15 Years of *Study Advice* in 15 Mins

Summary

The speaker shares 15 years of exam preparation wisdom, emphasizing discipline and planning over innate intelligence. They recount personal academic struggles and triumphs, offering practical tips on effective studying, including optimal study times, the Pomodoro technique, and the importance of choosing the right resources. The script also covers study techniques, the difference between studying for understanding versus exams, and strategies for exam-taking, such as managing energy levels and attempting questions in layers of difficulty. A final note encourages finding a study buddy for accountability and shared success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Discipline and a plan are more important for academic success than innate intelligence.
• 🕒 The speaker has spent 15 years preparing for exams, highlighting the importance of a structured approach to studying.
• 📚 The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the syllabus and sticking to it for effective exam preparation.
• 📈 Finding the best resources, such as books, teachers, and test series, is crucial and can significantly impact exam results.
• 🌞 The best time to study depends on personal energy levels and minimizing external distractions.
• ⏰ Studying in chunks (45-minute sessions with 5-minute breaks) is more effective than long, continuous study periods.
• 📝 Notes should be interesting and visually engaging, with diagrams and tables, to enhance memory retention.
• 🧠 Our brains process images faster than text, so using visual techniques like the memory palace can improve recall.
• 🔁 Active recall is a powerful method for remembering information, where one asks questions and forces the brain to retrieve answers.
• 📉 The effectiveness of studying diminishes after 11 hours per day due to the negative impact on sleep and nutrition.
• 📉 The speaker's personal academic journey illustrates the potential for improvement and the importance of perseverance.
• 🤝 Finding a study buddy can increase accountability and motivation, leading to better study habits and outcomes.

Q & A

What is the key to being a top student according to the speaker?

The key to being a top student is not necessarily being smart, but rather being disciplined and having a plan.

How many exams did the speaker take throughout their academic life?

The speaker took approximately 700 exams, not including smaller class tests.

What was the speaker's initial experience in college in terms of academic performance?

The speaker's initial experience in college was not good, with a CGPA of 6.64 in the first semester, which was a significant drop from their previous academic performance.

What is the significance of understanding the syllabus when preparing for an exam?

Understanding the syllabus is crucial because it helps to focus study efforts on relevant topics and avoid wasting time on irrelevant material.

Why is finding the best resources important for exam preparation?

Finding the best resources is important because it can significantly impact the quality of preparation, with good books, teachers, and test series potentially defining more than 50% of one's preparation.

What is the recommended study session length and break duration according to the speaker?

The recommended study session length is 45 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break, which helps to prevent brain exhaustion and maintain effectiveness.

What should one avoid doing during study breaks to ensure effective rest and recharge?

One should avoid using the phone or watching YouTube videos during breaks, as these activities do not provide the necessary mental rest and can be distracting.

How does the speaker suggest using the notes for effective studying?

The speaker suggests making notes interesting with diagrams and tables, and using them as a powerful tool to unlock photographic memory, rather than just rereading them.

What is the 'memory Castle' method mentioned in the script, and how does it help with remembering information?

The 'memory Castle' method is a mnemonic technique where information is associated with specific locations in a familiar environment, such as a room. This helps in retrieving the information by mentally walking through that space.

What is the difference between studying for understanding a subject and studying for an exam, as per the speaker's perspective?

Studying to become an expert in a subject involves deep understanding and exploration, while studying for an exam is more about mastering the syllabus, effective studying techniques, and exam strategies to score well.

How does the speaker define the effectiveness of study hours and what is the optimal range?

The speaker suggests that the effectiveness of study hours is not linear; it increases up to around 7 to 11 hours of study time per day and then decreases, as studying more can compromise sleep and other essential activities, negatively affecting performance.

What is the speaker's advice on making notes and how does it enhance memory?

The speaker advises making notes interesting with visual elements like diagrams and tables. This not only aids in better understanding but also acts as a powerful tool to enhance memory by serving as a reminder of class content.

What is the speaker's view on the importance of active recall in studying?

The speaker emphasizes that active recall, where one asks questions about the information and tries to retrieve the answers from memory, is more effective than passive rereading of the same material.

How does the speaker describe the process of improving problem-solving skills in subjects like maths and physics?

The speaker describes that improving problem-solving skills involves understanding concepts deeply, practicing a variety of questions, and recognizing patterns in problem-solving rather than just memorizing concepts.

What are the three key strategies the speaker suggests for effectively giving an exam?

The three key strategies are ensuring high energy levels during the exam time, solving the question paper in layers from easiest to most difficult, and treating exam-taking as a skill that can be improved through mock tests.

What is the bonus tip provided by the speaker for enhancing study effectiveness?

The bonus tip is to find a study buddy who can share preparation strategies, provide accountability, and enhance the overall study experience, leading to mutual growth.

Outlines

00:00

📘 Exam Preparation Insights

The speaker emphasizes that discipline and a plan are more crucial for exam success than innate intelligence. Drawing from 15 years of personal experience with various exams, the speaker shares a journey that includes a significant improvement in academic performance from college days. The paragraph outlines the intention to condense years of learning into effective study, revision, and exam techniques, aiming to help viewers perform at their best in future exams. It also dispels the myth that the best time to study is early in the morning, suggesting that one's energy levels and external distractions are more important factors.

05:00

📚 Mastering Study Techniques

This paragraph delves into the specifics of effective studying, including the importance of understanding the syllabus, selecting the best study resources, and the significance of the Pomodoro Technique for study sessions. The speaker stresses the value of high-quality resources over quantity and the necessity of sticking to a few good books or sources throughout the preparation. It also touches on the optimal study duration per session and the importance of breaks, as well as the strategy of engaging with the material actively through note-taking and active recall rather than passive rereading.

10:03

🧠 Enhancing Memory and Problem-Solving

The speaker explores methods for enhancing memory through storytelling and visualization, advocating for the use of mnemonic devices and the memory palace technique. The paragraph also distinguishes between subjects that require memorization and those that involve problem-solving, like mathematics and physics. It highlights the importance of pattern recognition and the value of practicing a variety of questions to improve problem-solving skills. The speaker also discusses the concept of active recall as a superior method to rereading for long-term memory retention.

📝 Strategies for Exam Success

In the final paragraph, the speaker discusses strategies for successfully completing exams, including maintaining high energy levels during the exam period, smart question paper navigation, and the skill of exam-taking itself. The advice includes building a routine to be most active during exam hours, tackling questions in layers of difficulty, and focusing on the quantity of correct answers rather than the difficulty of individual questions. The speaker also encourages the use of mock tests to improve exam-taking skills and suggests finding a study buddy for accountability and support.

Keywords

💡Discipline

Discipline in the context of the video refers to the self-control and consistency required to follow a study plan and achieve academic success. It is a fundamental concept, as the speaker emphasizes that discipline, rather than innate intelligence, is the key to becoming a top student. The speaker's personal journey from a struggling student to a successful graduate exemplifies the power of discipline in education.

💡Exam Preparation

Exam preparation is the central theme of the video, focusing on the strategies and mindset needed to excel in exams. The speaker discusses the importance of understanding the syllabus, finding the best resources, and effective studying techniques. The term is used throughout the script to highlight the various stages of preparing for exams, from initial planning to the actual examination process.

💡Syllabus

The syllabus is defined as the official list of topics or subjects that are covered in an examination. In the video, the speaker stresses the importance of knowing and sticking to the syllabus to avoid wasting time on irrelevant material. This is a crucial step in the exam preparation process, as it ensures that study efforts are directed towards relevant content.

💡Resources

Resources in the video script pertain to the study materials such as textbooks, coaching, teachers, and test series that a student selects for exam preparation. The speaker mentions that finding the best resources is one of the most important steps, as they can significantly influence the quality of a student's preparation and, consequently, their exam performance.

💡Study Techniques

Study techniques refer to the methods and strategies used to learn and retain information effectively. The speaker discusses various techniques such as the Pomodoro Technique, active recall, and the use of stories or images to enhance memory. These techniques are integral to the video's message on how to study efficiently for exams.

💡Active Recall

Active recall is a study technique where a student actively tries to remember information without looking at the material. In the script, the speaker recommends active recall over passive rereading as a more effective way to commit information to long-term memory, especially during exam preparation.

💡Revision

Revision is the process of reviewing and consolidating learned material. The video emphasizes the importance of regular and spaced repetitions for long-term retention. The speaker suggests that effective revision is key to remembering information for exams and provides strategies for enhancing the revision process.

💡Mock Tests

Mock tests are practice examinations that simulate the conditions of the actual exam. The speaker mentions mock tests as a tool for improving exam-taking skills and identifying areas for improvement. They are an essential part of exam preparation, helping students to become familiar with the exam format and manage time effectively.

💡Energy Levels

Energy levels in the context of the video refer to the physical and mental stamina required to perform well during an exam. The speaker advises students to ensure they are most active and alert during the exam time by adjusting their daily routines leading up to the exam. Maintaining high energy levels is crucial for optimal exam performance.

💡Study Buddy

A study buddy is a partner with whom a student shares their preparation journey, providing mutual support and accountability. In the video, the speaker suggests finding a study buddy as a bonus tip, highlighting the benefits of collaborative learning and the motivational boost that comes from studying with a partner.

💡Accountability

Accountability in the video script refers to the sense of responsibility one feels towards their study goals, often reinforced by a study buddy or a structured study plan. The speaker implies that being accountable can enhance discipline and commitment to the study process, ultimately contributing to better exam results.

Highlights

Discipline and planning are key to academic success rather than just intelligence.

The speaker's personal journey from struggling in college to graduating with one of the highest packages.

Understanding the difference between studying to become an expert and studying for an exam.

The importance of studying during the time of day when energy levels and focus are highest.

Using the Pomodoro Technique for effective studying sessions: 45 minutes of study followed by a 5-minute break.

The misconception about the best time to study and how to adapt study times to personal preferences.

The significance of sticking to the syllabus and avoiding unnecessary material.

Finding the best resources, including books, teachers, and test series, is crucial for exam preparation.

The role of active recall in improving memory retention compared to passive rereading.

The effectiveness of using stories and images to remember information better than text alone.

The importance of note-making as a tool for reinforcing memory and understanding.

The value of practicing a variety of questions to improve problem-solving skills in subjects like math and physics.

The strategy of attempting exam questions in layers of difficulty to maximize scores.

The idea that giving an exam is a skill that can be improved with practice, such as mock tests.

The impact of energy levels on exam performance and the need to adjust routines to peak during exam times.

The concept of finding a study buddy to enhance accountability and motivation.

The encouragement to share knowledge and strategies with peers to support collective success.

Transcripts

you don't need to be smart to be a

Topper you just need to be disciplined

and have a plan I've spent the past 15

years of my life preparing for some or

the other kind of exam I'm 23 right now

and I was sent to a hostel when I was in

class 6 classes from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00

p.m. exams every single week and then

slowly came the 10th board exams getting

into class 11th two exams a week and

then board exams again class 12th three

exams a week board exams again and then

came a lot of college entrance exams I

thought college would be peaceful but

then came midm exams and some exams

during 5 years of college and at the end

of College 50 to 60 campus placement

exams for me to finally get a job you

see that sums up to be something around

700 exams not even counting the small

classes and all so basically almost my

entire life was filled with exams some

of them went well but some of them did

not but during the process I've learned

a lot of things about how to effectively

study revise and score the best marks

possible and through this video my goal

is to make sure that you get all of the

knowledge that I've got over the past 15

years in the shortest amount of time

possible because whenever you're going

to give an exam from now I want to make

sure that you give your best I'm not

going to

lie her brain my

lady so I want to start this video with

like a personal life story when I was in

school I was this EO average kid and

then intermediate I was in top four or

five in the class but for the first time

when I actually went to college my first

semester cgpa was 6.64 instead of

looking for my name from the top I had

to look from bottom and for the first

time in my life I I just felt

heartbroken like how can this even

happen but slowly things got better like

the next semester I scored 7.3 and then

I scored 7.9 and then I scored 8.12 and

then I scored 8.59 and it just kept

improving after that and I finally

graduated with one of the highest

packages from my department in my batch

I mean I think it's highest or it should

be at least one of the highest because

back in college I slowly started to

understand how my friends The Toppers at

it kakur were studying so I'll also

include everything that I've learned

from my friends hundreds of books and

tons of podcast that I had the

opportunity to

[Applause]

learn let's get started first things

first you need to understand that

studying to become an expert in a

subject and studying for an exam are not

exactly the same and this video is

majorly about how to actually study for

an exam we'll start with some of the

basics and then actually get into the

process of studying and giving an exam

and finally end with sleave food and

lifestyle that you have to follow to

maximize your

preparation let's start with one of the

biggest misconceptions about the best

time to study is it early in the morning

morning or the late night well it

depends upon two things the first thing

your energy levels and the second thing

the external distractions so early in

the morning your energy levels are

usually high you'll have a fresh mind

and most of the people won't even be

awake so that they can disturb you so

that's one optimal time to study but

what if you are not a morning person

what if you feel like when you wake

up early in the morning just like me

simple take a 25 minute nap and then

wake up to study for 3 hours straight

we'll exactly talk about how long this

session should be and all those things

in a while but for now the goal is you

should not be reachable and especially

if if you're a night person here's a

great tip for you like start waking up

45 minutes before the usual time that

you wake up and use that time to

actually study something before you

actually start your day the 45 minutes

to 1 hour time right after you wake up

is one of the golden times to study

start utilizing

it now the second thing is about how

long should you be studying per session

see your brain performs better when you

study in chunks so instead of studying

for 5 hours continuously where after a

point your brain gets exhausted and the

study session is no longer effective

study for 45 minutes take a 5 minutes

break again recharge your brain study

for 45 minutes more take a 5 minutes

break do this three or four times and

this entire process will be more

effective so now you might ask me like

what do you do in the break go out drink

some water go out on a walk look at the

sky but never I mean never open your

phone or start watching YouTube

[Music]

videos now as the basics are clear let's

get into the actual process of studying

for an exam step one this is where most

of the intelligent students actually

mess it up I'll tell you why but the

first step to preparing for any exam is

actually knowing the syllabus and just

sticking to it I've seen a lot of my

friends during class 11th and 12th

actually studying from college text

books they felt that they are smart and

they wanted to get deeper into the

concepts and then they went overboard

with things which are not even present

in the syllabus the result other

students who actually stick to the

syllabus scored way better so instead of

doing a ego massage and telling yourself

that you're smart just know yourself as

properly and stick to it if you just

want to to score very well in the

exam now the next step in the process is

a bit more important than this it's in

fact the most important step in the

entire process of studying for an exam

the step number two find the best

resources the coaching that you choose

the books that you follow the test

series that you take the revision series

that you take and most importantly the

teachers that you follow these things

Define more than 50% of your preparation

because just think about it one good

book or one good teacher can entirely

change your life so put efforts in the

beginning of your preparation even

before you actually start preparing to

find the best teachers the best books

the best test series and all of those

things I mean ask your seniors connect

with the Toppers of the exam to know how

did they prepare where did they prepare

and what books have they used during the

preparation do your research well and

once you actually figure out and decide

what books are you going to use stick to

them throughout the preparation because

it's not about solving 20 different

books it's about solving one or two good

books 20 times but again if you're just

a college student and are preparing for

semester exams it's kind of a bit easier

because you just need to find the best

YouTube playlist of that particular

lecture or the chapter and then go to

your topper friend ask him for the notes

find the previous year questions and

your job will be done and now let's go

to the step number

three once you gather all the resources

that you have and you know the syllabus

well the third step is actually about

studying I mean it's not as easy as I

just said it people have spent centuries

and centuries trying to find out the

best study techniques in fact the

initial study techniques were developed

in 500 BC so when someone says just go

sit study it doesn't work like that and

even even if it does 90% of the times

it's not as effective as it should be so

listen to me carefully we've already

talked about the best time to study

along with how long should you study per

session it's something around 3 to 4

hours with a 5 minutes break after every

45 minutes some people also call this

the focus print and you should ideally

be doing something around two to three

Focus prints every single day which

results in 6 to 12 hours of study time

and also there's this crazy graph of

your marks versus how long do you study

for example people who study zero number

of hours usually end up scoring zero but

people who study something around 2 to

three hours they end up scoring some

amount of marks and this graph keeps on

increasing and maxes out in the region

of 7 to 11 hours but after that there's

a de because if you start studying more

than 11 hours you'll start compromising

on things like sleep food and that

reduces the performance of the brain and

you see we all watch some lectures or

classes and some people say that making

notes is I agree if you can

gasp everything the first time that you

actually listen to a class but most of

us we not students we need the notes not

just so that we can read it again and

again and again but the notes acts like

a reminder of the bits and pieces of the

class that we actually listen to and if

made well your notes can act like a very

powerful tool to unlock the photographic

memory so don't make your notes boring

make it look interesting with diagrams

tables and all of those things and while

I say this there's actually no point of

making short notes from textbooks like

ncrt instead it's better to read it

again because come on remembering the

short notes isn't cool enough you know

what's cool I remember remember in the

entire ncrt textbook that's cool

stand

up pull up in I remember talking to a

girl who has read the entire ncrt 50

times 50 to 60 times and she finally

ended up scoring all India ranks seven

or eight in the final examination in the

neat examination that's how powerful it

is and you can do that too now let's

actually move to the next step step

number four which is about practice

revision and remembering things let's

actually divide this step into two

different parts the first part is when

you actually have to remember a lot of

things like inorganic chemistry or

social studies or something like that

and the second part is where you

actually have to solve questions like

physics or maths and something like that

our brain remembers things either in the

form of stories or images through

repetition or emotion and we can process

images up to 60,000 times faster than

text we just take 13 milliseconds to

process an image and a lot of study

techniques the pneumonics like the

memory Castle the link method the story

method they have been developed using

the same methods to Summit up whenever

you are reading something that you want

to remember read it like a story or at

least connect it to a story that is

already present in your mind for example

if you want to remember a random set of

words like Kerala Italy Hitler elephants

organic chemistry Maggie you can just

remember it like one day I was going

from Kerala to Italy and I've seen

Hitler on an elephant eating organic

Maggie because now it's a story you'll

remember it much better you can also

connect these words to the place that

you know for example if you're walking

inside a room you can attach each of

these words to a specific location and

then you can imagine as if you're

walking through that room and you can

retrieve those words from that exact

place this is also called the memory

Castle method I mean you don't need it

but but what you need to know is our

brain learns things much faster when it

already knows something about the

subject because it'll be easier for the

brain to make connections inside it and

that's exactly why like reading the

textbook before you actually listen to

the class reading the ncrt textbook even

before you listen to the lecture is like

two to three times more effective

because it will be easier for your brain

to connect the new information to the

existing information that you already

have while you actually read the ncrt

textbook but these are more like

short-term memory techniques and even if

you remember that I've gone from Kerala

to Italy and I've seen Hitler on

elephant eating organic Maggie you won

remember it forever and the only way to

remember it for longer duration is

through space reputations where you're

trying to revise in frequent intervals

and the more times that you actually

revise it the better that you actually

remember it and you don't actually need

to reread it because there are things

much better than rereading the same

thing and that is called the active

recall where you try to ask questions

about the information that you actually

read and then you try to make your brain

retrieve that information for you so

instead of just rereading the same thing

saying that I've gone from Kerala to

Italy and I've seen Hitler on an

elephant eating organic Maggie start

asking questions about it where was I

going when I've seen Hitler whom did I

see when I was going to Italy questions

like this understood and this is the

actual technique that they use in every

single textbook available first they

give a concept and then they ask

questions about it does that make sense

right now but then there are some worst

schools here and there where they try to

give the same questions which are

present in the textbook in the

examination like what's the point of

reading the entire concept then what's

the point of reading the entire textbook

then I mean that's a story for a

different day but now as we have just

discussed about how do we actually read

and remember things the next one is

something more important than just

remembering things which is about

problem solving like in maths physics

are similar

[Music]

subjects you see some people are really

good at remembering things but they're

not as good when it comes to logical

reasoning they're not good at solving

physics they're not good at solving

maths questions why is that so that's

because studying physics and studying in

oranic chemistry are completely two

different things and no one teaches you

the difference none of the schools teach

you the difference and then they just

expect you to study a study get marks

study get marks study get marks no it

doesn't work like that being good at

maths or physics is mostly about pattern

recognition there are less things to

remember and more things to decode like

once you understand the concept you'll

be deriving formulas over there and then

you'll solve some example questions and

finally you'll end up with 50 to 100

practice questions and now when entirely

new question is asked your brain looks

at all the previous questions that you

have solved it'll try to decode what are

the patterns inside that and then we'll

give you an idea to solve the new

question so the better that you

understand the concept the more number

of questions that you practice the more

number of examples that you see the

easier it will be for you to actually

answer a new question and not just the

number of practice questions it's about

the variety of practice questions it's

about the range of types of questions

that you have solved you become good at

solving problems by solving problems not

by reading

Concepts so now as we done with studying

practicing and revising let's actually

move to the most uncertain part giving

an exam see let me be honest 90% of the

times if you actually prepare well for

an exam you'll end up scoring well but

sometimes even if you don't prepare well

for an exam you can still score well if

you know how to effectively give an exam

but a very few times even if your exam

preparation is very very well you'll

still end up scoring horrible listen to

this carefully because I still feel very

very bad in fact I've cried a lot of

times because I knew I could have done

so much better in the exam but the

results were just horrible and I don't

want you to go through that shitty phase

of Life I'll keep this short but listen

there are three things that you can do

the first thing is make sure that your

energy levels are high during the time

that you give the Examination for

example if your final exam is between 2:

p.m. and 5:00 p.m. make sure that you at

least spend 30 days before the exam to

build your life in a way that You' be

most active between 2: p.m. and 5:00

p.m. now the second is the way that you

attempt the question paper especially if

it's a competitive examination make sure

that you solve the question paper in

layers first layer easiest questions

which won't take a lot of time second

layer easy questions third layer

moderate questions fourth layer the

difficult question and finally at the

end if you actually have the time then

go for the questions which you don't

even know remember this no one cares if

you might have solved the most difficult

question in the examination or not at

the end of the day what matters is how

many equations have you solved now the

third thing understand that giving an

examination is a skill and you can

improve in that skill by giving more

number of mock tests got

it so that is the most comprehensive and

the shortest guides to study revise and

give an exam in the best possible way

see I've tried to keep this as short as

possible but if you still have any other

doubts about studying just go to the

comments below and ask your doubts over

there and I'll try my best to reply to

each and every one of you and if you

actually found this video helpful here's

a bonus tip for you try to find a study

Bud a person with whom you can you know

share about your preparation with with

whom you can actually sit and study a

person who can keep you accountable find

your study buddy because that can be a

game changer because alone you can do

little but together you can do so much

and finally share this video with one of

the friends that you actually care about

because we have to make sure that our

friends also give their best because the

stronger that your friends get the more

stronger that you will get in life

remember this so with that being said

all the best for every single exam that

you give from now you have to be a

Topper I'll see you soon bye-bye I did

it again who told you that I was

finished frh off the plane with a new

Manny Betty my hair stay late and you

know I get paid $100 bills I got racks

on the way