How to DESTROY your exam like it owes you money (by a straight A engineering student)

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares three key strategies to boost exam preparation and productivity: 1) Test yourself rather than just reviewing material, as self-testing improves retention and understanding. 2) Focus deeply for short bursts, much like a lion hunts, with breaks to avoid burnout. 3) Overcome procrastination by addressing underlying unmet needs, using morning journaling to clear mental blocks. The speaker encourages viewers to join their online school for personalized support, offering a special summer holiday discount for those seeking to achieve their goals.

Takeaways

• 😀 Testing is the most effective study technique for learning, as it not only checks knowledge but actively helps you learn the material, even through mistakes.
• 😀 Starting with past papers early in your study routine is crucial, even if you make mistakes at first, as this method reinforces learning through active recall.
• 😀 Repetitive reviewing of notes and materials is less effective than self-testing, which can lead to a more efficient learning process.
• 😀 Confidence before exams is often misleading; those who focus on testing may feel less confident but are actually learning better than those who just review their notes.
• 😀 Focus is essential for effective learning, and you need to signal to your brain that what you're studying is important through intense concentration.
• 😀 Focus like a lion: dedicate periods of intense focus without distractions, and this will be far more productive than distracted, long study sessions.
• 😀 Studies show that successful students lock themselves away and focus intensely for set periods, demonstrating the power of deep work.
• 😀 Taking breaks and resting hard is as important as working hard. After intense focus, your brain needs rest to perform optimally again.
• 😀 Procrastination and lack of focus often stem from deeper, unconscious fears or unmet needs. Identifying and addressing these can help break the cycle of procrastination.
• 😀 Using journaling, like the 'morning pages' technique, can help address unconscious thoughts and fears that lead to procrastination, improving focus and productivity.

Q & A

What does 'clutch your exams like they owe you money' mean?

It means to perform exceptionally well in exams with minimal effort, almost like you're taking what's rightfully yours—maximizing efficiency and reducing workload.

Why does the speaker mention their background in exams?

The speaker highlights their past academic success to establish credibility. They have experience with various exams, such as IGCSE, IB, and university-level electrical engineering, where they consistently earned high grades.

What is the main concept of the first study mentioned in the video?

The study demonstrates that testing oneself on material—rather than just rereading notes—improves learning. A group that only reviewed material once but tested themselves multiple times performed better than those who repeatedly reviewed the material.

How does testing help in learning, according to the speaker?

Testing helps by actively engaging your brain, encouraging it to put in effort to retrieve information. Even if you answer questions incorrectly, you're still reinforcing the material and learning through failure.

What is the misconception about testing and confidence, as explained in the video?

The misconception is that if you're confident after reviewing material, you’re ready for the exam. In reality, the most confident students were not always the most successful—testing builds knowledge, even when it feels discouraging.

What study technique does the speaker recommend for students without past papers?

The speaker suggests testing yourself by walking around and mentally recalling the material. You can also talk out loud to simulate an exam environment and engage more actively with the content.

What does 'focus like a lion' mean?

It refers to focusing intensely for a short period of time, much like a lion hunting. The lion focuses all its energy on the hunt for a brief, high-effort period, after which it rests. Similarly, students should dedicate blocks of intense focus for effective studying.

How is focus different from procrastination in this context?

Procrastination is linked to deeper psychological needs or fears that cause distraction. It's not just a lack of motivation; it's often an unconscious desire pulling you away from studying, such as a fear of failure.

What is the 'morning pages' habit, and how does it help with focus?

The 'morning pages' habit involves writing for 5 to 10 minutes every morning to clear your mind. This helps identify unconscious thoughts and fears that may be hindering focus and procrastination.

Why is mental health important for overcoming procrastination, according to the speaker?

Mental health plays a key role because procrastination is often a symptom of unmet psychological needs. Addressing mental health and unconscious fears can eliminate the internal tug-of-war and make it easier to focus and study effectively.