How I Studied to a Perfect Academic Record (and you can too)

Keep exploring at brilliant.org/FrancisMadden/. Get started for free, and hurry-the first 200 people get 20% off an annual premium subscription.
These are some principles I followed while studying to 4A*s at A-Level, a Triple First from Cambridge and a Distinction from UCL.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:05 Panic Calendar

2:30 Brown/Pink Noise

4:46 Dealing with Distractions
6:59 Turn Studying into a Video Game (Anki)

10:00 The Work Has Already Been Done Before
12:36 Get Advice from Someone One Step Ahead

14:17 The Magic Pill
15:13 The Illusion of Perfection
Who am I? 🙋‍♂️
I'm Francis, a Trainee Clinical Psychologist studying at Oxford University. I previously did psychology degrees at Cambridge (Undergrad) and UCL (Master's). I upload videos every few weeks about psychology, university life and occasionally self-improvement.
Feel free to have a browse of the channel x
Resources:
Anki: apps.ankiweb.net/
Cold Turkey Blocker: getcoldturkey.com/
Noisli: www.noisli.com/playlists (these days it has a paywall but tbh you can just look up a 10-hour compilation of the sound you want on KZbin)
Your Life in Weeks: waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/life-w...
Buy me a coffee: ko-fi.com/francismadden
This video was sponsored by Brilliant.
For enquiries, please go to:
/ francismadden

[@FrancisMadden]

Thanks to Brilliant for sponsoring this video! Keep exploring at brilliant.org/FrancisMadden/. Get started for free, and hurry-the first 200 people get 20% off an annual premium subscription.

[@callummanchester2503]

For anyone who doubts Francis’ integrity and commitment to the points he preaches, just take a look at the Easter egg symbolising his struggle against perfection - the Rubik’s Cube. Between recording takes for the video he has clearly completely ballsed up whatever attempt he made at getting it further towards completion, but was okay with it. He embraced it, letting it sit there in a shambles, knowing that it isn’t the be all and end all. A true man of his word.

[@nigel9637]

ratio callum

[@FrancisMadden]

Hahahahah I've been absolutely mudded here, I learned the algorithm back in the day I'm gonna have to get back up to speed

[@williamrussell8114]

No need to bother with re-learning an algorithm. Rotate the top deck 45 degrees and use a butter knife to pry up any one of that deck's four non-corner blocks. Once it's out, the rest of the cube can be disassembled by hand. Reassemble as solved cube (it might be possible to reassemble as an insoluble cube, but you'd have to re-learn the algorithm to test that).

[@ucheakabogu719]

Amazing advice! Love it. Thank you!

[@cookiekilbane5989]

Man I love your stuff, I already take omega 3 and use anki tho so I must already be an oxbridge candidate!

[@mariannegao9164]

wow, Francis you are my role model. ( subscribed your channel in the first place because you mention that you also love the JCS psychology youtube channel in one of your videos, then some of your other videos make me think that your wiredly sence of humor is super fun, and today discovered that you are also so academically gooood? wowwwwww

[@katejj3329]

Congratulations on getting a distinction Francis! Loving all the theory-practice links in the video, DPCP has trained us well haha

[@FrancisMadden]

Thank you Kate!!

[@ife849]

This is the most practical video I have seen on studying and study habits so far. Especially with the last chapter on the illusion of perfection, I think I can resonate with 98% of what you said there. I like your character, you seem so... realistic.

[@timonjurk7983]

your vids are so comforting to watch keep up the great work

[@FrancisMadden]

Thanks so much!

[@traveller2810]

Your channel is seriously underrated

[@angelicaamara62]

Your work ethic insane!! Congrats on your distinction

[@FrancisMadden]

Thank you!

[@farida7125]

Thank you!! Please do more study tips videos

[@FrancisMadden]

I plan to!

[@onepunchman55389]

my brother, thank you for the noisli website

[@isabellajones4488]

Is there any strategy behind filming different parts o your video at different times? I don't think there is but questioning anyway 😂 Love your vids btw, very informative :)

[@FA-ki7py]

What secondary school did you go to? Your results are incredible. Welldone.

[@marufbepary100]

I remember during my 3rd year uni exams, I would starve myself to force my brain to get into survival mode. I would eat a tone of healthy stuff before revision and then force myself to revise. It wasn't mentally healthy but you gotta do what you gotta do.

[@shahtayyib]

I'd love to see a guide from you on essay writing

[@FrancisMadden]

In the pipeline!

[@shahtayyib]

@@FrancisMadden W

[@Jordannnnnnnjones]

How about when you’re participating in the act of writing an essay, but your brain keeps disengaging cognitively and wants to take shortcuts … please can you provide a tip for this? It arises out of fear im not good enough or not capable of oxbridge style effort

[@tamizkeksik99]

Please tell me what subjects you have chosen for the A level program!

[@gabriel-mj7oh]

that startled me qnq

[@Ringkai-qx4kn]

I am studying law in my final year. Always finding it hard when it comes to writing a critical analysis essay. I just can never really get my head wrapped around it. I just want to excel and get a 1st in it. Help. 😭

[@hollyli9651]

is these stategies like the websites an ad or is it not

[@geggs5729]

The more I watch your videos the more I realize that you are the exact same as me, I’m going to follow your future videos like a Bible, 🙏preach

[@FrancisMadden]

Looool curious what qualities we share

[@geggs5729]

@@FrancisMadden I’m currently applying for psychology in the uk rn. Love the subject and yes I do realize I wont be reading minds any time soon. But also I’ve been struggling with starting my work any time before I feel pure fear and distractions such as my phone. Going to try out your tips man and I’ll keep you posted. Big ups 👍

[@russellwoods4965]

Am I going insane or did you used to have a cambridge youtuber tier list vid?

[@FrancisMadden]

You're going insane sadly

[@russellwoods4965]

@@FrancisMadden stranger things have happened

[@andrewshaw6811]

DId you have Ins? I want to follow you. 🎓😃

[@FrancisMadden]

Sadly not😭

[@Andy_TKC]

👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@abelievereverrising283]

Strange, I just had fish for Breakfast and lunch. Does this mean I should have it for dinner??

[@FrancisMadden]

You need to hook it into your veins

[@alexandremartin4078]

You like Uniqlo?

[@FrancisMadden]

Deeply

[@goosebumper714]

In the shed 💀

[@cohen4679]

pr໐๓໐Ş๓ 🔥

[@TheEndDay2024]

😂 AAAA the battery?