How to study for exams - Evidence-based revision tips

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Today we're learning how to study for exams with scientifically-proven techniques. We start by talking about why rereading, highlighting and summarising are pretty inefficient, and then talk about the evidence behind Active Recall as the most efficient revision technique. We end with a few suggestions as to how to incorporate Active Recall into your study routine. Enjoy xx
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TIMESTAMPS:
1. 01:29 - Popular but inefficient technique #1 - Rereading
2. 03:29 - Popular but inefficient technique #2 - Highlighting
3. 04:51 - Popular but inefficient technique #3 - Summarising
4. 06:42 - Active Recall, and the evidence behind why it's the most effective revision strategy.
5. 09:18 - Study #1 - Spitzer 1939
6. 10:22 - Study #2 - Butler 2010
7. 11:16 - Study #3 - Karpicke & Blunt 2011
8. 13:41 - Specific, practical strategies for incorporating Active Recall into your revision / study routine.
9. 14:19 - Strategy #1 - Anki flashcards
10. 16:07 - Strategy #2 - Closed-book spider diagrams
11. 17:33 - Strategy #3 - Questions instead of notes, the Cornell note-taking system
12. 19:18 - Summary and closing remarks
LINKS:
If you’re actually interested in looking up these studies, the Dunlosky review paper (Link #1 below) is probably the best place to start. The references section there is full of useful links, all of which i cba to include in this video description :)
1. Dunlosky et al 2013 - [Improving Students’ Learning With Effective Learning Techniques: Promising Directions From Cognitive and Educational Psychology. - PubMed - NCBI](www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2...)
2. Karpicke 2016 - [A powerful way to improve learning and memory](www.apa.org/science/about/psa/...)
3. Spitzer 1939 - www.gwern.net/docs/spacedrepet...
4. Butler 2010 - sites.utexas.edu/mdl/files/201...
5. Karpicke & Blunt 2011 - [Retrieval Practice Produces More Learning than Elaborative Studying with Concept Mapping | Science](science.sciencemag.org/content...)
6. Anki - [Anki - powerful, intelligent flashcards](apps.ankiweb.net)
7. Make it Stick - geni.us/MakeItStickBook
8. Podcast episode with the author of 'Make it Stick' - www.artofmanliness.com/2018/0...
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[@aliabdaal]

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[@Bonolo_Mefane]

Is using past question papers effective to improving my marks ?

[@Ali-ts8wn]

@@Bonolo_Mefane yes

[@PratikJalkotkar__O]

.

[@MauriceMaikel]

😊

[@MauriceMaikel]

@@Bonolo_Mefane❤❤

[@tashanelly182]

I just gotta say, I got my best ever mark on a science test by spending an hour explaining to my dog everything I knew about the topic the night before the test.

[@dxnial9371]

Nice 😂👌 what was your dog's reaction ?

[@noahark4832]

I have an exam in a month and i want to try this method. Is a month too short of time for this technique?

[@tashanelly182]

@@noahark4832 a month is definitely not too short but I would also recommend studying with some other methods as well. 👍

[@tashanelly182]

@@dxnial9371 she looked confused😂

[@noahark4832]

@@tashanelly182 Thank you for replying. What other methods do you suggest?

[@Uunidentifiedd]

If we are all honest ... rereading is just us READING BECAUSE WE NEVER PAID ATTENTION IN CLASS IN THE FIRST PLACE

[@MariaL483]

Heheh i feel ATTACKTED

[@richenricod6530]

@@MariaL483 18

[@KH-ks7si]

Lol I pay attention in class and work almost the least in my classes and still get straight A+ and an A in all honors classes. Paying attention is super important. When youre in school you cant do anything so fun anyway so you might as well pay attention so you have more leisure time later.

[@moon.937]

@@KH-ks7si not all of us have good teachers. I try to pay attention, but it still doesn't make sense. The concept seems complicated but when I study on my own I realize how easy it is and how difficult they make it seem. I get straight A's only when I study on my own or with my parents' help. Teachers dont always help💀

[@nore4442]

@@moon.937 true and there are teachers who would get mad or get baffled why only few got the lesson. like, girl, it's not my fault you can't teach

[@fazlayrafique3132]

1.Active recall 2.Practice test 3.Making notes (with the books closed) 4.Writing Questions for yourself

[@raunakchodankar1843]

Instead of questions framing yourself you can use past year papers or purchase stand-alone practice queestions.

[@bobschmidt6565]

the guy literally said taking notes and making summaries dont work and here you are.......

[@raunakchodankar1843]

@@bobschmidt6565 he said that making notes with book closed is active study technique.

[@bobschmidt6565]

@@raunakchodankar1843 If you close the book then you're reciting/recalling but whatever

[@raunakchodankar1843]

@@bobschmidt6565 😅 even just reciting it once thought to thought and then doing practice questions or framing questions and answering them is a great way of active recall

[@Belal-nc9um]

Went from 45% to 95% in computer science. Thank you!

[@mariash9197]

congrats! only did well in it bc of projects but this video will definetly bring my grade up :)

[@davidchavarriamendez9091]

Curious about how do you apply this techniques in your studies.

[@GameCyborgCh]

@@davidchavarriamendez9091 really want to know to because I look at the material that I have and I'm not sure how I would translate it into flashcards

[@sadiquesalman7915]

@Db I want to know that too... cause I am also a CS student, yet I don't understand how to apply "active recall" system in a subject like CS.

[@belishcyzon9317]

yeah, can you please tell us how you applied active recall to computer science :D?

[@HISANY83]

Did you know that your video is actually being used by the University of Toronto as a guide on science-backed study approaches? I thought that was pretty cool.

[@sofiaguerrero0969]

I wish this was shown in high schools! In America, they don’t really teach you how to study so this would benefit a lot of students.

[@scrappydoo69]

micaelasebaton yes exactly

[@iii-eestigoymaryroseb.8704]

😯😯😯😯

[@bingchilling3120]

He must be happy after reading this comment 👍

[@Kasumi10074]

@@sofiaguerrero0969 I agree because parents thinks they’re children is lazy when they often put off things they dread doing. A lot of people don’t discuss about this I think this comes from our fears of not wanting to do them. Because we fear of not being able to get it done, good enough, and get it correct. The way how to beat procrastination by writing down a list of things you dread, and need to get done. After that use one of the many methods that works for you the reward system, pomodoro method, and etcetera. By doing this you defeated procrastination, still this will take a lot of work.

[@lithiumkwan848]

His speaking speed perfectly explains a doctor's handwriting.

[@gatw1977]

😂

[@melissaperez36]

Lithium Kwan 🤣🤣🤣

[@karimasota2992]

His handwriting is loevly though😂

[@jujahomie8819]

Can't catch up with the speed 🤦‍♀️😂

[@feedmechocolate8197]

17:09 he has a really good handwriting tho

[@ivyrose7204]

Update! I got 94%!! This is the highest grade in science I have ever received! To be completely honest my exam was a couple of weeks away by the time I watched this video so unfortunately I had to cram a tiny bit, however I always kept in mind this principle of active recall and it worked! What I found was most effective was writing down everything you could remember from the top of your head and then adding to it. This worked SO much better than just copying notes because in this respect I was putting the concepts into my own words and so that demonstrated where my faults were so much easier. Anki also was an absolute gem for this. I recommend putting in terms as you go, but even cramming Anki worked extremely well instead of just watching videos. For chemistry I highly recommend Tyler Dewitt, every single video I watched from him was relevant for my exam. I am thrilled by these results and will continue studying in this manner! This will probably get drowned in the sea of comments but I'll put this here: I have exams in a couple weeks and I am most concerned about my science exam. I am curious to see what happens when I use these study techniques. Guess I'll edit this after I get my results back! 1. Practise testing (!!!) - Anki 2. Making notes with the book closed, then open book to see what you missed. - Spider diagrams 3. Cornell note-taking method - Write questions to actively answer them Welp, here goes!

[@yourdedcat-qr7ln]

How goes it

[@shoooyuuuuu]

this motivated me so much ! thank you

[@corveight4132]

@@shoooyuuuuu for real

[@nkreseknowledge2241]

You never came back?

[@tayebabdullah384]

Thanks for helping

[@grooshume]

TIMESTAMPS: 1. 01:29 - Popular but inefficient technique #1 - Rereading 2. 03:29 - Popular but inefficient technique #2 - Highlighting 3. 04:51 - Popular but inefficient technique #3 - Summarising 4. 06:42 - Active Recall, and the evidence behind why it's the most effective revision strategy. 5. 09:18 - Study #1 - Spitzer 1939 6. 10:22 - Study #2 - Butler 2010 7. 11:16 - Study #3 - Karpicke & Blunt 2011 8. 13:41 - Specific, practical strategies for incorporating Active Recall into your revision / study routine. 9. 14:19 - Strategy #1 - Anki flashcards 10. 16:07 - Strategy #2 - Closed-book spider diagrams 11. 17:33 - Strategy #3 - Questions instead of notes, the Cornell note-taking system 12. 19:18 - Summary and closing remarks

[@Dz-nn9gt]

Tysm brooooo

[@rrbkumar7385]

It's already given in the description.

[@ReviewsByFelix]

ty bro

[@zohorsenoussaoui190]

thanks king

[@ricorico8226]

Bless u I was scrolling for a little bit before i found this comment

[@aaliyahloanjoe7690]

the amount of times i came back to this video to remind myself how to study effectively because i went back to my old study habits is out of this world.

[@rabiabanu1633]

Yes true, may be that’s why I get lost in the middle of the semester too 🤔

[@areeba3996]

Do you find it effective? Is it working for you?

[@aaliyahloanjoe7690]

@@areeba3996 yes it is very effective. The only hard thing to do is to be consistent. Because i LOVE to procrastinate, so thats the only thing holding me back but its very effective especially if you are learning a new language

[@anishaa6216]

i knowwwwwww 😂

[@maryamashraff8096]

Highfive kid

[@ejnn5351]

To anyone who is reading this comment, I wish you the best on your upcoming exam! If you don't have an exam coming up, then good luck with whatever you're studying! It will all pay off someday,

[@mauz791]

Likewise 👍

[@tyxxliiie4192]

Thank you this kind off gave me hope,

[@dshengoor3294]

Thanks stranger from another side of the world😚

[@samanthahussain4219]

Thankyou ❤️

[@Arya-cs7kj]

Thanks mate!

[@RynL840]

It is SO GOOD to hear a Cambridge Medical student say "I use pretty colours because it makes me feel good." I feel validated. I get absolutely demolished in STEM for my pretty notes but man if it isn't the most satisfying thing in the world to have a page full of perfect notes. What I had to learn the hard way though is that you cant get by on aesthetic notes alone - active recall is gold. Thank you!

[@HawkLad]

Leave STEM to the men, hon.

[@benimoo7894]

@@HawkLad u also

[@neonch1]

@@HawkLad bruh

[@VV-zj5uw]

@@HawkLad What was your reasoning behind making this silly comment? I'm genuinely curious.

[@natalierodriguez7288]

@@HawkLad “LeAvE sTeM tO mEn” blah blah blah… I’ll continue excelling in my Petroleum Engineering degree and having companies wanting me to work for them when I graduate. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@shezymessi10]

PART 1: Popular But Inifeccient Study Methods 01:29 - ReReading does very little and is inefficient 03:29 - Highlighting is inefficient and is used as a safety blanket for students 04:51 - Summarizing and taking notes is generally inefficient, but can be good if you know how to effectively summarize and take notes (Falls around the middle of the pack in terms of study strategies) PART 2: Active Recall - The Evidence Behind It 06:42 - Active Recall is King because it Involves Retrieving Information Out of Our Brains Instead of Putting Information Inside of Our Brains and can be done by practice testing (i.e. Answering Questions based on material learned); studies back this up 09:18 - Study #1 - Spitzer 1939: Proves that doing Practice Tests at the end of your study sessions dramatically improve your marks by 10% - 15% 10:22 - Study #2 - Butler 2010: Tested Students on Facts & Concepts and proves that Practice Tests at the end of your study sessions dramatically improve your marks on Facts & Concepts by 10% - 15% 11:16 - Study #3 - Karpicke & Blunt 2011: Shows that Trying to Acitvely Recall Information Once is better than ReReading Passively 4 TImes on Verbatim & Inference Tests PART 3: Active Recall - Specific Strategies That You Can Use 14:19 - Strategy #1 - Anki flashcards: Anki is a Flashcard app that allows you to say if the flashcard was easy, medium, or hard, and depending on your answer, it calculates when to give you that flashcard again; Good for Memorizing Particular Facts AND Good for 16:07 - Strategy #2 - Closed-book spider diagrams: Making Notes with the book closed, writing everything you know about the topic, then opening up you're lecture/textbook to see what you've missed 17:33 - Strategy #3 - Questions instead of notes, the Cornell note-taking system: Write Questions for Yourself Based on the Material such that when you revise the material, you look at the questions and actively recall it

[@sebenezer3862]

Thank you very much

[@ANITHASHEWIN]

Thank you very much

[@rubickmonterola3864]

Thank you very much.

[@Lorcan-fo1vt]

Thank you very much

[@junoasdf]

Merci beaucoup

[@AnthonyTang]

i rate this video as having high utility.

[@eyesgravity9175]

.

[@Maru5410]

@@eyesgravity9175 nic reply

[@nic-fz1dg]

studywithrisi nic spelling

[@history-makers]

sarah crisman nic name

[@nic-fz1dg]

History maker it ain’t real 🤘🏼

[@elvore]

I don't consider highlighting and underlying as a study performance. It's just a preparation before learning and studying.

[@rameshhansaravendra]

. 100%

[@RuthieOnTheMobile]

Me too. I highlight important words on assignments, I don't miss anything then

[@jguillermooliver]

Exactly. I do that to make it a more digestable source to test myself and to compare with it.

[@lkmxvst5081]

Same thing on summarising in my opinion. If you have a script with 700 or more pages, summarize it and then go to the active recall..

[@katozrippla1497]

Same. For me, highlighting is just to pick out the important information so I don't have to waste time finding it again when I want to make flashcards (active recall).

[@khawlahalmohimeed9722]

I know this video is 4 years old, but I really enjoyed watching it and I liked that it is packed with evidence behind these efficient techniques along with your personal experience as well. Thank you ever so much.👍🏼

[@followyourideas]

The fact that they don't teach us this in school is preposterous.

[@au7407]

LITERALLY WAITING FOR THE TEACHERS TO TEACH ME HOW TO MF REVISE!!!

[@Truestpoint]

It’s evil lol!

[@luc188]

@@samueltunde4210 Action strange? dumbass.

[@itsmesanto]

Even the teachers don't know this technique.

[@followyourideas]

@Miguelle Landry is a perfect 10 this should be taught at the elementary level

[@user-ob9pw8nx7f]

FINALLY A REAL STUDY VIDEO....Im tired of seeing study vids of girls doing study with me vids with perfect handwriting and unnecessary long notes

[@vienamine]

Haretz Juddin IKR I try their methods and I’m just disappointed

[@pigeonlove]

EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT, DEAL WITH IT

[@geniea501]

They're clearly doing well with the methods so it works for them

[@yuni_strawberi]

Haretz Juddin lol

[@moodysullie]

I use "study with me" + "highlighting" methods when it's my 1st time reading because when I look up from my textbooks and see someone in front of me(or around me) "study with me" it makes reading feel less tiring and boring. Next, I'll go for "rereading + active recall", but I don't take notes, instead I close my books, think of a topic then speak out loud like I'm talking or explaining to myself, to check whether I understand what I've read or not. Everybody is different. We all have our own method that suits ourselves, mine includes many.

[@malakehhusisy6098]

I have a Bs degree in biology and medical science and today I’m a med student and let me tell you something - I’ve never knew how to study right. I’ve actually suffered, mentally and physically, from my choices of study. Thank god you’re here sharing your experience and showing us that there’s always another, better way to do things! God bless.

[@shahwarghazi2551]

Hey, I'm in 8th grade and my goal is to become a doctor but I have depression and anxiety, and can't focus on things can you give me some tips.

[@Dr.Hiba353]

I got 6 A grades in my 3rd year of medical school by applying active recall technique ! This stuff is life changing.

[@farida7125]

Please How do you apply it in medical school ?

[@aw-g]

How do u apply it?

[@garredhana3358]

How do u apply it

[@kelechiezekafor3530]

How do you apply it???????😢

[@SihamabdiAbdi]

Me spending 6 hours of studying everyday and still getting bad grades, feeling anxiety exhaustion worthless. Somehow got this recommendations out of nowhere; it surprised me in a different way which I’m very thankful. Make sense why you are a doctor manshalaah. May Allah increase your intelligence even more

[@debprasadbanerjee5005]

6 hours of studying is absolutely nothing you are not practicing questions, just practice questions and you’ll ace.

[@geordi5054]

IQ matters.

[@shutup7231]

@@geordi5054 yep

[@khanzaman214]

How do you use active recall

[@debprasadbanerjee5005]

@@khanzaman214 it's bullshit,Invest time in studing and you'll achieve

[@cheryl-lynnmehring8606]

1. Rereading 2. Note taking 3. Highlighting ☝Everything I was doing is WRONG!!!

[@techboywitha7887]

Note taking wasn't wrong just revising it timely was important 🙌 and practicing q. And ans timely too

[@unggulwidiatmodjo2861]

if you use note taking for what do you read then you copy it on your note book that will gonna be wrong, note taking is for summary not for copy a text form your book

[@imnonexistent7301]

I’m a high school student and I wonder if it’s alright if I note take and write questions at the same time during lectures. Because I might not be able to find the answer for the question if I don’t note take. Or should I just write questions

[@otsukaharu4501]

If you take elaborative notes you'll work on understanding and will be able to remember better.

[@lpsemcookie989]

NOT wrong just not AS effective

[@dulanabeysundara4422]

I think this applies to some subjects like Medicine more than others like Engineering/Maths which are much more concepts heavy, so having a set of concise notes where you can quickly reunderstand a concept is more useful.

[@pranjaldas5774]

Maths is everything about practice bro. Just make a formula sheet and paste it somewhere and watch it everyday. And try to solve a handful of questions

[@saloni.sharma]

You're right.. I think for engineering, it's crucial to have some form of formula bank and charts at hand... I had color coded summaries and formulas when I used to study... But it's still useless if you don't practice questions. Practising solidifies the formula and it's application in our brain much better than just memorising formulas. It's something that definitely worked so I see why he's emphasising the active recall techniques.

[@matjazmuc-7124]

STEM field is not about memorising equations, its about understanding concepts and being able to draw conclusions from a set of facts, thefore making notes which describe difficult concepts in your own words guarantees that you very likley understand the topic.

[@aarnzoo5124]

I think having a set of concise notes you can use for reference to refresh your memory and then testing yourself regularly afterwards using active-recall methods and practice questions is the best way to revise for any STEM subject.

[@tranqquiu]

Well, for Maths, i’ve applied this studying method by practising maths questions in spaced repetition. Try not to make the same mistake that u did is crucial as well

[@alyssaguihama3539]

This is the most efficient KZbin video I have watched in awhile. Thank you, genuinely, for having evidence backed by research and the helpful study tips! I think you may have saved me from drowning in my nursing school studies by forcing me to study differently than my previous academic pursuits. Keep up the amazing work & lovely timestamps! :)

[@patriciachabikuli6795]

I just scored my first B+ as a medical student & it's all thanks to you and this video. It literally changed how I study. Thank you infinitely much!

[@sakuraharuno4667]

*_you're lucky for not having Asian parents and relatives_*

[@soniatsui7606]

Sadia Khan Asian parents: what? Only a B? That’s not good enough. You have to at least get an A!

[@sakuraharuno4667]

@@soniatsui7606 *_lol.. not an A.. they want A+ and 90% marks all the time.. still they won't stop comparing..😂😂_*

[@soniatsui7606]

Sadia Khan Asian parents cont.: What A+ is the highest grade you can get? I don’t care. Get an A+++ or I will kick you out!

[@sakuraharuno4667]

@@soniatsui7606 *_I got an A (total) in my exams and my tutor is like: what?? You got only 52 in maths?? When I was in your age I always got 90%.. or even 100.. I also said I got 86 in chemistry and 82 in biology, my preparation was not good I just passed somehow.. my teacher is so annoying.. if my mom and dad was here then they would've killed me tho😂😂😂.._*

[@sophiehaugen1190]

Used this! And got highest grades I’ve ever gotten! Top grade in the class on the chemistry exam. Follow these tips it’s wonderful.

[@ayeshajahan1291]

Congratulations

[@mrs.potatohead8471]

Well done 💕💕💕

[@pigeonlove]

Well done, but that other person who got top grades doesn't use these techniques and e.g. rereading gets them to the same place. The presenter says 'i used to do it all the time'' (while dissing highlighting). He got to Oxbridge using the techniques he puts down. I'm always wary of ppl trying to reinvent the wheel and he quotes one author for his 'new' discoveries. I think we are all different, so different techniques work. I don't think there is one way.

[@mimamimoo]

Yeaahh but how do i apply this to math tho lol

[@gilgamesh7264]

@@mimamimoo for me I usually just do alot of practice questions not easy ones but difficult ones

[@pankajswami4570]

This video is probably gonna change my life. I had used these techniques but never had thought about them in such a systematic and organized way.Thank you very much Ali abdaal for putting such quality content on the internet. Hats off🙏

[@zwink37]

When I was in the navy one of the strategies we used to memorize a lot of information quickly was to write and rewrite from memory the text or diagrams we needed to learn. Most people had a white board that they would use so you could write it, erase, write it again, etc. It was very effective.

[@danielwong126]

Active Recall/ Practice testing -anything that uses cognitive effort 1) make notes with the book closed 2) use anki 3) in class, use the cornell note taking method, write questions for yourself and then answer them at a later time when you are revising (try to practice test yourself as many times as possible and as frequently as possible = spaced repeatition) ultimately the 2 most effective learning techniques are active recall AND spaced repetition!

[@phuongta4563]

Daniel Wong thank you, Daniel Wong!

[@Superfmrs]

Thanks a lot

[@kaljak4277]

Thank you!

[@mo7amed3babneh70]

Lit

[@timebomb7641]

i make notes :) but... i reread... but... i make memory mindmaps :))))

[@sarahjanesalvan8202]

I had to check my settings to see if the speed is set to x2 lol

[@HARISHM9733]

Bingo :) ....same here

[@allisonpatterson14]

I did the same thing. This guy speaks so quickly lol

[@supersonici]

Just set speed to 0.75 to set is as normal speed

[@ntenzz1808]

@@supersonici I tried the 2nd time with 0.75, and it felt 'normal' :D

[@eshanfernando6249]

Oh yeah

[@qingzhou3981]

I made a set of anki deck cards immediately and tested myself on this video - love it so much, thank you thank you thank you Ali! Excited to train my brain to be a super fast learner + retainer!

[@nemanyas]

I just realized I've been using active recall intuitively my whole life. I used to do it as a game, like "playing the teacher" when I was a kid. I still do it when I'm bored to death by the subject. One downside of active recall is that it's extremely time-demanding, if our educational systems are taken into account. Sometimes, it's faster to cram as much information in when all you need to do is pass a test and that's where our systems fail us.

[@inmed8721]

Active Studying Techniques summary - Flash cards ♦️ ♥️ Anki - Writing ✍️ notes 📝 while book 📚 is closed , retrieving from your brain instead of copying - Writing ✍️ Questions instead of passively taking notes 📝 - Practice Papers

[@ateamacad]

You can also try the Feynman Technique. Check out this vid for more info: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYjFoISNjdlrj80

[@detectivejonesw]

Shouldn't you have written these out as questions xD

[@detectivejonesw]

@Mello Lieb I've been trying to use it for maths too and let's just say I'm far from convinced

[@chrisheartman9263]

what if you stopped writing with those stupid emojis?

[@jasm3307]

Practice papers ..? Did i missed smthn ?

[@chanmi.j]

"We learn far better by practicing and retrieving stuff from our brains rather than putting stuff into our brains." WOW. I've restarted studying for the MCAT over 3 times. Each time, I've wasted time simply rereading because I was scared my brain forgot everything. But I need to trust that I got this. I will definitely try active recall this time. Thank you!

[@moonchild5267]

I have wasted three chapters by reading them again ND again and not practice the questions.....

[@leavemealone7108]

Same

[@assassin7250]

How do you practice the question? Where do u find that?

[@JAYYDEE11]

I am so glad you mentioned we are expected to know how to study. I am in my final year of uni and I am freaking out because I know how much this year means but I still think I dont know how to study effectively. So what happens is I procrastinate and get anxiety because I want to do well but do not want to study and barley learn anything. This has given me so much hope you wouldn't believe and for that I am so grateful!

[@mbel1488]

I must say these strategies really do work. While getting my psych degree, I had to work 50hrs a week and took 18 units each semester. My friends would get upset because I would do better on all my exams, while spending a fraction of the time they did on studying. They were all very intelligent. However, studying smarter not harder really does make a difference in understanding the material. Good Luck to everyone! Remember to meditate as well! Happy studying 📖

[@aurocado]

I've been struggling in finding a studying method for the last 20 years.. if this works out for me, you practically saved my university career

[@tennisfan6652]

Aurora Lombino how’d it go?

[@ddfelder2]

Aurora Lombino how are you coming along?

[@Marcos2003able]

and??? pls answer ;P

[@msjonyba1234]

Fam, how is it going for you?

[@sydneypountney5908]

??!?!?!?! Well???

[@mackiesenpai1566]

Anyone else here because they had the urge to improve themselves academically at like 1am? P.S. I’m not the one to care about how many likes I’ve gotten, but I hope every single one of you that have interacted, liked or viewed my comment have great luck and success in both their exams and their future. (I wrote this at 3:29am lmao)

[@cinnamonbun216]

Lmaoooo ISTG

[@waqqasElahismch]

Lol

[@sheffaliverma8357]

At 6am...coz I woke up now lol

[@omowako]

no shit I'm procrastination from like 3 papers due in like a week but also like exams in 3 months on a 2 year program but I'm cheating myself into productivity hahahah

[@odellbekhamgringo2199]

Bro tf

[@diglet553]

This pretty much verified what I observed when revising for my A Level Physics exams. I was heading towards a D, however I found that by using mind maps to summarise chapters, develop practice tests, and then do a tonne of past exam papers, I went up to a solid B. I was well chuffed! Active recall really does work 😁

[@Mm-ek5pj]

Yo I'm doing unit 1 of physics in January please tell me how u managed to write anything at all. I am struggling hard 😭

[@Nelo_blackgirlmagic22]

How did you do it please share

[@-SimonRiley]

Bro how do you do the initial learning? You just mentioned the ways you perform revision

[@ianawilsonn]

This was gold. Retrieval technique has definitely taken me much farther than note taking alone.

[@fuadeyuboglu]

I just "summerized" 10 pages chapter into 12 (maybe more) . And now I'm here. 😂

[@tiwiogunye]

Batuhan Fuad Eyüboğlu im dead 😲😲

[@isha5429]

Omg 😂😂😂

[@betht840]

That happens when I always try to summarize lol

[@briochekoo]

So true

[@oliviaa505]

Same my English teacher made me summarise 17 chapters of a book for English lit haha

[@davidbrumels5911]

Who else came here just to procrastinate on studying for their exams?

[@kanevout1406]

I have my final exams in less than a month. Not started revision yet....

[@illiterate9235]

GCSEs? cuz same

[@oceandust8113]

meee:)

[@marwaamoradi4979]

😂😂😂 me

[@kanevout1406]

@@illiterate9235 yep, not a low grade rn but still not started

[@cheryllock697]

i am blessed to watch this video one month before my exam! i like his voice and his speed when he speak, also i feel very convinced by what he says, thank you!

[@alinikuPiano]

I’m from Japan and there’s this certain type of highlighter that hides the words when you put a “red sheet” over it. Literally EVERYONE in Japan uses it and you have to think while you read your textbook or whatever it is you highlighted so I don’t know if many of you know about it but it is a wonderful method for me.

[@sans4124]

I can see how that works

[@anitanirmal27]

You are the first youtuber who says "Feel free to skip video" and other youtubers say "Don't Skip" and I think in one of his videos he said "Don't watch this full video bcoz it's too long, Timestamps are given in discription, feel free to skip"

[@penguin-tc1cx]

erm I wouldn't say the first but okay

[@crunkky8736]

@@penguin-tc1cx nah he is actually the first to do it.

[@rayzenv]

@@crunkky8736 i know many others

[@rayzenv]

@Mani Kantan Bailey Sarian

[@penguin-tc1cx]

@@crunkky8736 just because you haven’t seen it doesn’t mean there are people who have done it before...

[@eillet7]

the technique actually worked! (cause at first i was skeptical about it) but the previous exam i had 43/100 on my bio and this exam i improve myself 68/100 which surprise everyone (including myself) just by active recalling not for attention but just wanted to share it :)

[@ZzantaQf]

Well done, all the best for the coming future.

[@tikweirdtok7746]

Telisha Hello there, did you use this technique for GCSEs. May you please help me with what you did by using active recalling. I’m doing AQA Higher

[@alphz1328]

@@tikweirdtok7746 I made notes and used anki on those notes and got all 9 apart from Spanish

[@hamzashafie4821]

Cryptol bro did u really send £24 on that anki app?

[@alphz1328]

@@hamzashafie4821 used the website or used it on my computer. It's worth it

[@karthikeyans1654]

These are the most practical tips that makes studies much more enjoyable and easier.Thanks Ali!

[@MM84267]

Thank you for speaking quickly. Not being sarcastic. So many youtubers speak so slowly. I just feel like you are so easy to learn from because you speak quickly. Thanks

[@sand__wich99]

this man is so efficient he does 40 minutes of speaking in a 20 minute video

[@shynessbreakthroughcommuni826]

lol! You'll find that many of the efficiency KZbinrs speak about the same speed

[@sand__wich99]

@Krishna Patel ok

[@aleksandrsavchenko714]

Is that applicable to sex also - can you be 2x faster and productive? :))

[@viniciush.6540]

Different from my teachers that do a 40min class that could be done in 20, because they speak so fucking slow its insane

[@LivingAloneTips]

He listens to audiobooks double speed, he's become the audiobook himself 😎

[@sumenthrirao8489]

Intelligent, down to earth and a humble personality.

[@sitiaidahabdullah3020]

"re-reading your notes is ineffective" I haven't even read it once. So....

[@procrastinator5787]

Lol same

[@208avaradnaik6]

XD

[@pizzaparkerhotdogmaguire3225]

I concur otherwise. Re-reading your notes is extremely effective if you've a good understanding of a particular topic. When you actually re-read notes, you notice the information gaps in your notes. That way, you can make the notes better, improve upon them. That's how anything starts. Everything starts from what you've learnt previously and improving upon it through your experience.

[@user-qc7vf7pb3c]

Indian engineers

[@FriendlyLuck]

Thank you for sharing this, I think it’s going to help a lot! You’ve made me excited for my future

[@hannie9124]

Ali Abdaal: active recall is the most effective way to learn Me: I don't have something to recall, my brain knows nothing

[@milenabarrezueta3674]

i feel you

[@duasarfraz3586]

😂😂

[@sofiaguerrero0969]

you got this

[@milichan256]

😂😂truee

[@natashavernon9828]

Exactly

[@62294838]

"Cognitively, the more brain power it takes to recall the facts, the better strength of that connection it seems to get."

[@magtibayalexiafrancesca5061]

Thank you! I've been struggling with my past technique of studying now I am in the 3rd year level of Medical Technology! This week will be my PRE LIMS 🤗 I'll probably use these techniques to improve and hoping to pass examinations ❤️

[@SagentTile]

I love how you structure your videos. Top content 👌🏽

[@katrina896]

One of the rare youtubers whose sole purpose of doing a vlog is to help people. Thank you so much! Note taking isn't really for me and I find it really hard to just compile and write notes. Especially because of our coming comprehensive exam which all of our major subject's topic from the very first to the last. I was already thinking about spending my whole week after class writing and rereading the lessons. And I found this! Thank you so much!! I hope I'll do great!!

[@pigeonlove]

Sole purpose? There is an advert below the video

[@JA-hg6ee]

@@pigeonlove lmao. you must not be the target for this video ig

[@parthmaheshwari3323]

DONTs Highlighting Summarising (copy from book) Underlining Rereading DOs Anki/active recall (cognitive work) Close book and summarise Create list of questions

[@michellemckinney4678]

Thank you for this. He spoke so fast, I stopped listening and hoped a kind soul would summarize his video. Parth: you are that kind soul. Thank you for this.

[@yohannjacob9232]

@@michellemckinney4678 watch the video hes a troll dont do it like that

[@isagiyoichi5207]

@@yohannjacob9232 shuuuuush parth gave him the right points

[@koketsobaholo7]

Good news!!!!!!!!! Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah. Acts 3:19‭-‬20 CSB From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17 CSB “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:15 CSB Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. John 3:3‭, ‬5 CSB Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 CSB For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. John 3:16 GNB bible.com/bible/296/jhn.3.16.GNB

[@Amulyachoudhary-si1wt]

Thanks for this one.. saved me 15 minutes heheh !

[@brendahornung1990]

I am taking notes while listening to this. Both for my class and work - I am experiencing how little my note taking is helping. I look forward to learning a new way to study! Thanks.

[@kitrichardson2165]

Making a practice question out of the lecture notes is a great idea!

[@kokodaengg]

I have my exams in 8 days and I was rereading, making notes and highlighting... So I started doing past papers using the active recall method and let me tell you I HAVE IMPROVED SO FREAKING MUCH

[@sridevicarnane879]

Good luck

[@Fossilized-cryptid]

Howd it go?

[@kokodaengg]

@@Fossilized-cryptid I got A*s for both my subjects :D

[@Fossilized-cryptid]

@@kokodaengg boom awesome keep at it

[@kokodaengg]

@@Fossilized-cryptid Thank you, all the best to you too :D

[@souv1k985]

If I get above 8.0 this semester in my electrical engineering undergrad, I'll be running around the campus with your picture stuck on my forehead. Anyways, very helpful!. OK this blew up! After 2 years what I realized after getting 8.34 and 8.67 is that test scores are the least important thing in education. If you truly love the subject, you will succeed! In my case, I made a wrong decision of taking Electrical Engineering and thus, I just wanted to at least keep my parents happy! So my advice as an idiot would be to take up subjects only after good amount of research. Maybe the college for your fav subject might not be great, but its the students that give worth to a college. And if you are really good at what you love doing, YOU WILL GET NOTICED. Good luck internet strangers! UPDATE 2: am 22 now and work at huge MNC as a DevOps engineer. I earn more than anyone in my family but most importantly have a work that I absolutely enjoy doing. Being from middle class, I now have plenty in my pocket and absolutely enjoy every passing day. All I can say is that the current education system is shit and test scores are useless.

[@zzzzzz-wb6sj]

Ad Min looking forward to a video of you doing just that ;D

[@souv1k985]

@@zzzzzz-wb6sj dude I have just one month left to pull that off, wish me luck

[@zzzzzz-wb6sj]

Ad Min ohdamn oof all the best man exams are stressful 🤧🤧

[@Lina-ze3fj]

@@souv1k985 how did it go?

[@souv1k985]

@@Lina-ze3fj Except for 2 subjects out of five everything was excellent. Finished just yesterday. Results will be out at a months time.

[@JackieNorfleet1]

Very help information! I am definitely going to work on these techniques going forward!!! Thanks again!

[@oliviaperez8752]

This was actually so helpful. I've been struggling while studying for my MCAT, but I have been relying on flashcards and rereading. Can't wait to try this out instead!

[@mochialien7689]

Did u get in?

[@tombasu6108]

This is definitely the most useful study tips video I've seen, thank You!!

[@ami-ve1we]

agreed

[@misse8050]

My dad is a teacher and he's been practising Active Recall for years when he's preparing for his lectures and he always advised me to do the same. So I would pretend I'm teaching a bunch of imaginary students and I would recall everything and that helped me a lot. So I never knew this practise was actually uncommon. Now watching this I'm like ah for once I was actually doing the right thing

[@sadiquesalman7915]

I also do the same, I have a whiteboard in my room where I teach 'ghosts' everyday... and that really works. It is also a part of the famous Feynman technique.

[@leej1759]

I never knew it was uncommon, either!!

[@tayebabdullah384]

Thanks

[@e4e086]

@@sadiquesalman7915 bruh😂

[@AM-nq9jv]

I have did this some many years back where I would score good but after getting influenced by internet. I have spoiled the routine. Now getting back to it.

[@marclanglois4875]

Super useful information. I never realized how much time i was wasting when it came to studying ineffectively. Still learning how to get rid of note taking and rather "take questions" instead. Love hearing evidence based studies translated into understandable English.

[@madamhummingbird]

This is the single best study practice video I've watched on youtube, period. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and research with us. I will give your study techniques a go first thing tomorrow. Bless.

[@srdpnth]

Your video just happens to pop up in my feed somehow and I must say this is the most influential video I have seen in my life.

[@uddeshyasharma5779]

Same here. Just random youtube suggestion and I end up subscribing this awesome channel that was unknown to me nearly 12 hours ago.

[@mostlymatt7567]

I got my first 100 on my biology test today out of the entire year a week after implementing what he's talking about. Watch this video and his part two and utilize these tools. Once you truly learn how to understand information, learning becomes addicting. Thank you Ali.

[@AnnahitaLessany]

Amazing video !!! Thank you so much. I have an exam in 3 weeks. Going to apply these these techniques- mainly the active recall / the study questions to review every day like your friend did and I’m going to use the app you suggested. I’ll let you know in 3 weeks how it went. 🙌🏼 here’s to ditching the old techniques that never worked for me and here’s to finally doing great on an exam. I’m really excited 😜 💗. Side note: your videos are so easy to follow- I stay engaged the entire time which is not easy - so thank you for being great at this and keep doing these videos. We appreciate you so much. You’re amazing

[@AmberMardones]

You have been SO helpful! thank you so much for everything you do!

[@Saira-er2wg]

Not the hero we asked for, but the hero we needed.

[@brijeshsamal7035]

Definitely more heroic than most of the people who are called “heroic”, in my opinion

[@Twylinaelizabeth]

I’m a law student at a state school in the US. If these study tips are good enough for a Cambridge medical student, they’re good enough for me!

[@impossible9599]

That too a medical student

[@user-eb7bl6wm4g]

Towards the end of this video my tummy turned and I started feeling really excited. Makes me wanna learn!

[@meditalentsadministrator7641]

This video made me recall what I used to do when I was in junior school. Somehow active recalling style of revision fades away as you move higher level ! Strangely! Thank you , Ali, gonna revisit this technique for my masters program 😊

[@muhammadahmed.7017]

In my whole life, you are first person who told me how to study effectively🙂.

[@ilkasanchez6896]

So do I!

[@pizzacari]

There is one cool method that my numerical methods teacher taught us in order to easily remember mathematical definitions, it goes like "try to explain it like you were explaining it to your grandma". Basically you try to reduce a topic to the most simple and understandable form, without any technical details, so that there is no way you can forget it, and then develop the idea and add more details, again like you were teaching someone who has no idea what you are talking about.

[@harpreetjanday1660]

Feynman technique?

[@mattchalk4579]

This helps me a lot. I explain concepts to the guys at work and find it helps to cement the ideas.

[@mimamimoo]

How do i study math by thid techniqueeeeee

[@mandyn0429]

In university, that is also a way we are taught to write essays. Explain in such a way you'd explain to someone who has little to the knowledge of the course. In doing this, not only are you being specific in detail, but you're also giving out a lot of information and also adding to your word count😅. Our lecturers always stress that we should not ”assume” they know what we're writing about coz we end up missing a lot of vital points. Coz who knows, you paper might be featured in the schools newspaper. People who don't take your course need to understand what you wrote. Also, this helps one engage a lot more with their content.

[@mandyn0429]

Hathat Bima with Maths it's always helpful to go through past exam papers. When I'm on a time crunch, I used to skip all the book exercises and went straight to going through past papers. Not only are you actively recalling but you're also getting a feel of how questions will be asked and how they (based on the memo) want/ expect you to answer them. (I'm not saying don't be active in class and not take notes, but I do recommend spending most of your time (at least 70%) on doing past papers. Especially when dealing with numbers because not every problem is the same. It helps you think outside the box, so they say😌). This is a late response, but I hope it helps. Also I only just came across this video😅.

[@binbag42]

Thank you very much , this video was very helpful !

[@lckcyy]

found ur channel few days ago n its been wat im watchin the past few days n i feel like ive learnt a lot!!

[@samishikhdebes3429]

Oh God why didn't I discover this channel before! your videos are so well-structured and quit enjoyable to watch! Everything he says is based on scientific facts and experiments, just one Thing though; and please don't feel offended by this but the video could've been shortened to about 15~17 Minutes because you repeatedly mentioned some facts(that are extremely helpful), i think with shorter videos you could reach more audience if you manage to keep the quality like this. Nevertheless the video is phenomenal!

[@marwanel-halawany2879]

After a Year of Practising Active Recall I Can Say That You Literally Changed My Life Man

[@SH-iw4xr]

how did you revise bro

[@user-bf3yh6ue7p]

@@SH-iw4xr he explained ina video how to do it...

[@marwanel-halawany2879]

@@SH-iw4xr i would go straight to the past year exams instead of just rereading my notes

[@ariap9697]

how come ?

[@harumahluv4582]

@@marwanel-halawany2879 what do you do when you can't come up with an answer to a question (while practicing last year papers a s you said)

[@timmyourking4482]

Thank you so much!!! Studying for my history exam and the anki app helped me so much.

[@danieljaramillo1519]

I find this so useful in my premed journey, thank you for taking the time to do some research and put this together ! Your awesome 🤙🏼

[@43-vanikalyanirapelly67]

I did active recalling without knowing what it is when I was at school. After completion of the lesson I used to go to the questn section and think of answers in my mind. But after I got into 11th and 12 th I just forgot about it all. And I kept on rereading highlighting and summarising. And yeah I didn't score much like I did in my school. Now that I'm in engineering and completely lost on how to study. I'm glad I watched this video. I'm gonna get my old habits on track again 😁 thank u Ali

[@hubertlainolfeschlegelstei2833]

Omg even me! 11th and 12th ruined me

[@leahbautista2842]

same, I've always wondered how did I do well when I was in elementary compared to now

[@civilexplorer4720]

Because teachers and seniors said that to understand the chapters.so we went on understanding instead of active recalling and we forgot about this technique in crucial phase

[@premith_]

Same here! 😮‍💨🙏🏽 Need to re-learn at 27 year old😅

[@m.uporosh1180]

Same here !!!

[@lechterred9519]

*TL;DW* *DONTs* Highlighting Summarising (copy from book) Underlining Rereading *DOs* Anki/active recall Close book and summarise Create list of questions

[@drastocedits2682]

clearly nothing has been learnt about ineffective summarising

[@Ezichim]

I love highlighting, turns your page into an art piece

[@chickenwingslover9456]

@coco omg that's so true for me as well

[@silas2287]

thank u pikachu

[@yuxiuguo2870]

Thanks for the summary!

[@baosaucy]

This was great, thanks! I'm going to use this for school starting now!

[@LegendaryX3000]

This works vert well. Thank you for the support.

[@naynikag7792]

I've often struggled with study methods because: a) they're pretty time-consuming b) they're not very effective Spaced repetition & active recall seem like solid techniques. Using them each day now

[@abdullahabbas3601]

Did you see a change in your grades? (:

[@assassin7250]

What did you do? How u improve your studying?

[@sumaiyahali5502]

update?

[@Zaidi_227]

How did the technique work for you?

[@areebanoor81]

Any update?

[@Gamechannel500]

Error!! ⚠️ Went from a failing grade in chemistry to a A!!

[@db7026]

Wallahi?

[@dr.society9182]

Mykehunt hey how did you do that

[@animethighs6667]

@Sweendog’s Cooking good luck I wish the best for u!

[@angelapinky5980]

@Sweendog’s Cooking I have 4 days to go

[@wolfgangoppenheimer2905]

@Sweendog’s Cooking how did it go???

[@sunelmertz299]

AMAZING!!! I'm definitely trying this method!

[@issel_withcells7639]

This finally make sense to me, this method is not actually uncommon, but later we find it not necessary, because we tend to focus more about reminding ourselves what we miss (read more, noticing more). But actually what we need is to keep the subject on our mind, and that’s why we repeat it. Now i get it and really feel grateful for it.

[@54762109758]

This is the most in-depth, fact-based deep-dive video on studying I've watched. Congrats on becoming a doctor!

[@muminatqanitat28]

Dude I really appreciate how much effort you put into this videos. Don't comment on all but watch them ALL. This video is now in a playlist safe - just in case I ever forget or need to recommend it.

[@muminatqanitat28]

You're very eloquent mashAllah and noticed your thoughts flow with so much ease. Natural gift or do you take active steps to improve your communication skills? I definitely would like to improve in this aspect any tips?

[@muminatqanitat28]

Ali Abdaal lol @ brain farts. You're humble. When you have friends in videos they speak like me ...meanwhile you've captured the point in 3 words and no pause. There's no thinking time. Thanks for reply. Will try get myself out there and express myself at every chance. Genuinely wish you well in your medical and KZbin journey. You're a brilliant doctor.

[@poojamehrotra1366]

@@aliabdaal hi! Could you make a video on improving communication skills too? :-) With your research-based methodologies, I am sure your viewers could benefit and become more eloquent too! Thanks for all your videos!

[@Runpierre]

Ali Abdaal Can you recommend any good reads on being more conversational...a better communicator..more likable? I also wrotr you o Instagram looking for some advice. ig: ppierre1984

[@zyyy3978]

SO USEFUL thank you!!i needed this reminder to feel motivated after feeling lost on how to study effectively and manage my subjects.👍👍

[@mdabusaqibalamansari9979]

Very beneficial video ❤ thank you so much

[@sharmaineyang2567]

Can't thank you enough for this video! My exam results have dramatically improved plus I still get to recall the topics even after exam

[@aliabdaal]

🎬 Check out my FREE 36-video online class on how to study for exams - skl.sh/2UOx68x

[@giuliavincentini3415]

What about oral test, how can I test myself???

[@marnicebuenafe6530]

❤❤❤

[@naziaanjum7988]

Study plan fr minor dyslexic ... Especially numbers they change.. Like 1832 bcmz 1823 etc no matrr hw much i learn.. I hv entrance exam coming.. Plz suggest something..

[@atj9477]

The content of ur videos are quite amazing...I have started watching them from scratch and I hope I can bring in productivity and better changes...Thank u..Stay happy healthy and safe...

[@jwa4843]

Quick question about active recall and anki. Would you say it's better to make anki cards that force you to recall a definition or to use the cloze deletion method?

[@snehaarvind4773]

This is by far, my favorite video of yours!🙂

[@vedasmusicworld1420]

thank you for making this video! you've been so helpful and so nicely explained everything. I appreciate it so much!