There are hundreds of videos out there telling you how to study for 5, 10, or even 15 hours a day. But what if I told you that you could get the same results just by studying for an hour? Here’s how to spend an hour of revision by studying a single subject in-depth. If you still want to spend hours studying, you can check out this other post, otherwise, let’s get into it!
10 minutes – revise
Spend the first 10 minutes revising the previous topics you’ve learned to refresh your knowledge. This is really important so that you don’t forget what you learned previously. This concept is called spaced repetition – you can read all about it in this article! The best way to revise previous topics is through flashcards, such as on Anki or Quizlet. Alternatively, you could read your notes, but this is a passive recall method.
15 minutes – learn
Now, you can learn your new topic. It’s okay if you use passive recall for this part since we’ll be incorporating active recall soon. Read your textbook to learn the new topic, or watch a YouTube video to consolidate your knowledge. If you already know the topic, then use this time to make flashcards or make effective notes.
15 minutes – test yourself
Test your knowledge of the new topic. You can do this by answering practice questions or by using blurting. Blurting is when you write (or say) what you just learned, without looking at your notes! Testing yourself is the most important part of studying since it uses active recall. Without testing your knowledge, you won’t remember anything you study!
10 minutes – put it in context
Now, test yourself on your knowledge of the new topic as well as old topics. The best way to do this is by answering past papers, though more generalised practice questions are also a good idea. This is really important since it’ll help you create mental links between topics, making the new information stay in your long-term memory!
10 minutes – review
Finally, review what you just learned. Check your answers to the questions to see what you need to correct, and make sure you understand why you got those questions wrong. This can also help you identify which areas you need to work on most. Next time you study, start by revising those areas!
