The Secret Revision System That Toppers Use | Dr. Anuj Pachhel

Summary

In this video, Dr. Anoj, a first-year internal medicine resident, shares five powerful study techniques that can help students excel in exams and beyond. Drawing from personal success in MBBS, NEET UG, and PG, Dr. Anoj emphasizes the importance of active recall, intentional forgetting, emotional anchors, deep work, and teaching to master. These methods, rooted in science and memory techniques, allow students to retain information efficiently, boost focus, and create lasting systems for success. The video is a guide to studying smarter, not harder, and building habits that transform your learning experience.

Takeaways

• 😀 Toppers focus on retrieval, not just rereading. Actively recalling information helps reinforce memory far better than passively reading it.
• 😀 After studying, make it a habit to write down everything you remember. This helps in solidifying the learned material and reveals what you've missed.
• 😀 Forgetting is natural, but intentional forgetting and reviewing key concepts on day 1, 3, 7, and 14 can help you retain information long-term.
• 😀 Use spaced repetition for better retention, especially for fact-heavy subjects like pharmacology and microbiology.
• 😀 Emotional connections help retain information better. Turn complex concepts into stories, cartoons, or mnemonics to make them more memorable.
• 😀 Deep work (focus) is essential. Create a distraction-free zone and focus deeply on one task to achieve maximum productivity in a short time.
• 😀 Focus is a muscle; the more you practice it, the better you get at staying concentrated during study or work.
• 😀 Teaching someone else what you've learned is one of the best ways to master a topic. If you can't teach someone else, it’s an indication you haven't fully understood the material.
• 😀 Use whiteboards or chart papers to keep track of your weekly study schedule and ensure that you review topics periodically.
• 😀 Toppers are not superhuman. They build systems, patterns, and study smarter, not harder. Consistency, retrieval, and focus are key to their success.

Q & A

What is the difference between 'output' and 'Q&A Generation Requestinput' in the context of studying?

In studying, 'input' refers to the process of reading or passively consuming information, while 'output' involves actively recalling and retrieving that information from memory. Top students focus on output—actively recalling the material—because it strengthens memory retention much more effectively than rereading notes.

Why is active recall considered more effective than rereading?

Active recall forces you to retrieve information from memory, which strengthens neural connections and helps retain the information long-term. Rereading, on the other hand, is passive and doesn't engage the brain as actively, making it less effective for long-term retention.

How does the forgetting curve work, and how can it be used to improve studying?

The forgetting curve shows that most people forget about 70% of what they've learned within 24 hours. However, by reviewing material at spaced intervals—such as on Day 1, Day 3, Day 7, and Day 14—you can significantly improve retention and reduce forgetting. This technique is known as spaced repetition.

What is the best way to track spaced repetition in a multi-subject study routineStudy Techniques Q&A?

Using a whiteboard or chart paper to create a weekly schedule helps keep track of what subjects you've studied. Make sure to revisit subjects periodically by solving question banks or reviewing notes from previous subjects. This ensures that you’re constantly reinforcing material across all subjects.

What role do emotional connections play in memory retention?

Emotional connections enhance memory retention because our brains tend to remember emotionally charged events better. By associating study material with emotions—such as turning complex concepts into stories, memes, or cartoons—you can make the information more memorable and easier to recall.

Can you provide an example of how to apply emotional anchors to studying?

One way to apply emotional anchors is to turn a complicated medical concept into a simple story or cartoon. For example, instead of just memorizing the side effects of a drug, you could imagine a character experiencing those side effects in a humorous or dramatic way, making it easier to recall.

What is 'deep work,' and how does it benefit studying?

Deep work refers to a state of intense focus where you're completely immersed in a task without distractions. Achieving this level of concentration allows you to accomplish much more in less time, as your brain is fully engaged in the task. This is key for mastering difficult material and improving productivity.

How can one achieve deep work during a study session?

To enter a deep work state, eliminate distractions, set clear goals for what you want to accomplish, and break the study material into manageable parts. Focus on one task at a time, and immerse yourself in it fully. With practice, you’ll be able to achieve deep concentration, making your study sessions more effective.

Why is teaching someone else an effective way to master a topic?

Teaching someone else forces you to simplify complex ideas and explain them in clear, digestible terms. This process helps reinforce your understanding of the material and ensures that you truly grasp it. If you can't explain a topic clearly, it likely means you haven't mastered it yet.

What should you do if you don’t have a study partner to teach?

If you don't have a study partner, you can still teach the material by recording yourself. Record voice notes where you explain the key points you've learned and listen to them later. This helps reinforce your understanding and provides a quick revision tool.