and avoid falling behind.
• 💡 Utilize class time to build a solid foundation on new topics; it's easier to learn while they're being taught.
• 🔄 Review new topics as soon as possible after they are taught to create a strong base, using techniques like skimming and mind mapping.
• 📈 Use spaced repetition for effective learning: revise on day 1, then day 4-5, and day 14 or later.
• 🧠 Active recall is crucial; start practicing questions from the first session itself to focus your revision and understand what to prioritize.
• 📈 For old topics, if well-prepared initially, continue practicing questions and spacing out repetition.
• 🔧 If old topics were not well-prepared, revisit them as if new, skimming, creating mind maps, and building a base before diving into specifics.
• 🔗 Creating a mind map for each topic helps in linking subtopics and understanding the big picture, which aids in long-term retention.
• 📉 Avoid the temptation to perfect the topic before practicing questions; doing so can lead to less retention.
• 📝 Start with recall questions or practice questions based on what the examiner is likely to test, rather than trying to become a specialist on the topic.
• 🔄 Implement active recall from the first study session to reinforce learning and memory.
• 📈 The process of working through questions and making mistakes, then revising, helps ingrain information better than passive reading.

Q & A

What is the main strategy suggested for balancing new content learning and old content revision?

The main strategy is to prioritize staying on top of new content every week and ensure it is learned first. Then, fill the rest of the time with the revision of old content.

Why is it recommended to learn new topics while they are being taught?

It is easier to learn new topics while they are being taught because you can take advantage of the current teaching and the context it provides, which helps in creating a good base for the new topic.

What are the steps to review a new topic after it has been taught in class?

The steps include skimming through the material for a basic understanding, creating a mind map that links every subtopic together, and then going through general concepts to create recall questions or flashcards.

What is the space repetition formula suggested for revising new topics?

The formula is to revise the topic on day one, then on day four to five, and then on day 14 or later. After that, review the topic with mixed practice questions closer to the exam.

How does the speaker suggest approaching old content that hasn't been well-revised?

The speaker suggests grabbing one major topic at a time, pretending you've never learned it before, and following the same steps as for new topics: skimming, creating mind maps, and building a base before going through concepts and creating notes or questions.

Why is it important to start doing practice questions from the first session itself?

Starting practice questions from the first session helps to focus the revision, understand what is more likely to come up, and what needs to be focused on in the next revisions. It also makes the revision process more efficient.

What is the significance of creating a mind map for each topic?

Creating a mind map helps in linking subtopics together through a central idea, which aids in remembering the topic for a longer period. It also provides a visual representation of the topic's structure, making it easier to understand and recall.

How does the speaker recommend using recall questions during the revision process?

The speaker recommends starting with recall questions right after creating a mind map and understanding the topic. This helps in implementing active recall from the very beginning, which is a more effective learning technique.

What is the role of active recall in the revision process?

Active recall involves testing oneself on the material without looking at the answers, which forces the brain to remember and reinforces the memory. It is a key component in the revision process as it helps in ingraining the information more effectively.

Why is it not advisable to focus on perfecting the topic before starting practice questions?

Focusing on perfecting the topic before starting practice questions can lead to inefficient learning and less retention. It is more beneficial to start with questions to identify areas of weakness and focus the revision on those areas.

How does the speaker suggest organizing and spacing out topics for a big exam?

The speaker suggests using a spaced repetition method, organizing topics over a month's period, and revising each topic according to a specific schedule that includes initial revision, spaced repetitions, and mixed practice questions closer to the exam.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Balancing New Learning and Revision

The paragraph emphasizes the importance of balancing new content learning with revision for upcoming exams. It suggests prioritizing new content and integrating revision of old material into the schedule. The advice is to use class time effectively to grasp new topics and then allocate remaining time to old content revision. It also introduces a spaced repetition formula for efficient learning: review a topic on day one, then on day four to five, and again on day 14 or later, followed by mixed practice questions closer to the exam date.

05:01

🧠 Effective Revision Techniques

This paragraph delves into effective revision techniques, starting with creating a solid base for new topics as soon as they are taught. It recommends reviewing the material the next day to establish a fundamental understanding, creating a mind map to link subtopics, and forming recall questions or flashcards. The paragraph also highlights the significance of starting practice questions early to identify key areas for focused revision. It further discusses the process of active recall during revision sessions, emphasizing the importance of testing oneself with questions to reinforce memory and understanding.

10:02

📈 Organizing Study for Comprehensive Exams

The final paragraph provides a strategy for organizing study for comprehensive exams. It advises prioritizing new topics and only after mastering them, focusing on old content. For new topics, one should review them as soon as they are taught and space out revisions effectively. For old topics, if a strong base was established during the initial learning phase, revising becomes easier, involving practicing questions and spaced repetition. If the base is weak, it's suggested to revisit the topic as if new, creating a new mind map and base before moving on to detailed learning and practice questions. The paragraph concludes with encouragement and references to additional resources for further guidance.

Keywords

💡Spaced Repetition

Spaced repetition is a learning technique that involves reviewing information at increasing intervals over time, which helps to enhance memory retention. In the video, it is suggested as an optimal way to review both new and old topics, with the speaker providing a specific formula for spacing out revisions: revising a topic on day one, then on day four to five, and then on day fourteen or later, followed by mixed practice questions closer to the exam date.

💡Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is a visual technique used to organize information by connecting central ideas to related subtopics. The speaker emphasizes the importance of creating mind maps to establish a strong foundation for new topics. This technique is used to link subtopics together through a central idea, which aids in long-term memory and understanding of the subject matter.

💡Active Recall

Active recall is a learning method that involves actively trying to remember information without looking at the material. It is presented as a crucial part of the revision process. The speaker explains that instead of perfecting the material before doing questions, one should start with recall questions to test their understanding and focus their revision, which helps to ingrain the information more effectively in memory.

💡Skimming

Skimming is a reading technique where one quickly reads through material to get a basic understanding before delving into details. The speaker uses skimming as the first step in reviewing new or old topics, suggesting that it helps to grasp the general concepts and prepare for creating a mind map and deeper study.

💡Practice Questions

Practice questions are used to test understanding and application of learned material. The video emphasizes the importance of starting with practice questions as soon as a topic is introduced to identify key areas of focus for the exam. It is suggested that these questions should be used throughout the revision process to reinforce learning and to gauge readiness for the actual exam.

💡Revision

Revision refers to the process of reviewing and relearning material to prepare for an exam. The speaker outlines a structured approach to revision, which includes creating a solid base of understanding for new topics, regularly revisiting material at spaced intervals, and using practice questions to solidify knowledge. The concept is central to the video's message on effective exam preparation.

💡Exam Preparation

Exam preparation is the process of studying and organizing information to be ready for an exam. The video provides a detailed strategy for balancing the learning of new content with the revision of old content, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing new topics and using spaced repetition and active recall techniques for efficient studying.

💡Central Idea

A central idea is the main concept or theme that ties together the various subtopics within a subject. In the context of the video, the speaker highlights the significance of identifying a central idea for each topic as a means of creating a coherent mental framework. This framework aids in understanding the relationships between different parts of the material and facilitates long-term retention.

💡Content Balancing

Content balancing refers to the act of managing the study of new material alongside the revision of previously learned content. The speaker advises prioritizing new content to avoid falling behind and then addressing old content, using a structured approach that includes mind mapping, active recall, and spaced repetition.

💡Foundation

In the context of the video, a foundation refers to a solid base of understanding for a topic, which is established through initial learning and review. The speaker stresses the importance of creating a strong foundation for both new and old topics, which then serves as a reference point for further learning and revision.

💡Intuitive Logic

Intuitive logic is the ability to use one's inherent reasoning to understand and solve problems. The video discusses how creating a mind map and linking concepts to a central idea can enhance intuitive logic, allowing the learner to work through questions and problems more effectively by connecting the dots between different aspects of the studied material.

Highlights

Stay on top of new content every week before revising old content.

Use classes to create a good base for new topics.

Review new topics as soon as they are taught to build a solid foundation.

Create a mind map linking every subtopic through one central idea.

Use active recall with flashcards or questions for future revision.

Space out revision of new topics using a specific formula: Day 1, Day 4-5, Day 14.

For old topics, practice questions and spaced repetition if foundation was weak.

Grab one major topic at a time and start as if you've never learned it before.

Skimming and mind mapping are crucial for creating a base for old topics.

Linking subtopics through a central idea aids in long-term memory retention.

Start doing practice questions from the first session itself to focus your revision.

Focus on what the examiner is testing, not becoming a specialist on the topic.

Active recall should be implemented from the first session of studying a topic.

The process of working out questions in your head helps ingrain information.

Implementing active recall from the start leads to better understanding and memory.

Creating a base with mind maps and then building on it is essential for effective revision.

Prioritize new topics and then tackle old content to avoid falling behind.

Use PA papers and question banks to create your own recall questions for revision.

Balancing old and new content is achievable by prioritizing and using effective study techniques.

Transcripts

I know that you probably have exams in a

month or two and yet you're having to

learn all of this new stuff in class

every single day and you also have all

the old stuff that you have to revise

for your exams so how do you actually

balance it all how do you make time to

both learn the new content stay on top

of it whilst also revising for the

mountain of old content that needs to be

studied I think no one really clearly

explains this but it's actually very

simple my advice is to stay on top of

the new content every single week and

make sure that is being done first and

then you fill the rest of the the time

up with the revision of the old content

that needs to be done because they both

have to happen right but if you start

focusing on the old stuff starting from

lecture one topic one and working

downwards like a dummy then you're

missing out on taking advantage of the

new topics that are being actually

taught in class right now it's obviously

going to be easier to learn the new

topics while they're being taught so

actually use the classes to create a

good base for that new topic even though

I know you have exams and I know you

want to be starting from the older

version getting on top of that first and

then you'll come to the new stuff even

though I know your brain wants to work

that way what's the point of pushing the

new topics till the end of your rision

you'll actually probably waste more time

that way overall and you'll waste the

opportunity of learning with every one

of your teachers with the people around

you that can help you it's the same as

that catchup video I made if you start

with the old content you will always be

behind so get ahead on the stuff you're

doing now you don't need to do it

perfectly just get the basics in for the

new stuff that's being taught and then

you can go and Tackle all the old stuff

that you fallen behind on but it's

easier said than done so let me explain

how you're going to study the new stuff

versus the old stuff the way you will

study and any topic will not change

whether it's new content or old content

let me repeat the process Remains the

exact same with a new topic after it's

been taught in class review it ASAP like

the very next day and that'll be the

first revision of that topic and in this

review your job is to make sure you get

a rock solid base of that entire topic

which for me means that number one I

skim read everything and get a basic

understanding of it then I create a mind

map that links every subtopic together

through one central idea after I've done

those two very important steps do I then

go through the general concepts and

create my recall questions my flashcards

whatever I'll be using to revise in the

future I have videos on how I make the

mind maps how I create my recall

questions how I go through the

information all of them in my live

studying series check that out right

here and that's all you need to do for

the new topics that are being taught

right now we'll come back to when we

actually do this practice questions Etc

but just do this first Revision in the

way I've described now for the actual

revision let me describe how you're

going to space out the revision of the

new topics and and the old topics and

how you're going to do it before the

exams your aim should be to learn every

new topic through space repetition and

I'm going to tell you my space

repetition formula that's worked for me

over countless years my friends my

mentees and so many people on this

channel what you do is you first revise

the topic on day one then you revise it

on day 4 to 5 and then you revise it on

day 14 or later and then after that you

just review the topic with mixed

practice questions closer to your exam

do this with every topic this is the

optimal way to space the material that

you're learning you don't need to repeat

the material seven times before it go

goes in your head just study Smart in

each session and all you'll need is

those two to three repetitions I've

organized and spaced out all the topics

that I had to study over A month's

period of time and I've done it for a

big exam that I had to do I'll put up

the screenshot or a screen recording of

it now but check the full video out to

learn how to actually space out all the

topic smartly as for the old topics that

you need to revise I'm going to be

honest it kind of depends on how well

you've done that topic during the year

like for me revising some of the old

content is piss easy because I created

such a good foundation for them I primed

them made mind maps made my questions

all of it while they were being taught

initially so all I'll really need to do

is keep on practicing the questions I

made and then space out the repetition

of that practice but some weeks YouTube

placement work all of it was really busy

it got really overwhelming so I

naturally just slacked off on the work

or the conditions I have to do those

weeks and that's normal by the way no

one actually spends 100% of their time

studying everything perfectly as it's

being taught so the fastest way now to

get really good especially if you have a

huge body of content that you haven't

revised much is to grab one major Topic

at a time and pretend you've never

learned it before and in the exact same

way that we did with the new topics in

the first revision number one skim it

all number two create mind maps and

create That Base only then go through

the concepts generally and create your

notes or questions or whatever you're

doing to revise the skimming in mind

mapping may take an extra hour but it is

a must because that single hour where I

looked at the entire topic created That

Base linked the subtopics together is

the only reason that I remember some of

the conditions that I learned 6 to 8

months ago even now because by doing

this extra step you'll be able to get

the whole big picture of the bunch of

topics or the bunch of conditions you're

learning and you'll be able to link them

together through a central idea that

makes sense in your head and because

that one central idea makes sense you

figured out what the similarities and

differences are between subtopics and

topics of that major thing that you're

studying you will remember it for much

much longer and even if you come back to

revise those topics way later you'll be

able to relearn the concepts go through

the general concepts again and quickly

understand understand it because you had

that one central idea that helped you

understand the topic very well after

that Bas is created going through

details learning the specific guidelines

or whatever specifics you have to

memorize is very easy because you can

place it somewhere on that mind map in

your head by the way when you're done

with that first session that physical

mind map doesn't really matter anymore

it's the central idea through which the

subtopics are linked together it's the

drawings the similarities and

differences between some things the way

everything works that is what you will

remember but what I'd recommend more is

actually starting to do practice

questions

from the first session itself using the

question marks or the P papers that you

have from school because those questions

are the key indicator for what your

examiner will be testing you on in your

actual test doing questions as soon as

you start revising a topic yes it's

scary but it will focus your revision

you'll start to understand what is more

likely to come up what do I need to

focus on in my next revisions and what

do I actually not need to give much time

to like for me the main questions they

ask about diabetes are the medications

the guidelines the investigations all of

the stuff that comes at the end of my

chapter in diabetes the pathophysiology

and the with exact mechanisms all of

that takes the majority of my like the

chapter up so if I spent ages reading

through that chapter am I not wasting

all my time when I could just be

focusing a lot more on memorizing the

medications and actually understanding

the guidelines inside out so do the

questions you're studying for an exam

you're not becoming a specialist on that

topic you need to focus on what the

examiner is testing now in the second

rision of the topic this is when I just

start by doing the recall questions that

I created in the first one by the way

for the topics I've already studied well

in the semester itself I would start the

revision my actual revision of that

topic by doing this revision session

first I would just start with the recall

questions cuz I've already done the mind

I've already created the question so I

don't need to do that again anyway just

wanted to clear that up in case it

wasn't obvious so I straight away start

by revising my questions what I'm not

going to do is revise the entire topic

again in the second revision and I know

most of you will be tempted to do that

you'll want to revise it again because

you hate getting questions wrong and

because most of you just want to be

right you're too scared to get questions

wrong you'll try and perfect the topic

as much as possible before you start

doing any of the questions which is so

counterintuitive you'll end up learning

less you'll end up remembering less and

it is just very dumb by waiting for the

4 to 5 days after you've done the first

revision of the content you are letting

yourself forget and by doing that you're

now going to be forcing your brain

thinking of all the details of

everything that the Mind map and how it

worked to remember the answer to that

question that process of working out the

question in your head forcing your brain

to remember trying hard the effort you

put in the more it is the more it'll

ingrain in your head head the more you

will remember the information yeah most

people know about active recall but do

you actually start implementing it from

that very first session of from the very

first moment that you start studying a

topic do you implement it straight after

you're making that mind map and

understanding the topic do you implement

it in that second session where instead

of just oh let me perfect and remember

all the details before I go to the

questions do you actually go and test

yourself on the questions because that

is what what's important and despite

watching all of these videos most of the

people I know despite knowing about all

of this still do the same things that

they used to do again I've shown how I

do the active recall thing in my live

session you will see me spending a lot

of time in my head answering the

questions working out if if I don't know

then I will try my hardest to work

through from first principles what do I

know about this from what I kind of

remember how can I work out the details

if I can't get to the exact details if I

get it wrong at least I put all the

effort in to remember it and then if I

don't get it then I'll go back revise it

from the the content that I got the

questions from the actual textbook or

the video or whatever and then learn it

and put it in my head in a different

weight this time so that I remember it

better the next time and overall for the

topic pretty much my third division is

the exact same as the second one I just

keep on doing these questions making

myself better at them learning the topic

in a better way so that I actually

remember for the exam it's a simple

process and again I go through a lot in

my videos like check any of these out

but the key difference in this second

revision now that I did all that mind

mapping and everything in that first

session is that because I created That

Base each part of the disease each main

concept makes such simple sense to me

now every subtopic concept whatever is

linked through one central idea and then

whenever I do questions whenever I

actually work through practice problems

now I can use my intuitive logic of the

topic and think about how I connected

the topic with my mind map and work

through like 80% of the questions even

though I did this this topic that I'm

studying right now like months ago I

literally only started doing this like

last September I started skimming

priming and creating mind maps for the

conditions that I needed to learn and

trust me for the conditions that I

actually did it for I remember them in

so much more clarity I it's more

intuitive to me compared to the

conditions that I just got too lazy to

do the actual mind maps for and just

dove in straight away I regret it so

much like it didn't matter whether I

made notes or questions or whatever the

only thing that I remember is how that

mind map worked I'm sorry I'm barging so

hard about this but it is such an

important thing to create That Base

first and then build on top of that with

the new topics with the old topics it'll

help you with everything so again that

is the one key piece of advice I have

create the base first then build on top

ofit that is how you should be revising

PA papers question Banks first create

your own recall questions that is the

main revision tactic that I'm using for

my exams right now even balancing the

old revision that you have to do and the

new topics that you have to do isn't

hard you prioritize doing the new topics

first get on top of that and then tackle

the old content because if you do it the

other way around you will always be

behind do one revision for the new

content like ASAP after it's TS and

treat that as your first revision

attempt it like four to 5 days later

then 14 days later do this with all of

your topics and with the old revision if

you you've done it well just start with

the practice questions if you've not

done it well then just make the first

base make the base properly skim mind

map all of it and then go through the

concepts learn it all properly you all

got this this is all very doable this is

a video of how I organized and spaced

out my topics live for an exam I had

earlier this year check it out I've

shown the spreadsheet that I used to

make it and this is a full 30 minute

guide on how to tackle big exams and

study them in a super smart way super

practical way honestly I'd highly

recommend both of these check them both

out if you enjoy the video please leave

a like spam the comments do all the

usual stuff help me out with the

algorithm check my insta out support in

every single way that you can share all

of that stuff and I'll see you in the

next one