What do top students do differently? | Douglas Barton | TEDxYouth@Tallinn
Douglas talks about the research on top students learning habits.
Douglas is the founder and Global Chairman of Elevate Education. Douglas and Elevate has spent the last 13 years benchmarking the practices of the highest performing students in order to identify exactly what drives student performance. Today, Elevate works with over 1200 schools across Australia, the UK, South Africa and the US in order to raise student and school performance. Douglas has been profiled in a series of books on Australia’s top and emerging leaders.
Douglas on Elevate Education’i looja. Douglas ja Elevate on viimased 13 aastat uurinud heade tulemustega õpilaste harjumusi, et mõista, mis on nende edu võti. Täna töötab Elevate enam kui 1200 kooliga üle terve Austraalia, Suurbritannia, Lõuna-Aafrika Vabariigi ja Ameerika Ühendriikide, et tõsta õpilaste ja koolide taset. Douglast on mainitud ka Austraalia tõusvaid juhte tutvustavas kogumikus.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx
Read this and save 15 minutes... 1. Don't worry about not being smart enough. IQ doesn't make the grade. 2. Don't only work hard. Have a study-life balanced. 3. Practice homework, practice exams, and a little bit more practice. Don't spend most of your time cramming or rewriting notes. 4. Design a Time Table and keep it. Plan your life first and then plan your study time. If you throw out your time table then make a new one or get back on it.
+Pepper Nickel Thank You!!!
thankss
you da real MVP
Much appreciated
Thank you, but I will still watch the video!
Theres a big difference when you're actually interested in what you're studying as well.
this
While this definitely helps, I've been studying shit I don't like for years and gonna get my doctorates soon at a young age. Tell that to the asians. lol
Mark Mattimoe I know
Mark Mattimoe you're *
Yes! Because if you know about what you are learning, it is not part of the "curriculum". And that just SCREWS you over.
“They need to cut out distractions” *watches a tedx talk instead of doing my homework*
we should also be taught how to not get distracted rather than just being told to stop
I used to be a top student, but I took a procrastination to the knee
sameee
OOF THAT HURT
@@mariaordonez4025 this I have a bad problem with procrastination and tell me to stop just doesn't help
As a top student that just graduated, my advice: Don't learn for anyone else but yourself. Knowledge is power. Even if you think you will never use it again, learn it. Always give different subjects a fair try. You might end up liking a subject you initially thought would be boring. Most importantly, have some self discipline. You don't have to give up all of your free time, but do your homework and study first. School is a job. You must treat it like one and put that at the top of your priorities. Also, don't give up. Just because you think you aren't smart doesn't mean that you cant work through it. I got way more success out of hard work than I ever did by relying solely on intellect. If you can somehow find a way to love working (i know it is hard to love that), that is the best thing. Personally i love working because its a small rush crossing to-dos off my list. In general im not a procrastinator so that makes me want to finish my work first. I encourage you to do the same. Former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink once said "discipline equals freedom". When you can discipline yourself to get work done quickly and efficiently, you will find you have more freedom than by procrastinating. Hope any of this helps. Anyone can do it. Believe in yourself and you're halfway there.
Great advice! I'm currently a first year in UofT. Got through high school and earned decent grades by procrastinating and doing the bare minimum. Uni really hits you hard and makes you realize how important all the time-management skills are. I will certainly remember your advice when I'm down or want to give up. Cheers!
Spend time studying and spend more time doing what you want to
Yeah I always feel so relaxed when I feel productive.
"THE BEST ADVICE GIVERS ARE THOSE WHO HAVE MOST PROBLEMS IN LIFE " According to that you were a backbencher
great piece of advice
A very simple tip my parents always told me over and over: "Don't memorize. Understand."
Absolutely true!
right
They weren,t wrong, tbh.
How to undersrand effectively
Exactly! Whenever I study with my friends they always go “just memorise the text and then you can get the top answer” and I’m just thinking “what’s the point in getting the right answer when I don’t even understand what Im putting down on the paper?” They still think I’m weird for this but who cares
The first step to becoming a good student is wanting to learn how to study.
In that case, ppl in this comment section all passed th first step 🙂
@@user-wt8wj4rp7k go for Ali Abdal’s video about “Active Recall”. Livechanging video
yayayyee
exactly
If you are looking on "How to study?", refer to Limitless book by Jim Quik
Here's what I did every year in high school and it worked for me: 1) PAY ATTENTION IN CLASS I know this seems like common sense but this is very very very important. By paying attention in class, I saved time after school and didn't have to review for the next day or study for quizzes. 2) Understand the concept before class ends This is especially important for MATH class. I know, I know math class can be very boring. But if you understand the topic in class, you will save A LOT of time in homework and when studying for a quiz and test. Math is all about concepts, it's not something that you can cram. In school, I would usually understand the concept my teacher is saying and do extra practice in and after class. So far, I barely ever study for a math test (no joke). 3) First week matters a lot (Halo effect) The impression you give to your teachers is VERY important. If you behave like a good student the first week or two weeks of school, teachers will treat you like a good student. Now, I'm not saying the teacher will give you grades you don't deserve. Most teachers grade fairly despite the student. But what it will do is make life easier for you in school. It will be easier for the teacher to talk to and give you tips and might even redo and test you did bad on. 4) Know how to study certain subjects There are some subjects that you can cram (for me: bio) and some you cannot (for me: math). Knowing the difference can help a lot! 5) Study Smart There is not "perfect" study technique. What works for me, might not work for you. For example, the first two years of high school I wasted my exam prep time by writing notes for the exam. In the end, this didn't help me at all! I didn't even go over any of the notes I wrote and it wasted my time. What I found was that I worked better by taking neat notes in class and reading the textbook. (This is for me of course). Basically, the point I'm trying to bring across is that you have four years of high school (which I'm guessing you're in). Those four years should give you enough time to try different studying methods to find the one best for you. 6) Do your homework! Although you probably hear this all the time, but seriously just do it. And here's why: -> gives good practice Sometimes if I have a lot of homework for a certain subject I use the homework as study period (multitasking) -> get on your teachers good side If you are a study that ALWAYS does your homework, then sometimes teachers let it slide when you don't have it (depends on the teacher tho). This has happened to me many times 7) Do school work as soon as you reach home I'm pretty sure everyone wants more free time. Don't you? What helps me in high school is doing all school related stuff ASAP (homework, study, etc). This helps a lot because after I'm done with school related stuff I'm basically free 8) Cram the right way Don't think A+ students don't cram. Trust me, we do. We've just learnt our study habits so well that we know what subject and how to cram for it. I like to think of cramming as an art, it can be perfected for some subjects. 9) Don't pressure yourself Yes, we all want to get good grades but don't pressure yourself. Many times when I put pressure on a test or exam, I tend to do bad in it. When I don't stress, I do well. For example, just this year I had a maths exam. I was VERY VERY sick in the exam that I dint even care what I got. I dint go over my paper, I skipped around and I felt sick. But guess what? That's the exam I get best in. I got a 99% 10) Befriend the nerds like me :) I love helping people and most top students do too. If the teacher didn't explain something well, don't be afraid to ask someone who gets good grades. Also, if you surround yourself with smart people you'll learn what they do to pass a certain class. Also, the be time to be around smart people is during exam time or test time! We're basically overflowing with info and we need to share it with people! Lastly, don't worry. Keep yourself motivated and fight on. Don't forget your social life and don't forget to study. Good luck! Fighting!
Those are great tips! I did all of those and was an A+ student in highschool. But now I am in university, and getting C's-B's. Studying for university requires a lot more creative and integrative study methods. I hope you don't get a shock if you won't be an A student in university!
I agree with all of it except one! Thank you for sharing !!!
I clicked "show more" and almost had a heart attack
thank you! that's useful.💖
even if i follow it i will fail
My little sum up of the video : **Work hard doing the right things** 1 - Do A LOT of Practice Tests. 2 - Work consistently across the year. 3 - Be self disciplined and able to cut out distractions. 4 - Be resilient. 5 - Do a timetable and stick to it : Put in it the non-study and fun times first.
Thanks 👍
Funny thing - most of those traits are often linked with high iq. Working hard is not everything, for the most part you have to work SMART, and thats where iq is useful.
👍👍😀😀
That’s not the thirteen variables......
thanks!
Being the top student in my uni, I can briefly share some pointers here which I hope will be useful. Firstly, look at the bigger picture. Instead of memorising, comprehend the information or theories and think how can I apply it in real life. By doing so, you may have a better understanding. Secondly, set goals rather than just time table. Break down these goals, for instance, completing the first part of my assignment by next week and the second part two days later. Thirdly, don't aim to compete, aim to learn. Learning drives you to be curious each time and this will lead to a good habit in the long run.
RudyBoy you should have been the one speaking in TedTalk
Wow
Damn I was gonna motuvate myself by aiming to beat the best in my class. Thanks for the advice :)
Hey Louis, how do memorize exactly ? I'm having trouble with abstract things political science for instance.
You deserve a huge THANK YOU. Thank you
watching this video instead of studying for my test tomorrow
the grim-raptor same such irony
same here
the grim-raptor lmao same
You dont need to study, just take a practice test
same
1) take practice exams 2) self-motivation, self-discipline, resiliance, consistant/focused studying 3) don't base learning off of memorization, exams don't test memory, they test use of information. You have to really understand the concepts overall. 4) Schedule times that you AREN'T going to study (time for fun things/activities you want to do) FIRST, and then schedule studying around it.
Thanks! I'm really looking for this 😀
Different subjects have slightly different study methods, when it comes to learning languages you need more than just studying alone to make progress, you have to find a way to get your mind to recognize a language as a language and if you cannot do that you'll not pick up that language. Sure, you'll understand how the grammar is put together, what are verbs, nouns and foreign grammar concepts that doesn't exist in your native language but you'll find yourself not understanding full speed dialogues and monologues that you're trying to read or listen to.
@@forizasr1166 Obrigado, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Danke, Thank you!
My parents have all the rein, so I can barely obey these.
Lmao my exams definitely test pure memory facts
As a top student, it is all about understanding the material. If you really understand it, you will have no trouble solving anything thrown at you. Even though my note taking is horrible, my natural ability is lower than many of my peers, and I am a slow test taker, I have gotten straight A's with the following tips: 1) Don't ever leave a class without an understanding of what you learned. The best way to do this is devote your full attention to the material you are learning and then mark the things you are uncertain of or just questions in general. After class, ask your professor about them and make sure to ask questions until you understand them. 2) Take practice exams. Knowing the material is extremely different from knowing how to use it. If you struggle with test taking speed, use a timer and slowly work down to completing practice tests with lower time. I remember doing this my first semester of college for a particularly challenging statistics class and then I was one of the only ones to finish the exam, finishing in half the time. On a side note, if you are worried about your test taking skills, this will help improve them. 3) Never leave an exam early. Too many people I know leave exams without triple checking everything. The best way you can ensure that you maximize your exam potential is by using ALL the time. 4) Form study groups. I always liked studying by myself, but a group is useful to double check answers to problem sets or to compete with on practice exams. Another thing that I found beneficial is, if you like studying alone like me, arrange a group meetup after and behave like a teaching assistant to your classmates, explaining everything carefully. It ensures that you truly understand the material. 5) Always give everything 100%. The main reason I say this is because too many students barely try on homework and lose points. Every point matters and homework is there to help you understand the material, so you may as well do a good job on it as well. 6) OFFICE HOURS! Too many people never go to office hours and that is a mistake. Professors genuinely want you to do well (despite what your peers will say) and are happy to help explain unclear concepts. The best way to keep track of them is to write a list for all the office hours for all of your classes. 7) Make a list of everything you have to complete for the week and schedule your day to start chipping away at it. Deadlines are always right when you expect them to be and you are always one step ahead with this method. 8) NEVER MEMORIZE! I once tutored a couple of my classmates and was shocked to see that they put memorization over understanding. Memorizing will always fail you in the long run, whether on an exam or if you ever have to use something in the future. The second an exam question deviates from your memorized path, you will be unable to answer it. 9) Select early classes and NEVER miss one (unless absolutely necessary). Forcing yourself to be awake and functioning early gives you more time to be productive. Too many students sleep in late and have only half a day to do a full day's work. 10) Have confidence in your abilities. If you do not believe that you can do well, you won't. On the first day of class, walk in knowing that you will get an A, and then when your last exam ends, walk out knowing you got an A. I know too many people that do not believe they have the ability to do well in a class, either avoiding difficult classes, or settling for mediocre results.
That's useful for me now. Thanks so much
Don't watch ted talks while you should be studying. Just a tip
Floor Abbestee hahaha😂
Floor Abbestee I REALLY LOST MY INTEREST IN STUDYING RIGHT NOW SO I WANT TO WATCH MOTIVATIONAL VIDEOS HAHA
Exam tomorrow lol
guilty lol I thought I could use some motivation.
Floor Abbestee my exams are tomorrow and I don't have any motivation left. Here I am👐
I am a top student and I rewrite my notes before tests. Works every time.
Madeline White i am topper as well ... my way is quite for developing ability and understand ..the text in books are very important 1st go through it ... practice some imp question and recite note during in exam
Whatever works for you. I think I do about the same thing, except for reading the textbook (too lazy for that).
Madeline White well reading books in free time helps u lot even if some surprising question are asked u will feel like i still have some idea
That's true. It depends on how the teacher/professor tests, too, I think
Madeline White Can I ask you what do you study in particular?
The best technique I ever applied was 1) Helped others prepare for exam by reiterating my concepts to them. This way others corrected me and I them. 2) Had a good 8 hours of sleep befote exam. 3) Told myself "now that you have dove into this own it!"
how do you get 8 hours of sleep before the exam? like what is your studying method?
@@reemalzadjali8162 dude, study in the morning and the day or afternoon. If you gotta get up at 7:00, go to sleep by 23:00
I would add that sleeping 8 hours everyday is helpful if you want to follow the lessons. Sleep is needed to transport information from short term storage to the brain cortex where they are going to be available later.
I heard from a valedictorian that most of the students do is "work hard" but for her it's "work harder". She's my inspiration.
Summary: 1. Don't worry about IQ - not the best predictor of scores 2. Don't JUST work hard - if your methods aren't efficient, doing more significantly does little for improvement 3. Do loads of exam questions (exams are usually about application/analysis/evaluation, not about regurgitating facts) 4. Plan study timetables, starting by blocking out time that you're NOT going to study (increases meaning and joy - sustainable) Top students are evaluated by their performance on exams, hence practice doing well on exams!
Thank you, I was looking for this
Thank you.. شكرًا لك..
you just saved 14 mins of my life. thank you! :))
Wee Xuan Neo
Wee Xuan Neo thanx man
I had 3.98/4 gpa and rarely did practice tests (we never were provided them). Instead I rewrote my notes but did so as if they were being used to teach someone else the course. I held myself accountable by actually distributing them my "exam" study guide to my peers (for free - I told them I had just summarized my notes from the year and was willing to share). I think it works because in order to explain a concept to someone else you need to understand it... so I spent a long time trying to comprehend content before writing it down in my study guide.
Spiffleh wow. That's a great technique.
AdlanSyahin Lmao
That one A-will haunt me ;P
That's acctually a great technique, I might apply it somehow now, Thanks!
Spiffleh I bet this is true af.Works great but will not,lets accept it,Work unless you are lucky
"It is not what you remember, it is how u use your skills." "Self-discipline is very important."
I'm here after getting a D on my first Physics exam. I thought I had prepared well for this exam but was sadly proved wrong. At first my initial thoughts were that I just wasn't smart enough and wasn't meant to take challenging classes. But then, I realized that I could do it and I would just prepare even more for the next exam by using different techniques. For anyone struggling in your classes, don't quit, you can do it !! We are all struggling together.
What things you changed in a year?
have you learned nothing from the video, he just gave you the secret, past exams.
All the best to you! Don't pay attention to the anxiety if it's there, just do the best you can. I'm sure you are capable of achieving your goals.
fighitng
study hard but smart , thats the secret to it
well what methods are smart?
lucia trever basically the same thing u need to work hard to understand it
+Baron TV understanding is 30% or less of what u should accomplish , next comes exercizing what u have understood , and testing ur self , the mistake many people do is keep repeating the exercises of the same answers therefore they are waisting time thinking they v been studying hard , thats when hard work doesn t pay off , and the smartest technique to remmeber things and for a long period of time is the short and often method , (this is how things work in my country , idk abt the u.s)
lucia trever fuck im currently doing homework and studying. I have written two sentences and already have no motivation left. I think I have depression. Knowing that depression degrades your hippocampus, making it harder to make new memories isnt helping either. My memory is so much worsd than before and I feel dumber.
+Baron TV u same shit here , iv done nothing today despite looking at the walls of my room ,
Everybody in the comment's section is a top student....😅
nidhi nair Lmao
nidhi nair not you
nidhi nair nah I'm not
nidhi nair lol def not me
nidhi nair what with me then?
As a top student graduated recently my advice is: DO NOT FORGET TO HAVE A REST I'd pass my exams way much better if I had given myself time to rest,to refresh my mind. But I was studying too hard...
It should be a mandated subject to learning "how to study" in every school!
Studyology 101
Learn for yourself, not for tests, do it your own way.
Susan Bikram Thapa that is actually the only drive i have
you are not a top student. top students learn for the tests.
wow thanks,, this motivated me lol
Susan Bikram Thapa really
Susan Bikram Thapa why not both?
Out of 4 years of highschool in the 1st i was the best of the best, ass kisser, participating in competitions, doing my homework and all that. By the end of highschool i was in the first half of my class, just above average. I hated all the competition, the stress, and the "glory" that comes with good grades (you're being praised for your ability to remember information you don't care about, like a dog). I did what i had to do to not fail any classes, but nothing more. My teachers and parents were disappointed, and that was really annoying to me. At the final exam, when it mattered, i was top 3 in my school again. In conclusion, i've been on both "sides", you really just have to study no matter how stupid and boring it is. If you're smart you have to put less work into it tho.
Aku Jo >above class average >top student >"both sides"
Marsad Jafar above average is not the top. I got 7 and 8, good-ish grades, but everyone was still disappointed.
7 and 8 are good grades lol, don't know what the education standards are where you live.
NTDang East Europe m8, a good student only gets 10 and occasionally 9... Here you have to memorise everything like a computer (I mean it, in literature class we even memorised opinions, because we're apparently too dumb to have our own... and my country's literature really sucks).
Aku Jo damn that is though, almost no one here (netherlands) gets a 10
"Fun subjects or things first" "Model the top students" "Be around a good students" "Hard work with best technique first" "More practice test"
and must have high IQ.
I am using what I learned from this video by commending here: 1, Don't worry about IQ. 2, Work Hard on right things not just work hard. 3, Model the top student. -- Instead of just memorizing the knowledge, they are trying to understand how to use it. 4, Put the things you like on the Time Table first.
I have no self motivation, and I have no hobbies **EDIT** Wow, this was 3 years ago, people are still commenting on it and I can't even remember writing it lol. Well, it's kinda funny looking back because, now my hobby that is writing is keeping me afloat during the pandemic XD. I still don't have much motivation because I have depression and am also a spoonie so. To everyone who relates to my post- you'll find your thing. Keep trying. But you have to be ready to receive it when it comes. Just because you've tried and tried to no avail, doesn't mean you don't deserve to find something that inspires you. And, the linear school path isn't for everyone. It's ok to take a break from education and come back to it later, when you're more ready. That's what I'm doing. Employers still value life experience and initiative highly.***
Then get urself motivation and start "something", cuz otherwise ull end up on the streets of Detriot.
Kalamiro - TF2 lol no, I don't even live in America XD
Your friendly neighbourhood nobody sleep 1 more hour a day
Ɗa3m0nA®t!st I already sleep 9 hrs at least lol.
Bs your hobby is self-pity and commenting on youtube video
So my notes on this video... Successful students 1. Doesnt worry about iq (its not how smart you are) A. Self motivated B. Cut out distractions C. Self discipline 2. Dont just aim to work hard A. Work hard doing the right thing(right technique) B. Study effectively and don't use what doesn't work for you C. Study what works for you 3. Model the top student(copy what top students do to get good grades) A. Do practice exams a week before the exam B. Make time table of when you will study, do homework and socialize and have fun
thanks
Jace Time 4. Borrow someone else's notes.
Andréa S. No I didnt, I took notes base on his powerpoint and what he emphasis. If you took notes it probably be similar to mines
Jace Time this is pretty old but the commenter was making a joke how people are going to be using your notes above to succeed instead of watching the actual video and using someone else's notes for their success. That's why there's a 4. Next to "borrow someone else's notes" after step 3. A clever joke of you ask me :P In any case, thanks for the info!
one problem. i don't have time to have fun when i'm crammed in my room doing homework.
It's really hard to get started but once you're in the flow, it becomes much easier. One way to boost up productivity is to remove all distractions and things that you love doing while you're working and get your proper sleep as well. I have seen alot of students trying to be "productive" while studying late at nights but the truth is, in the long run, it just decreases your focus and concentration. So don't procrastinate by watching motivational vids on KZhead and instead start working now. Later you'll feel so much relaxed and better! Good luck 🦋!!
He asked who thought IQ would raise their grades while the projector said not to worry about IQ 😂😂
I don't disagree, but in my experience, those people get less help in class. When I was younger I was top of my class for maths because my dad was a tutor and whenever he helped my older sister with her work, he'd teach me as well so I was better than the average student for my age. And when I would finish my work, the teacher would be busy helping others so they couldn't push me further or I would just get told to help anyone who was struggling on my table
they were passive-aggressively being told, "don't you dare put that hand up"
@Jonathan Elliott yes but when you learn you start from the basics, so the school system is still giving eveyroen a chance, even though some people who may have a higher iq from a young age already know it.
Lesson 1: read - think - understand
@Jonathan Elliott Not just the educational system but in life, IQ is the best predictor of success
What he basically said (Which isn't much considering that he talked for >14 minutes straight: - don’t only learn your notes by heart - do not only remember information, but also be able to analyze information - don’t put in your timetable when you’re gonna study, but put in when you’re gonna do your hobbies. Study in the rest of the time.
Dispatern and do practice a lot
It seems almost everyone here is a top student... I feel intimidated.
Evelia Villalobos selection bias. How many failing students spend their free time watching TED talks? You also gotta think of how many schools there are, then the top 10% of each graduating year, then probably at least a 20 year window. There are a lot more "top" students in the world than you may first think.
Not everyone is a top student, but every student has an experience they want to share.
😂😂😂😂 true
Just depends who watches these videos
Pretend as if you're teaching someone else the course and you'll see that you end up being very detailed but you'll also make it easier to remember for yourself because you're finding the easiest way to understand it. My best advice as a 4.00GPA student :)
Yes. I been saying this. People who go and study in the library for hours are sabotaging themselves. Teaching a fake class is the way to go. Also studying in the morning even if you are NOT a morning person. You have 90-70% of your full brain power in the morning. At night it drops to 40%
As someone who got the highest mark in my highschool, here are some things I did: 1) never miss class. When you are writing a test you are more likely to remember an example your teacher gave than the boring textbook 2) go to sleep at 10 latest. You need sleep. Your brain is developing. But you may be a night person and that is okay. Just ensure you get 8-9 hours of sleep 3) find out how you study best. Watching youtube videos on the topic may be more helpful for you if you fall asleep reading the textbook 4) I agree with him on the practice problems. In math I used to do all the questions. When you get something wrong you are more likely to remember it forever. Better to get it wrong in a practice test than the real test 5) when memorizing things try to make it into a story that is funny or something easy to remember. Or try to actually understand the concept so you dont actually have to memorize. Either or depending on the topic 6) ask others for help. Some smart kids love helping. Also try to teach your friend. When you teach others the concept in your own words you are more likely to remember 7) if you get a low mark on an assignment don't be afraid to ask your teacher or prof why you got that mark and if they can explain. You won't believe how many times my mark was raised because of this. Especially in university. Profs make mistakes. This is just what worked for me. Not saying itll definitely work for you. But it's worth giving it a try if you are struggling academically. But remember people learn differently
honestly I wasn't doing those stuff back in high school but I was a top student. But when I got into a top university where everyone else is a top student, it's the only time I'm realizing the value of the stuff he was saying haha. Thanks for this. I hear it a lot of times but I guess not enough to get me moving haha
What you say is sooo relatable! I keep searching for tools and ways to improve my study, yet I end up not following my plans lol
this is exactly what I feel...
its because your asian
for time schedule, always counter in 1-2 days where you do absolutely nothing in regard to your studies. Like Sunday being the lazy day. By the way, I am NOT a top student but i'm passing
😂😂
Top students go to bed on time giving them an advantage over other sleepy students. That's a fact!!!
Bobby Pom i have to disagree, the top 10 people on my class never get enough sleepn including me. I pull 2-3 all nighters in a row doing homework and studying.
Im a strait A top student, its currently 1:39 AM here and my sleep schedule is completely destroyed. I also rarely study, I learn from writing notes and the very process of writing them forces me to memorize them. I dont think i have gone back to my notes even once this year. If i am being perfectly honest the reason I do so well, (And this is true in many of my peers as well) is I fear my parents reaction to me getting a bad grade. They dont abuse me but the very essence of me disappointing them is enough to drive me to see that if i have a 92 (anything below a 92 is a B in my school) to do everything in my power to get that up farther. The letter B practically scares me because if i see a B on my report card I feel like i have failed. I believe that the main reason that kids get high scores is because the childrens parents do not settle for mediocrity.
Im a strait A top student, its currently 1:39 AM here and my sleep schedule is completely destroyed. I also rarely study, I learn from writing notes and the very process of writing them forces me to memorize them. I dont think i have gone back to my notes even once this year. If i am being perfectly honest the reason I do so well, (And this is true in many of my peers as well) is I fear my parents reaction to me getting a bad grade. They dont abuse me but the very essence of me disappointing them is enough to drive me to see that if i have a 92 (anything below a 92 is a B in my school) to do everything in my power to get that up farther. The letter B practically scares me because if i see a B on my report card I feel like i have failed. I believe that the main reason that kids get high scores is because the childrens parents do not settle for mediocrity.
geck0boy40 completely agree. I always get scared to have a B and A- . Everyone wants you to go above and beyond, but it's so much work to do it
geck0boy40 sure STRAIT A top student
1. Practice Exams (to analyse and evaluate) 2. Cut out distractions to build discipline 3. Learn to face failure (resilience) 4. Change your learning methods to Achieve better marks, don't JUST work hard.
POV: you're watching this when you have an essay about ancient china due in 3 hours
POV: You're watching this 12 minutes before a 50 minute marked essay on the Great Gatsby which you barely read
1.) Pay attention in class (grasping concepts) 2.)Go home and begin to study for exam 3.)Get distracted by a Ted Talk about studying 4.)Procrastinate 5.)Run out of time 6.)Cram at the last minute by memorizing the material like how Christians memorize memory verses. 7.)Get at least an 87% on exam
lol
1. Practice exams (apply what you have remembered). 2. Effective time study table. For anyone who doesn't have time to watch this video, this is a good summary of the 2 skills.
Summary: Top students do more practice exams.
My problem is that I do practice exams the night before the exam when it's too late.
@@Neo-Reloaded if u keep doing them until u get 100% (start like a month before) ypu will be set
@@emmaquaghebeur5325 There are questions in some books. Perhaps this will be of help. Alternatively, you can write down questions regarding the topic and answer them, evaluating the content in order to apply it so that you remember it better for the exam.
@@emmaquaghebeur5325 You can use a variety of note-taking strategies for that, such as the Cornell method, or a combination of them. These questions could be written down and reviewed. It's available in a free eBook called College Success, which is maintained and published by Minnesota University. Good luck and success.
Getting top results comes from desire. It’s amazing what adversity can do for ambition.
Don't "sit down" to study... be "on your feet" at all times and inculcate self-discipline. Choose the pain of self-discipline over the pain of regret later on.
I am a top student but school has made me more depressed than anything else. Now, even getting 90% on a test makes me feel like I'm not good enough. they rip you from the only people that you can talk to because they don't like having friends sitting together. They made me feel insignificant. I have had too low self esteem since I was 9. thanks school
Hii guys, I just want to add very important point which this gentleman missed out, being rank 1 in my university and passing out with a gold medal in my graduation I think the dimension of pondering has helped me a lot. In my personal opinion I will give equal weightage to practice exams and pondering. Thinking and pondering, for example why this question is asked ? What answer is expected here ? What are the main points that need to be induced ? What can I do differently from others here ? What if a question on similar lines is asked ? Will the answer structure and data points remain the same ? If not what needs to be changed ? If I was given the task of framing question paper how will I do it ? Hope this will help you
thanks :)
helps a lot
The best thing I learned from this video is that he made me realize that it's all about solving the problems, not about wasting time on re reading the material until you think you got it in
I disagree with some of this, because from my experience its memorization that has gotten me better grades or not. I notice that students with good memorization, don't have to study and can apply their information and take practice tests right away since its already memorized. However, students who don't have a good memory need to focus on memorization first before they can even apply and analyze anything if they have nothing memorized in the first place. i've noticed I have always done better when I had the extra time to memorize AND apply my information through critical thinking and practice tests, or when I easily remembered what was taught and went straight to practice tests and analyzing. I have tried taking practice tests numerous times before without having anything memorized and I never could do good or took hours taking it. So overall, I think the reasons these top students do well is because they already have a good memory that they don't need the time to memorize facts like the rest and can go straight to practicing and applying what they do know, while the rest of us if we had time to memorize and apply our knowledge could do just as well (but we do not all have that much time on our hands).
You are right.
Giselle Barajas Well said. It's as simple as 1. Knowledge 2. Practice 3. Feedback. You can't jump straight to practice exams when you haven't memorised or understood the content which means you don't have the knowledge.
Giselle Barajas not really, if you memorize everything and forget it after the exam... 🙄 that’s not active learning
@@annafang858 then it doesn't matter as they have forgotten everything AFTER and not DURING the exam
You are right i can feel you 😖😖
"Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere."
Its good to love knowledge.
As a top student that just graduated, my advice: Don't learn for anyone else but yourself. Knowledge is power. Even if you think you will never use it again, learn it. Always give different subjects a fair try. You might end up liking a subject you initially thought would be boring. Most importantly, have some self discipline. You don't have to give up all of your free time, but do your homework and study first. School is a job. You must treat it like one and put that at the top of your priorities. Also, don't give up. Just because you think you aren't smart doesn't mean that you cant work through it. I got way more success out of hard work than I ever did by relying solely on intellect. If you can somehow find a way to love working (i know it is hard to love that), that is the best thing. Personally i love working because its a small rush crossing to-dos off my list. In general im not a procrastinator so that makes me want to finish my work first. I encourage you to do the same. Former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink once said "discipline equals freedom". When you can discipline yourself to get work done quickly and efficiently, you will find you have more freedom than by procrastinating. Hope any of this helps. Anyone can do it. Believe in yourself and you're halfway there.
I'm a honors student and I absolutely hate it. My parents expectations for me are out of the roof, you can never do anything fun. Its work all day everyday, while others get to do whatever they want. I also hate that people make fun of me or make smart comments about me because of it. I just wish there wasn't separation between people and their learning skills! The past couple of years I have been depressed which doesn't help me with my grades. What I say is, strive to be YOUR best, but don't strive to be THE best.
I’m 70 years old and love learning. I recently learned European Portuguese and tested out at the B2 level. The Camoes Institute had all the prior years exams on their website. I practiced those tests, worked through any weak areas with my tutor, and was successful on the timed, proctored exams. Great video, I would agree with all of it!
The more 'practice exams' or past exams that students do the more likely that the same or very similar question will come up... which is teaching students how to pass exams rather than learn the concepts in depth. This is often because the lecturers are too lazy to change the exam questions. If their students are successful in exams, lecturers will be seen as successfully teaching the material which may not necessarily be the case but rather successfully teaching their students how to pass the exam.
you are wrong. ppl will read and forget what they read, practice exam or not. whats important is if they could understand the question and why the answer is to that question, they get an clearer insight than when the just read their textbooks or notebooks, and this lasts longer. my study plan is read exam questions just to know what am expecting, read a book, go back to exam questions lil bit prepared, and link the 'why' between the exam & the book, and i will never forget that topic no matter how they change it. i also use all types of books, hardcopies, soft copies, dictionaries, articles, movies, pictures, anything to shed more light on the topic. its more fun that way for me
Samson Exoduz
Mr. Andrews I agree. You are in problems if you do not have friends that borrow you old exams
dunno what *lend
Golden nuggets Summary: -Thousands of practice exams -Write your study timetable around your enjoyable activities -Discipline through it and stick to the timetable
1) Practice tests 2) Self motivation 3) Reslience across the year 4) Don't aim to "just" work hard . Hard work is a necessary and not sufficient factor . 5) Practice exams (again) : Top students realize that . 6) About self discipline : the majority of students plan a timetable and throw it the next day . Don't fall in the trap of overcharge your timetable , plan to do things what you love during your day .
Quickly figure out what the curriculum wants from you and focus on delivering it with most efficient ways possible. In my school days, I chose to finish almost all school work before school was over, instead of having long lunch break. I tried my best to practice exams on a regular basis. Study smart first then study hard. So I got myself to top university and grad with 1st class honor. However, life is not about classroom or exam mastery. It’s useless to score well in class and unable to relate or to actually apply the knowledge to help others in real life. Balance wisely to achieve the best of both worlds.
I used to be a top student, but I took a procrastination to the knee
I just spit out bullshit the entire year just to do great on the exams.
lmao meme lord
same here
I mean I have A’s and procrastinate literally everything probably not a top student but hey you can still be somewhere 🙈
@@yarn0v0 how ? ;~;
Step one: Listen in class Step two: do practice tests Works literally every time
Self discipline How u apply what you learn. Complicated question. Understand question Balance: sport, social, study
The real secret is to become friends with you professor and they grade you easier on things like papers and any other assignments without binary right/wrong answers. Plus, being close with professors puts you at the top of their list of students that they will ask to be their TA or research assistant, which are good things to have on a resume and will balance out any poor grades you might have. AND having professors that you are close to will be good resources for recommendation letters should you need them. College isn't about tests and exams as much as high school was. College is about networking and building relationships that set you up for opportunities later on.
your teacher hates these fives things smart people do differently!
Teachers hate when I succeed.
This is a good lesson... people shouldn't be too quick to judge it and should appreciate the advice, and if you really like it, take that advice!
Notes for myself: Practise Sample Papers Be consistent, self disciplined and Resilient. Work hard doing the right thing. Make an intuitive time table. Do the things that you love too. Being happy and getting good marks is all about balance.
Every body tips are diffrent but i can advice u something: 1-understand more memorise less 2- note the key words, note ur professor explanations of the lessons and focus, discuss ideas with ur professor (fast way to knowldage and u ll revise only smartly ) 3-be confident, never stress ur self for a good grade, accepte ur failure anf learn from it 4-if u want the good grade ( u need to understand ur environment more) , but for a real good grades that will help u be intellectuel( study, make reserches, be independant)
This is interesting, but I don't agree with his explanation of the second trait of top students (filling in other activities into their calendar first). While that certainly may be *correlated* with being a top student, that may not be the *cause* of being a top student. My feeling is that there's actually a third variable to consider: The mindset of the students. I imagine that the top students fill in other activities in their calendar first because they KNOW they are already going to study, and it's just a matter of when. The students who throw out their study calendar likely write down study time in order to remind and motivate themselves to do it. Simply telling students who don't spend as much time studying to prioritize non-study things on their calendar is not going to all of a sudden make them study.
luck
No but it’s impprtant to have off time as long as you’re studying
@@annieevie9607 Agree
I went to college for my bachelors and masters after my military career and the military had taught me discipline, the rest was up to me. Pick a useful major. Treat college like a job that is going to give you the career you want. Study, study groups and pre-test study days with the professors are a key to higher grades. Once you have studied, completed all homework or tested well, reward yourself with something ( a movie, a special desert, a little gaming time...). Lastly go into every class thinking you are going to enjoy the class and enjoy learning the subject.
I was the valedictorian at my school freshman year and honestly it's just dedication. You don't have to be a nerd to get high grades. I never read books and watch a lot of youtube and play games. But I also spend hours perfecting my homework and making sure it is the best it can be. Give your best effort and trust me, you will see your best self
rewriting notes before going through practice tests is honestly the best way to go. After you have rewritten your notes & go through practice tests it broadens your understanding of what you were doting down
practice exams self motived self discipline resilient dont aim to just work hard hard work was a necessary condition but not sufficient. we wanna work thing with right things 2 imp skills practice exams no 1 predictor of how students would do what examiner expects in answer study time table
study time table put thing u love too
simran kaur L
simran kaur is that a summary of his arguments?
Thanks 😂
A practise exam forces you to see what you know and what you don't know. It's the best way to learn the things you don't know yet. I found that writing down questions for myself (which I seriously try to answer) make a significant difference in grade.
Silver blue agreed. if you do hundreds/thousands of different kinds of questions on a subject, youre definitely going to be covering a lot of things you previously didnt know. and by doing a large number or questions, you reduce the chances of meeting a question youve never seen before in an exam
Thank you! I hope everyone watching this is successful with their studies and life.
I've never been the very best at my school, but I was good enough to be called smart. I didn't really study much either. I mostly relied on the memory I retained during lectures. There was this very prestigious high school that some students would kill to get in. So, when middle school was about to end, all the smart kids were studying as hard as they could. Some even studied months in advance. I initially wasn't going to take the entrance exam but I thought why not. I wasn't going to lose anything in the process anyway. So, I tried. I was the only one in my entire grade to get in.
As a top student, I'd like to say that, while some of these things are true, some of us just happen to be good at school stuff. I wake up, go to school, go home, sleep until 6:30-9:00 (depending on how my day was) and do my homework (which tends to be stuff we learned in middle school). The only thing I do differently is I try to connect the work with my life. I am very particular about grammar (most of the time) and I am someone who shares opinions WAY too openly on paper: English and parts of History. I connect equations to real-life situations in maths (even if the variations are a bit obscure). Science is the world around us and even just us as people can be/are science itself. It also seems to help if you have something mentally preventing you from doing something/anything (For Me: Anxiety, Sociopathy, Voices- whatever they might be) *Sorry if you read this far, I just felt the need to get this out for some dumb reason*
This is very true, i went to a grammar school and its supposed to be filled with intelligent people. When it comes to university application only very few kids are applying for the course they want where they want. Those same people had a good social life, played sports and went out. The rest worked hard but end up doing something that wasnt their first choice.
I was a student who had to migrate from Ireland to India and had to directly join into 9th (competitive year) within the country. I struggled but now in university, a few small changes made me the only male to top the class, in my present university. The changes are very simple and here they are: 1. Write live notes during class - don't rely on presentations - higher retention and observation when listening to the class properly. By writing, it also gives you the advantage of knowing what topics have been covered so you don't need to read anything additional out of the syllabus when you go through any additional material. Also, note any and every small point which the teacher articulates. The smallest points makes a massive difference when competing with other toppers, so do whatever it is that separates you from them and develop your unique style that you can follow religiously thereforth. 2. I don't take practice exams because I tend to prepare everything in advance and feel comfortable for any question that comes in the exam but make sure you read your notes before entering the next class. If you write live notes during class, 70% of the learning is already done, just revise before the class and you're sorted when the exams come along. 3. When it comes to the exams, about 2-3 weeks in advances, I create a written timetable and stick it up on my wall so I can constantly remind myself what needs to be done. This time period is solely to cover any additional material which aren't in your live notes so you can cover everything before taking the exam 4. The mood and setting is very important for me. I prefer visiting my local library, panning the sound to 40 while listening to study music on the library computer and dim the brightness so I can immerse myself into my studies. Try this, it improved my studying style compared to studying in my room (I associate my room with rest and fun) or in any other area. 5. Finally, the morning time is the best time to revise, wake up early and just read your notes before you head off to class or to an exam. If your timetable is realistic, you would be prepared with all of your subjects in advance. Make sure your timetable involves written practice, it helps you to retain what you're reading and makes it easier to correlate or think what comes next, during an exam. Give yourself sufficient time. Do let me know if anyone has any questions. All the best!
The second value is so accurate, I personally know so many people that work a few times more just writing or rewriting their notes without actually assimilating the knowledge, getting the same result or even worse as the average. However, I think that how fast we are able to assimilate new knowledge is also a remarkable point
I feel like this guys just teaching me how to be a better student, not a better learner
That's pretty much the point of this TED Talk
Summary 1. Do practice exam - analyse and develop an argument. 2. Consistent study timetable - pencil in your social events and jobs first.
As a student, I simply pay attention in class and give the lesson a look at home before doing homework. As for before the exam I give the curriculum a quick read and do 2 practice exams on each topic 🙃
Honestly I think as a student who’s scores okay in school: Understand the concepts. Make analogies in your head so you can explain it to a 5y/o. Practice exams are good because they combine concepts and expose you to different kind of questions. Understand why you got the qn wrong (this helps sooooo much) write it down somewhere if you’re lazy take a picture and keep it. Find your best learning environment. Chew something if you wish. Don’t expect to score the same for all exams. Sometimes it’s really up to luck and Teachers have different expectations for different exams. Read the answer key if you’re given one. For essay based answers pick out what you don’t see in your answer and try to understand why that sentence(s) makes the difference
Great information, but this talk could be 10 min shorter. So repetitive!
Elina Lublinsky
Yeah, some redundancies here.
I thought so too! I thought this would be interesting to watch since I, myself am a student but then it got so boringly repetitive.
he repeats it to make it get into your head morons!
If you’ve just invested 13 years, and this is all you learned, you would want to pad it out a bit too.
i remember a guy in college was the first person in the classroom never arrived late or was absent...still barely passed. didnt make sense.
Vin Nayar just cause you turn up, doesn't make you a model student. He was simply doing the minimum- he should have done more?
How does attendance correlate with academics? Maybe he wasn’t absorbing any of the content or working had enough
Vin Nayar Maybe it's about improvement and his personal best at the moment. It could have been a difficult subject for him. Just because he barely passed doesnt necesarily mean he did not suceed, it seems he was just trying to put his best foot forward even if he didnt have it all down.
It's not about where you spend the time, it's about how you spend the time. A person who spends time in appropriate ways can develop a deep understanding of a subject in a matter of hours. The problem is most people fail to use time effectively. There's 2 components to it. The first is that even when they're "studying," the amount of time they spend studying during a study period is some small fraction of the total time taken. A normal person will "study" for a 2 hour period, but actually only perform 10 minutes worth of studying tasks during that time. The rest of those 2 hours, they're literally doing nothing, or addressing other things that enter their mind or their environment. The second part of it is that they're performing studying tasks which are very inefficient. The reason the students who do practice exams receive high marks is because that is a much more robust and efficient method for learning and understanding. Some of the most efficient methods involve recursive learning techniques combined with reinforcement. Almost nobody uses them. The people who do use those techniques, and also actively perform time logs and monitor their own activity and behavior, accomplish as much as 10x what their peers do and end up being very satisfied with their lives, and also wildly successful.
bushtetras well said
I think it's important to remember that different methods work for different people...so as long as it works for you just go ahead and do it!
Interesting talk, i am in the TOP 3 of my class and i memorize everything. I think the most important is to learn to learn. Find your way to have good marks and follow it!
0:18 Maybe the giant screen saying 'don't worry about IQ' was somewhat of a hint.
Practice exams are great because it grants you the opportunity to realize a mistake in your understanding before an exam. Also, the bit at the end was fairly valuable. Countless times I have burned out when trying to try harder when I should have been trying smarter.
One of the best TEDx talks I have watched so far! Thank you so much for the amazing speech.May God bless you. :)
Me: wants to study my ADHD: no, you don’t
I just procrastinate. It’s sad because I would feel so much more free from stress if I just DID my work. ~from a fellow army 💜
@@felicity1744 s ame
It’s not that I’m not trying to do my homework, it’s really not that. Just staring at my homework for a few minutes feels like it’s been an hour, I feel tired, exhausted and worried just after a little while. Even if I manage to do my homework, I still get really bad grades...
ADHD is not the inability to concentrate: it is the inability to focus.
@@plerpplerp5599 what's the difference? im asking genuinely
So consistensy is key! Practising exams is the best method to learn before the exam. Plan your non study activities first so you have something fun to do everyday ❤️ Hope it helps
I think the main part of scoring high is loving your subject to death. When you love your subject you're more attentive in class and more enthusiastic when studying (at least, enthusiastic compared to all the other subjects) Also, loving a subject could be linked to how you're wired (to put it plainly) and what your brain prefers to take in and finds easier to take in. Being a top scorer because you love your subject is the purest way of showing your intelligence because you're scoring high not because you're working hard to do so but because you love your subject. I'm not saying, though, that working hard doesn't show determination and intelligence. I'm just saying that loving your subject displays your intelligence bare and with no mask.
Omg!! This was so brilliant! I am beyond thankful for this!! Thank you so so much!! This is beyond helpful! I think I figured out how to manage my time!! Thank you so much. Time management was something challenging for me. I wanted to have a concise schedule which will allow me an ample amount of time to read for anatomy and physiology, maintain a balanced week where I can exercise, read other stuff, and watch my anime/Korean dramas! I didn’t know where to begin! But thanks to this video, I think I know how to balance this with work and attending two institutions now! Thanks so so so much!! 🥰🥰🥰
This one goes out to my engineering students(mainly electrical). You can get into grad school with just a 3.2. Keep your head up!
if you dont have time to watch the video just watch the final 10-20 seconds of the video for the conclusion.. believe me and thank me later
a lot of comments saying "just do it" this is a video for the students that spends long hours everyday and can't understand the subject, not for the lazy ones.
I really needed this! I'm currently trying to study for a very material heavy class & I feel like I basically need to memorize everything when in reality that is such a waste of time. In high school I was never able to get in the habit of studying right nor did I have a good balance with socializing and doing things I love therefore everything just didn't work & I got nothing done. I am really determined to study better and do well overall!
This really helped because my first semester of college I was working SO HARD, library for 6-8hrs a day and nothing else on my schedule and nothing else and got 60%-70% on exams. I was really wondering what I was doing wrong. THIS SAID IT ALL
this is one of the best TED talks I've seen so far
Another point to make is if you have mental health problems or are neurodivergent. Make sure that you are receiving the right support while you are in college. I went through a degree without support for undiagnosed ADHD and it was extremely difficult. I am going back to college to do a master's (with a diagnosis) and all the right supports are now in place. I know that college will be much easier this time around, which will affect my overall grade and quality of life during my time spent in college.
Hi
But the help is not aviliable in each country espeically conservative countries such as Bangladesh.
100% you’re so right! Here in the west we’re often privileged with additional resources, and luckily there is less stigma on this. I am nearly finished my masters, and I noticed that there are still a lot of lecturers not wanting to change to fit a universal design, which is suitable for all people and its how they are supposed to teach here now in Ireland during third level education. However, where I live we are definitely lucky that we have less barriers, and a lot of resources in comparison to other countries. I’m sorry this is your experience, I wish it wasn’t that way 💔 it’s very unfair
For me being incredibly polite and having a good attitude are what get me B's and A's on my report. Having 80%-95% as my average test score is just an accessory. Also! Teachers love it when you show interest in what they're teaching you, especially if you jump ahead of the curriculum it's great for getting on their good side.
As a top student, I'd rate the study skills listed here as average. Practice tests- Maybe in high school and sometimes in college. However, for the majority of college classes you don't get practice exams. Simply put, Most professors won't post them up for you. Timetable- probably the best thing that you can do. I'd say it's more or less essential, otherwise you won't get through all material. Generally, If you want a good grade then do the following: Take the number of days that you can devote to your upcoming exam and divide the class accordingly. 15 lectures w/ 5 days- 3 lectures per day. Most professors will post lectures up on blackboard. Otherwise, do the same for the notes that you took for class. ---Read through the lecture notes ---get a stack of flash cards (they sell stacks w/ a metal ring, kinda like a notebook) ---write down any important concepts in the flash cards and study/memorize (as a general rule it's usually 1 flash card stack per final) ---rinse and repeat for every lecture that is covered within the exam Additional Study Tips: - as a general rule, always go to class. Why? The above study method won't work if your professor doesn't provide lectures---unless you take your own notes. Aside from that, going to class allows you to keep at least some semblance of following the material. This is especially important for the only other time that you would need to know it---assignments. Aside from that, it also makes studying for exams easier. Instead of first seeing a concept it becomes more like "damn, how could I forget..." Lastly, don't be the idiot who complains about bombing a class without actually going to class. In reality, class is one of the few things that your tuition is actually paying for. The other primary aspect is the network associated with your school. If you won't go to class then just buy the books on the syllabus- save yourself around 60k in tuition. -read the assigned reading Everything that I wrote above about class attendance applies here. Additionally, you would be surprised how helpful it is to actually read. Usually, a professor will only be able to cram about 50% of material within the class lectures. The remaining 50% is only found within the book(s)/ readings. If you don't read them then your basically neutering your chances of getting a good grade on your exam. - Attend Office hours/ exam prep Professors will usually have a set time for office hours. If the material is challenge and you don't get it then you owe it to yourself to attend and ask questions. The same applies for exam prep- usually a professor will have one session before the exam. Attend both, and read in between the lines. You'll probably get all the exam I for that you need. You'll also get tipped off as to the covered material -Study Naps Together with the above, my final tip is to take at least 1 study nap every day during exam season. For me, a study nap is 2 hrs. Usually what I do is to break up my day into 2 shifts based upon the study nap. The first shift -let's say 9am to 4pm- consists of me attending class, and taking a couple of hours to do assignments/ study. By 4pm I'm back at my dorm taking my 2hr study nap. By 6pm I'm awake, and I shower/ get myself ready for shift 2- 7pm to 12am. I'll devote the majority of this shift to a mix of studying, completing assignments, and grabbing dinner with friends. That's said, feel free to socialize and have a bit of fun if it fits this schedule. The beauty of organizing your day around study naps is that you're basically able to cram 2 days into one. The video got it right- most people have trouble keeping themselves engaged with studying for more than a couple of hrs. Additionally, many people are most productive within the couple of hours immediately after waking up. Having this study nap system allows you to mimic the start of what's basically a new day. As such, you can be as productive as possible. Do the above tips-- you'll probably get higher grades as a result. If anything I'd honestly be surprised if you didn't. From experience, I know that the above works for bachelors and masters. It's probably overkill for high school, but then again your mileage may vary. Finally, don't forget to fit a bit of fun into your schedule. It's important- having fun is the only thing that will keep you sane, especially if you actually apply the above advice. Best of luck