I made ACING exams EASY after struggling for so long [its simple btw]

Summary

In this motivational guide, the speaker shares their journey from struggling with exams to acing all 11 subjects. They reveal powerful strategies, including breaking down subjects into smaller parts, using the Traffic Light System to identify weaknesses, and practicing under exam conditions. By focusing on common mistakes, improving with targeted efforts, and managing stress, students can transform their study habits. The speaker encourages persistence, personalized practice, and learning from mistakes to help students perform confidently and excel in their exams.

Takeaways

• 😀 The first step to improving at exams is acknowledging where you struggle. Identify specific topics or areas that need improvement instead of generalizing that you're 'bad' at a subject.
• 😀 💡 Break down your subjects into smaller parts to identify your strengths and weaknesses. For example, math isn't just one thing—it's a collection of topics like algebra, geometry, and calculus.
• 😀 🔴 Use the 'Traffic Light System' to track your progress. Color-code areas you struggle with in red, areas you're okay with in yellow, and areas you excel in green. This helps prioritize focus areas in your revision.
• 😀 🧠 Marginal gains theory suggests that small, consistent improvements in individual areas add up over time to lead to big results, especially when you break down your challenges into manageable parts.
• 😀 💥 Exam stress is real, but it's important to train yourself to perform under pressure. Just like athletes practice under pressure, you should replicate exam conditions with timed practice tests to get comfortable with the stress.
• 😀 🎯 Effective exam preparation isn't just about passive revision (like re-reading notes). You should actively test yourself, mimic exam conditions, and practice past papers to ensure readiness for the real thing.
• 😀 ⏱️ Practice under time pressure is crucial. Doing past papers under time constraints helps you build the necessary skills to perform under exam conditions and trains your brain to handle stress and pressure.
• 😀 😅 Making mistakes is part of learning. It's important to identify common mistakes that other students (and you) make in exams so you can avoid them in future tests.
• 😀 🔍 Ask your teachers and peers about common mistakes to watch out for. Understanding these common pitfalls can save you from repeating them in your own work.
• 😀 📚 To make the most out of past papers, keep a record of your mistakes. This will allow you to create a personalized guide to strengthen your weak areas and avoid future mistakes.
• 😀 💬 Seeking help from others is important. Whether it’s through teachers, peers, or online resources, learning from the mistakes of others and gathering advice is key to improving your exam performance.

Q & A

What is the first step to improving your performance in exams according to the speaker?

The first step is recognizing and admitting that you struggle with certain subjects. By identifying your weaknesses, you can take specific actions to improve.

Why does the speaker suggest breaking down subjects into smaller parts?

Breaking down subjects helps you focus on specific areas where you're struggling, rather than thinking of the subject as a whole. This makes it easier to target weaknesses and improve efficiently.

What is the 'traffic light system' and how can it help in studying?

The traffic light system is a method for identifying strengths and weaknesses within a subject. Use red for areas you're struggling with, green for areas you're confident in, and yellow for areas you're unsure about. This helps prioritize study efforts.

How does stress impact exam performance, and how can it be managed?

Stress can negatively affect performance by reducing your ability to focus under pressure. To manage stress, the speaker recommends practicing under timed exam conditions to get used to the pressure and increase confidence.

Why is practicing past papers under timed conditions important?

Practicing past papers under timed conditions helps simulate the real exam environment, which trains you to perform under stress. This increases exam readiness by making the situation feel more familiar and less overwhelming.

What common mistake do students make when reviewing notes before exams?

The common mistake is rereading notes before exams, which doesn't fully prepare you because in an actual exam, you won’t have access to your notes. Instead, active recall and practice are more effective preparation methods.

What does the speaker mean by 'marginal gains' and how does it relate to studying?

'Marginal gains' refers to making small, consistent improvements over time. In studying, this means breaking down complex topics into manageable pieces and focusing on what works to improve gradually rather than relying on drastic changes.

How can identifying common mistakes in a subject improve your exam performance?

By identifying common mistakes, you can avoid repeating them during your actual exam. This allows you to focus on the areas that need improvement and refine your understanding of the subject.

What role does seeking external help play in improving exam performance?

Seeking external help, whether from teachers, peers, or specialized programs, can provide additional insights and guidance, helping you learn from others' experiences and avoid common pitfalls.

How does creating a personalized 'menu' of mistakes help in studying?

A personalized menu of mistakes helps you track what topics you are weak in, allowing you to focus your study efforts on improving those areas rather than wasting time on topics you already understand.