Bro, I'm a physics uni student that is terrible at taking exams. You would be shocked how many people struggle with this well into our adult lives. Thank you for this video.
HOW TO STUDY FOR PHYSICS EXAMS (or exams in general) SUMMARY: 1. Determine how many days (or weeks) you have before the exam. Determine the scope of the exam and connect the topics that will be tested to specific chapters in the textbook and or connect these topics to specific sets of lecture notes. 2. Get a sheet of paper (or a notebook, Excel sheet, whatever works for you) and list these topics down. On the right side of each topic, write down the specific pages that correspond to that topic within the textbook. If these topics are covered in lecture notes as well, then get another sheet of paper and replicate the same approach above. 3. Count the total pages that must be studied from both textbook and lecture notes. Determine how many pages you must cover per day, for both, leading up to the day of the exam. - This is just a rough guideline. It is recommended that you look into your textbook and modify your daily page goal if it includes reading milestones that are urgent for you to cover. If you already reached your page goal of the day, but you still feel like you can cover more ground by completing that last important section, then absolutely do that. *** Before starting on anything related to your studying, you need to do an honest assessment on where you're at, how much you need to work on, and how much you can study. Determine how much you need to study first before leaping headfirst into anything. *** 4. As you read through the textbook, be on the lookout for 'hidden" exercises in derivations or concepts that build up to something else. - Physics and mathematics are predominantly concept-based disciplines. If the basic building blocks for knowledge bits are not there, then you won't progress as fast and as effectively as the rest of your peers. If need be, plan around this by allocating more time to reviewing basic knowledge and practicing it until it's second nature. - If need me, skip sections that are chock full of BS. 5. Learn the concepts and thought processes behind derivations BEFORE starting any practice problems. 6. Leave some time in between to allow yourself to form some questions about the material , with the intent to expand your interest and knowledge. 6. Make your learning personal. How can you connect this concept to something that's already familiar to you? Can you make a mental movie about it? Can you find a way to explain it to someone else? Be creative with your learning. 7. Eliminate ALL distractions. Studying is best done alone or with one other person you trust. - Take breaks if you must. Get up, walk around or stretch, grab another cup of coffee, etc. Do whatever to recharge your brain and get it ready for another session of studying. - If you take a walk, this is a good time to mentally go through the stuff you just learned in your head. What did you learn? What did you discover? How can you apply this to other areas? - Be an active learner! 8. AT THE END: Rework past problem set questions (and past exams). Treat these problem sets as if each one is an exam. 9. Make it habit to ask your professor throughout the term leading up to the exam about questions you might have. On a strategic level, you can also use this to subtly determine if there is anything in the upcoming exam that would likely blindside you. 10. Lastly: strategic mindset to studying >> arbitrary number of hours to "study" ------- Please upvote this so that it can be read by those that need it the most!
You just described the way i study math and i also like to go for a walk ,after i finish my study, to think about what i have learnt today and put them in order
Please, no more zooming in and out lol I thought the camera was focus hunting but it was never out of focus. Anywho just my two cents, I'll will watch your videos either way.
Never underestimate how helpful these types of videos are. You give a great perspective on what works for you which we can all apply and try out! :) Thanks!
Saamir Choudhry mastering physics is online physics problem sets. I think Andrew’s point is that it sucks because it isn’t specific to the prof, so it gives no indication of what the exam will be like. Also, since the computer evaluates your solutions, it saves the prof a whole bunch of work, so they’re free to assign hundreds of problems, which for me personally it what makes me mad.
@@hasnakhan2436 Mastering Physics can absolutely be tailored based on what the professor wants to assign you for homework. My professor has told me that the degree of difficulty of the problems available can range from 1-5 (1 being least and 5 being most difficult). I have a fantastic professor who only assigns problems that are directly related to what he expects us to find on exams, and in the 2-3 range, so I can understand how your experience might be different based on your prof, though.
I love physics and I am majoring in it. But when it comes to exms I tend to lose my focus and interest. I like to study physics in my own way and don't like to speed it up just for the sake of exams. But I need to do well in exams. Please help me get rid of this.
You need confidence that the way you desire to study Physics is perfectly viable. I studied Waves and Thermodynamics exclusively from Shankar’s book without even doing any problems. I was able to get a B on those 2 exams. The reason was because I had confidence that I understood the concepts well enough that I would be able to get by, and because of this I didn’t panic when I took the test and was able to maximize my potential. Basically what I’m saying is that you shouldn’t change how you study Physics because of wanting to do well on exams. You should see your exams as an extension of your studying rather then a high stakes trial.
@@jonathanharoun5245 In order to win this world, you need a social high ground which come from having a strong social status and being politically correct and charismatic. In other words, unless your father is the CEO of a big enterprise, you need to do well in academics and get the maximum grades.
@Preston Avery Rogers I do not agree. Knowledge is useless in this world when it doesn't suit the idea of the society. Learning is after all a method of maintaining in control and brainwashing. What is education? Isn't education meant to create a person that conforms to society? What kind of education must be administrated to create a human being that meets the society's demands? Education is an experiment, not a way of knowledge. On those regards, school only makes endoctrined people, taught to suit the needs. Whatever you learn is not something that you can consider as knowledge or useful. Only few. And we eventually forget it the evening afterward.
As someone starting my 3000 level mechanical engineering courses soon, better study habits like these are good to hear about from other people, especially for someone who still has no clue how to study. More opinions always helps with that. Thanks for the video
If it helps one thing I did that helps me with my classes (Cs major) was to devise a POA based on the Syllabus. Basically a plan for attacking notes, quiz, homework, test so it leaves out the uncertainty that perpetuates procrastination and ineffective habits
When I was taking cellular biophysics me and a group all came together to answer hw problems because we all came from different backgrounds i.e. I’m bio, others physics, engineering, and a chemist. We all provided input and even taught each other about the basics in our respective fields just because that education wasn’t there for us. It was the most valuable aspect of that course, being able to know the material enough to work together and teach others is a true mark of mastery in my opinion for any subject.
One thing I'm always annoyed about is when professors assign homework for future chapters the week of an exam. I'm stuck spending hours trying to do the hw while also trying to study for the exam. I'd much rather be practicing problems for the exam than trying to learn a whole new concept. Not to mention all the other hw I have from engineering courses.
Those kind of teachers sound awful. I always think about what students reasonably can do in the time they have before assigning any work. And before exams they should only be preparing for the exam... I just don't understand some professors
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 📚 *Introduction and Audience* - Introduction to the topic of study habits for exams. - Audience focus on high school students transitioning to college and those adapting to different majors. - Acknowledgment that the content may not be relevant for viewers with well-established study habits. 00:42 ⚖️ *Analogy: Work as Gas in a Container* - Explanation of the analogy of work being like gas in a container. - Drawing parallels between the distribution of gas and efficient study habits. - Caution against cramming and the importance of being resourceful with study time. 01:52 📖 *Example: Quantum 2 Midterm Study Plan* - Detailed example of preparing for a quantum mechanics midterm. - Use of a notebook to track relevant pages in the textbook and lecture notes. - Emphasis on minimizing daily study load while covering examinable material. 03:42 📝 *Note-Taking and Hidden Exercises* - Discussion on note-taking techniques, keeping handwriting neat, and leaving white space. - Emphasis on engaging in "hidden exercises" to actively understand derivations. - Importance of not solving problems until understanding derivations thoroughly. 05:17 📚 *Assessing Total Study Load* - Initial assessment of the total study load required for the exam. - Calculation of the number of pages to study per day to cover all material. - Flexibility in adjusting the study plan based on underestimated or overestimated workload. 06:13 📚 *Reading and Milestone-Based Study Approach* - Strategy of reading Griffiths first for conceptual understanding. - Milestone-based study approach for finishing sections within a day. - Adaptive study plan rather than fixed hours of daily study. 07:36 🚫 *Distractions and Explaining Concepts* - Elimination of distractions during study sessions. - Personal preference against group studying. - Importance of explaining learned concepts to ensure understanding. 09:27 📚 *Reworking Homework as Exam Preparation* - Treating homework as practice exams. - Importance of reworking homework after completing readings and exercises. - Tailoring preparation to align with the professor's preferred wording and focus. 10:52 🔄 *Tips Summary and Audience Interaction* - Recap of key study tips, including finding average study time, filtering relevant content, and self-explanation. - Acknowledgment of diverse study methods and encouragement for viewers to share their approaches in the comments. - Mention of the effectiveness of the presented study method in achieving high grades in physics classes. Made with HARPA AI
I’m also a physics student suffering every single time I have to take an exam, yet I still survive quite beautifully. I think the key is to keep in mind that you can’t just study it by reading tons of books and dream of how astonishing it is. You have to check along the way that you really understand it’ and that comes the part of the exams. Thinking positively, they make you stronger.
This is far smarter than the way I went through the final in my last science class. I was approaching my final (about a month before) with a 30% average (horrible teacher, at least a year behind (I had changed provinces between years which set me ridiculously far behind academically) and no real motivation). I went through the entire textbook writing out key points (about 30+ pages of notes originally) then reviewed those notes paring it down again and again until my entire textbook was contained on one page of bullet points. Then I just reviewed that page of notes repeatedly until I could essentially recite the entire textbook from memory. Upside to this approach is: 1. How bad my teacher was had no effect on how well I understood the source material 2. Now (almost 18 years later) I still remember everything that was contained in that course as if I had taken it yesterday. (And for those of you wondering I ended up getting 100% on the final and passing the course). This is obscenely intensive and eventually led to the method I use to teach myself essentially any topic rather quickly and retain it for long periods of time, but it's obviously not for everyone.
@@zack2804but it works very WELL with math based IDEAS. You won't remember specific numerical results that way, but you'll definitely be able to remember generalized things
4:01 Those hidden questions are so important. Not only are they easy (because they are surrounded by already partially worked out problems) but they give you confidence - a key ingredient to performing well in exams.
New bio-chem student here and dead serious, your way of thinking about studying is still super applicable to the way I feel I should be thinking about the equations I'm going over, and I'm so thankful I found your channel lol, you're a 10/10
Ask questions you guys. Ask them every chance you get. The more info you gather, the more comfortable you'll be. Take your ideas and entertain different perspectives on any problem. Play with it. Write out stuff, and leave space, come back to it write notes to yourself in the margins. For me, memorization sucks. If your not stuffing your head 12 hours before an exam, don't press memorization shit. Understanding the concepts is a hell of a lot more fun. Give yourself time. Nothing's more sure. Habits with study will take you a long-ass way. For me, doing this makes school much easier. Stuffing shit in your head is just to stressful for me if I don't need to.
A year late, but i really like the dividing up the homework by pages instead of time. Thats a really great idea, and i like how it ties studying into to an actual number. I've been told so many times to budget my study time wisely, but never to budget my actual workload and forget about time. As a perpetual procrastinator, my mind is deadline based anyway and having a hard number of what to do each day is groundbreaking. Many thanks sir!
I have so much trouble with studying physics. Not only physics but all the subjects similar to it, in other words, it may seem stupid, but I don't know how to study. I was quite worried about what I am doing wring, but thanks to you, I have a guide and I will try all the things ypu said :-) thank you
The way you started the video I thought it was gonna be like drink water, don't procrastinate kind of videos but this was actually tremendously useful. How can you say that everyone knows that already in the into? At least for me I have a terrible sense of timing. Most of the time I can't judge how many days I should study and by what quantity. I always forget to write down things and do the simple math just like you did which would apparently save me a lot down the road.
Hi Andrew! Thank you so much! Much needed, rewatching this now since my freshman year has started(finally, but in in covid19 ;( ), i must say this means a lot to me now than it was when i watched it in my 10th grade.
I’m now applying to university to study physics and I’m sO terrified of not being ‘smart enough’ to get in. I’m trying to structure my preparation work better so I can give my best on the exam. This video was so helpful! Thank you💕
i agree!! i dont like to take breaks when studying or trying to finish a lot of work, my mom always tells me its more healthy or whatever but it makes me feel better just to be done with it.
This is exactly the way I studied for Calculus 2! Particularly with the homework and treating it like an exam. I’d always go over lecture notes first, annotate the crap out of them, explaining the material to myself in a simplified version of it, then start the homework. I would be all day at school doing this process but I passed Calc 2 with an A!
I study very well under pressure and it forces me to focus and helps me retain knowledge. I was a computer science major so of course I'm adjusting slowly but am prepared to try and dissipate that pressure but I need just enough to force me to work hard. Thank you!
Aaaah I remember my first semester when I was cramming all of the weeks work into one day. Horribe, horrible times. There were times when I didn't sleep for 70 hours
I’m taking civil engineering right now but would love to pursue a ba in physics later in my career. I took it once in high school and I’ve been hooked ever since. Great channel mate
College does not cater to "slow learners". Time pressure really interferes with my ability to understand and retain course material. I cut back on my hours as a Junior and Senior (electrical engineering) so I could devote more time to projects and actually learning the material. Juniors and Seniors took the same elective classes as Grad Students at K-State. It took me 6 years to graduate, but I felt vindicated when I received the high score on the fundamentals of engineering exam, and didn't work a single practice problem.
The most important thing in every exam is to simulate the exam as much as possible. This is the key to accessing your own capability and refocusing on weak points, mental and intellectual.
I most definitely agree on the value for time. Most often that not we meet unexpected bumps and situations that can affect what we are doing, so it can be quite helpful that we have that extra time to maximize our best and minimize mistakes >:)
As a senior in undergrad I've always been the type of student that studies very hard but not smart. Part of that is because I procrastinate but in bigger part I think it is because I lack organization and planning skills. Whenever I sit down to try and plan out my week or month I get stressed out with all the stuff I have to do and figuring out how I should schedule everything. So my default, that I'm trying to break now, is simply working on whatever I feel needs to be worked on the most each day without any real direction. Sadly I think the majority of college students are like that and never really learn how to study. I was successful for my first few semesters under that strategy, so it took me a long time to internalize that just wouldn't cut it anymore. I still am a successful student for the most part but there are some classes I wouldn't get through without curves which sucks and I have slowly gone from the student that gets mostly A's and some B's to a B student that gets the some A's and the occasional C. It's pretty frustrating because I only have 3.38 gpa now which I don't really see as completive and might just barely be high enough to get accepted into some graduate school programs. I still can bring it up but I don't know if it matters at this point and I don't really know how much I can bring it up, if at all considering how I'm doing this semester. My one saving grace is I have a lot of good research experience.
I find my biggest issue w/ physics 101 was a horrible free online txt book my professor used, he gave us nothing to practice on, the HW was okay but his lectures, nor “txt book” taught us correctly. So you had to literally google every problem and none of it reflected what he taught in class and it taught one way of using an equation. Didn’t bother to know if we comprehended the equations and used them flexibly for different situations and when we all did horrible, he’d tell us to figure it out of why we did horrible 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️ We learned nothing. I know you’re supposed to be able to deduce, but we were definitely missing something in the teaching. Uhg, sorry for the rant but it’s nice to know some of what I was doing right studying wise, and some of which I can adapt! Thanks :)
Jatt Prime Feynman technique is when you use the knowledge of a subject you have and try to explain it to someone else, this way it’s ingrained better into your brain. Named after the famous physicist Richard Feynman
I think that studying is going to be the hardest part for me when I go to university. I'm currently getting my Abitur (equivalent to a good high school degree). My Leistungskurse ("performance couses" - courses that cover more themes more indepth) are Physics and Maths. So far I could easily read the pages without solving any problems in the lecture and getting 13-14 out of 15 points. I may need to work on my studying.
I like to make chapter outlines as I go along with the class. When the Final exam comes around I can look at those outlines instead of reading the book all over again. But, I still study the problems given in the book.
Me: Taking a 5 week summer physics course with 2 quizes a week. Thanks :') I'll split my time evenly every 3 days lol. I'll make sure to try this method when going back to normal classes in the Fall!
I'm here one week befor emy advanced mechanics final and 2 weeks before my quantum mech 1 final. I'm terrified for QM because my prof is know for massacring. Other than the hidden examples part (because regardless of being a physicist i suck at math) I'm taking this to heart and hopefully we'll get through this!!!!!
Im usually a good “study-er”, but its finding time to do it all. Im always trying to do homwork and readings for other classes or even the class I have the exam on while balancing work. Trying to keep up with that usually only leaves me with a day to study...at most two. 😫😫 i hate life so much
Yeah. I don't get how! I literally get a 9.3 out of 10. For like ONE mistake in the significance. And ONE time measuring a length that fits perfectly. But was too small. The chapter that this happened to was optics. My previous physics test.
I need advice. I love physics, it is easily my favourite subject, I get top on every test. Since I was about 8 I knew I wanted to be an Astro-Phycisist but now, in high school I get low grades in math. I just don't get it! They teach us methods that seem like random steps and don't explain things very well, just tell us "do this for the right answer". I find English and History easy and my Dad thinks I should be a lawyer, what should I pursue?
Sci Squared to be honest you need to think about what you like. Physics is all applied math. If you can learn math through physics, that is great. However, understanding complex, non-visual math ideas is something you need to do. Do you REALLY like physics? Let me rephrase, do you REALLY like connecting complex ideas with math? Not trying to be mean, just realistic. You can always switch majors. And don't blame the teacher. In college, you should be able to teach yourself, sadly. Find the main idea your teacher is thinking and Kahn academy it.
Maths is much easier than physics no application all you need to do is loads of repeated questions I was once really bad at math but I kept watching videos to understand concepts and then did loads of questions on that topic and trust me it works
Go for whatever you truly want to do, and if it is what you truly want to do, you'll find ways to learn the material. Dot rely on just your teacher/professor, having a topic explained in a different way can often help people understand something much better. That's what I do I I don't get something, I'll watch RUclips videos, consult my textbooks, practice, ask around, look at websites, consult other textbooks or study guides because the wording may be different, there are a wealth of resources out there especially in the age of information. Just keep practicing.
I'm turning 24 this year and applying to finally start uni (in Sept) and hopefully get accepted as a physics major. How often do you see people my age starting their degree? I have so many friends who have finished their degree and almost feel like it's 'too late' in a sense, which really messes up my motivation.
There's a lot even in my club that are older! We have grad students in their forties. That kind of thing just means absolutely nothing to any of us. We just like seeing people go for it, regardless of their age.
frondew It is later than usual, but Einstein couldn't read or write until he was 6. Go for it! I'm just a high schooler so I can't talk about college but don't give up!
I started taking physics at that age and this is my second year on college. Go for it, you'll be around people younger than you but that's ok because you would be able to see things from different perspectives! It is very interesting (I think that Marie Curie started college at this age and she won 2 Nobel prizes :D )
I am 30 and I am a sophomore. As long as you keep your chops in math during the time off, you're good. Physics is a difficult course, and facing it with some maturity can help you stand out.
Might sound strange but what I do is on the nights I don’t have hw I usually stay up about 30 mins later than usual and revise/study and on the days you do have hw/exams you go to bed as usual but for exams I would go to bed earlier tbh cuz then you can wake up early and just go over anything while your laying down or whatever you do when you wake up cuz when you do it as soon as you get up you will retain the info much easier cuz that’s your first memory of the day. Also having a good night sleep boosts moral and self confidence and confidence is key in exams.
here's a secret for studying, taking the ideal gas analogy, the temperature stands for your standards, therefore when you lower the temperature, you don't get so pressured and worry about it so much (just kidding
I am a material engineer. These videos sounds good in theory and really helpful but i have 14 other lectures and exams that i bave to take simultaneously soo i only have a few days for each even if i try to learn from day 1 and also my shedule is garbage we have one lecture from each topic in one week and i am usually in classes for around 7-8 pm... My country's education system is grabage it is not about learning at all it is abiut memorizing and regurgitating thins that you have no use or no idea of. I am talking about Hungary i wanted to let you know people that country is a shithole.
"Treat homework like its an exam." This might just about be able to save my life.
You needed a video to figure this out?
@@THEGAMINGHELP101 You needed a well meant comment to be a condescending bitch?
Wrecked
Will Eggleton it’s 2019 get your old ass out of here
@@deedit4666 it's alright, the guy saying that hasnt even passed college algebra
Him: "let's give ourselves a week's time to study"
Me: *watches this video two days before the Physic Exam*
Mission Failed, We'll Get 'Em Next Time
Darkrai234 live I’m in the same situation 😂
This is too real. I have mine tomorrow
@@blaisebibolet4286 good luck man 👊
Darkrai234 live mine is even more worst , exam is today at 5 pm .. And just look at me ?!!!
@@sastibauri1081 That's a FeelsBadMan RIP
Bro, I'm a physics uni student that is terrible at taking exams. You would be shocked how many people struggle with this well into our adult lives. Thank you for this video.
HOW TO STUDY FOR PHYSICS EXAMS (or exams in general)
SUMMARY:
1. Determine how many days (or weeks) you have before the exam. Determine the scope of the exam and connect the topics that will be tested to specific chapters in the textbook and or connect these topics to specific sets of lecture notes.
2. Get a sheet of paper (or a notebook, Excel sheet, whatever works for you) and list these topics down. On the right side of each topic, write down the specific pages that correspond to that topic within the textbook. If these topics are covered in lecture notes as well, then get another sheet of paper and replicate the same approach above.
3. Count the total pages that must be studied from both textbook and lecture notes. Determine how many pages you must cover per day, for both, leading up to the day of the exam.
- This is just a rough guideline. It is recommended that you look into your textbook and modify your daily page goal if it includes reading milestones that are urgent for you to cover. If you already reached your page goal of the day, but you still feel like you can cover more ground by completing that last important section, then absolutely do that.
*** Before starting on anything related to your studying, you need to do an honest assessment on where you're at, how much you need to work on, and how much you can study. Determine how much you need to study first before leaping headfirst into anything. ***
4. As you read through the textbook, be on the lookout for 'hidden" exercises in derivations or concepts that build up to something else.
- Physics and mathematics are predominantly concept-based disciplines. If the basic building blocks for knowledge bits are not there, then you won't progress as fast and as effectively as the rest of your peers. If need be, plan around this by allocating more time to reviewing basic knowledge and practicing it until it's second nature.
- If need me, skip sections that are chock full of BS.
5. Learn the concepts and thought processes behind derivations BEFORE starting any practice problems.
6. Leave some time in between to allow yourself to form some questions about the material , with the intent to expand your interest and knowledge.
6. Make your learning personal. How can you connect this concept to something that's already familiar to you? Can you make a mental movie about it? Can you find a way to explain it to someone else? Be creative with your learning.
7. Eliminate ALL distractions. Studying is best done alone or with one other person you trust.
- Take breaks if you must. Get up, walk around or stretch, grab another cup of coffee, etc. Do whatever to recharge your brain and get it ready for another session of studying.
- If you take a walk, this is a good time to mentally go through the stuff you just learned in your head. What did you learn? What did you discover? How can you apply this to other areas?
- Be an active learner!
8. AT THE END: Rework past problem set questions (and past exams). Treat these problem sets as if each one is an exam.
9. Make it habit to ask your professor throughout the term leading up to the exam about questions you might have. On a strategic level, you can also use this to subtly determine if there is anything in the upcoming exam that would likely blindside you.
10. Lastly: strategic mindset to studying >> arbitrary number of hours to "study"
-------
Please upvote this so that it can be read by those that need it the most!
Resha Mau god level
@@zahidibr No worries. I'm glad it helped.
thanks baby
how do i copy and paste this
@@bookhoarder2202 try copying this using browser ( desktop type )
You just described the way i study math and i also like to go for a walk ,after i finish my study, to think about what i have learnt today and put them in order
hey where do you study??
Ah yes, a fellow Dirac, I see!
@@diamartin6865 I was studying mathematics at Boğaziçi University but I will continue my studies at Sorbonne Université starting from september
Do you guys find the zooming in and out stuff distracting/annoying? Asking for a friend...
Thanks for the video!
I personally prefer still frame
Please, no more zooming in and out lol I thought the camera was focus hunting but it was never out of focus. Anywho just my two cents, I'll will watch your videos either way.
It's quite humorous and endearing but at times it can catch you off guard
I don’t prefer it. But it’s not that serious. The information is the important part.
I actally liked that, quite funny
Never underestimate how helpful these types of videos are. You give a great perspective on what works for you which we can all apply and try out! :) Thanks!
Thanks a lot!
Means a lot! Thank you!
Mastering physics. He says it like it’s a swear word 😫
Hasna Khan what is wrong with Mastering Physics?
Saamir Choudhry mastering physics is online physics problem sets. I think Andrew’s point is that it sucks because it isn’t specific to the prof, so it gives no indication of what the exam will be like. Also, since the computer evaluates your solutions, it saves the prof a whole bunch of work, so they’re free to assign hundreds of problems, which for me personally it what makes me mad.
It’s so bad, I can sit down and enjoy a hand-written problem set for 3 hours, but I get bored and annoyed after 30mins of MP
@@hasnakhan2436 Mastering Physics can absolutely be tailored based on what the professor wants to assign you for homework. My professor has told me that the degree of difficulty of the problems available can range from 1-5 (1 being least and 5 being most difficult). I have a fantastic professor who only assigns problems that are directly related to what he expects us to find on exams, and in the 2-3 range, so I can understand how your experience might be different based on your prof, though.
@Preston Avery Rogers just use 8 and call it a day
Treat your homework like an exam was probably the most helpful for me. Thanks for the insight!
You’re a high quality human being.
I love physics and I am majoring in it. But when it comes to exms I tend to lose my focus and interest. I like to study physics in my own way and don't like to speed it up just for the sake of exams. But I need to do well in exams. Please help me get rid of this.
Please do this I have this problem with both math and physics
You need confidence that the way you desire to study Physics is perfectly viable. I studied Waves and Thermodynamics exclusively from Shankar’s book without even doing any problems. I was able to get a B on those 2 exams. The reason was because I had confidence that I understood the concepts well enough that I would be able to get by, and because of this I didn’t panic when I took the test and was able to maximize my potential.
Basically what I’m saying is that you shouldn’t change how you study Physics because of wanting to do well on exams. You should see your exams as an extension of your studying rather then a high stakes trial.
Me tooo.....
@@jonathanharoun5245 In order to win this world, you need a social high ground which come from having a strong social status and being politically correct and charismatic.
In other words, unless your father is the CEO of a big enterprise, you need to do well in academics and get the maximum grades.
@Preston Avery Rogers I do not agree. Knowledge is useless in this world when it doesn't suit the idea of the society. Learning is after all a method of maintaining in control and brainwashing. What is education? Isn't education meant to create a person that conforms to society? What kind of education must be administrated to create a human being that meets the society's demands? Education is an experiment, not a way of knowledge.
On those regards, school only makes endoctrined people, taught to suit the needs. Whatever you learn is not something that you can consider as knowledge or useful. Only few. And we eventually forget it the evening afterward.
As someone starting my 3000 level mechanical engineering courses soon, better study habits like these are good to hear about from other people, especially for someone who still has no clue how to study. More opinions always helps with that. Thanks for the video
If it helps one thing I did that helps me with my classes (Cs major) was to devise a POA based on the Syllabus. Basically a plan for attacking notes, quiz, homework, test so it leaves out the uncertainty that perpetuates procrastination and ineffective habits
For the whole time
I was watching the pendulum clock
What did he just said
I didnt hear............
He's hypnotizing us
When I was taking cellular biophysics me and a group all came together to answer hw problems because we all came from different backgrounds i.e. I’m bio, others physics, engineering, and a chemist. We all provided input and even taught each other about the basics in our respective fields just because that education wasn’t there for us. It was the most valuable aspect of that course, being able to know the material enough to work together and teach others is a true mark of mastery in my opinion for any subject.
One thing I'm always annoyed about is when professors assign homework for future chapters the week of an exam. I'm stuck spending hours trying to do the hw while also trying to study for the exam. I'd much rather be practicing problems for the exam than trying to learn a whole new concept. Not to mention all the other hw I have from engineering courses.
Those kind of teachers sound awful. I always think about what students reasonably can do in the time they have before assigning any work. And before exams they should only be preparing for the exam... I just don't understand some professors
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:
00:00 📚 *Introduction and Audience*
- Introduction to the topic of study habits for exams.
- Audience focus on high school students transitioning to college and those adapting to different majors.
- Acknowledgment that the content may not be relevant for viewers with well-established study habits.
00:42 ⚖️ *Analogy: Work as Gas in a Container*
- Explanation of the analogy of work being like gas in a container.
- Drawing parallels between the distribution of gas and efficient study habits.
- Caution against cramming and the importance of being resourceful with study time.
01:52 📖 *Example: Quantum 2 Midterm Study Plan*
- Detailed example of preparing for a quantum mechanics midterm.
- Use of a notebook to track relevant pages in the textbook and lecture notes.
- Emphasis on minimizing daily study load while covering examinable material.
03:42 📝 *Note-Taking and Hidden Exercises*
- Discussion on note-taking techniques, keeping handwriting neat, and leaving white space.
- Emphasis on engaging in "hidden exercises" to actively understand derivations.
- Importance of not solving problems until understanding derivations thoroughly.
05:17 📚 *Assessing Total Study Load*
- Initial assessment of the total study load required for the exam.
- Calculation of the number of pages to study per day to cover all material.
- Flexibility in adjusting the study plan based on underestimated or overestimated workload.
06:13 📚 *Reading and Milestone-Based Study Approach*
- Strategy of reading Griffiths first for conceptual understanding.
- Milestone-based study approach for finishing sections within a day.
- Adaptive study plan rather than fixed hours of daily study.
07:36 🚫 *Distractions and Explaining Concepts*
- Elimination of distractions during study sessions.
- Personal preference against group studying.
- Importance of explaining learned concepts to ensure understanding.
09:27 📚 *Reworking Homework as Exam Preparation*
- Treating homework as practice exams.
- Importance of reworking homework after completing readings and exercises.
- Tailoring preparation to align with the professor's preferred wording and focus.
10:52 🔄 *Tips Summary and Audience Interaction*
- Recap of key study tips, including finding average study time, filtering relevant content, and self-explanation.
- Acknowledgment of diverse study methods and encouragement for viewers to share their approaches in the comments.
- Mention of the effectiveness of the presented study method in achieving high grades in physics classes.
Made with HARPA AI
I’m also a physics student suffering every single time I have to take an exam, yet I still survive quite beautifully. I think the key is to keep in mind that you can’t just study it by reading tons of books and dream of how astonishing it is. You have to check along the way that you really understand it’ and that comes the part of the exams. Thinking positively, they make you stronger.
This is far smarter than the way I went through the final in my last science class. I was approaching my final (about a month before) with a 30% average (horrible teacher, at least a year behind (I had changed provinces between years which set me ridiculously far behind academically) and no real motivation).
I went through the entire textbook writing out key points (about 30+ pages of notes originally) then reviewed those notes paring it down again and again until my entire textbook was contained on one page of bullet points.
Then I just reviewed that page of notes repeatedly until I could essentially recite the entire textbook from memory.
Upside to this approach is:
1. How bad my teacher was had no effect on how well I understood the source material
2. Now (almost 18 years later) I still remember everything that was contained in that course as if I had taken it yesterday.
(And for those of you wondering I ended up getting 100% on the final and passing the course).
This is obscenely intensive and eventually led to the method I use to teach myself essentially any topic rather quickly and retain it for long periods of time, but it's obviously not for everyone.
That’s called cramming, and it works very poorly with math based questions. You need to practice, not memorize.
@@zack2804but it works very WELL with math based IDEAS. You won't remember specific numerical results that way, but you'll definitely be able to remember generalized things
You can't learn math nor physics by heart. This method is useless for math, physics or programming.
4:01 Those hidden questions are so important. Not only are they easy (because they are surrounded by already partially worked out problems) but they give you confidence - a key ingredient to performing well in exams.
New bio-chem student here and dead serious, your way of thinking about studying is still super applicable to the way I feel I should be thinking about the equations I'm going over, and I'm so thankful I found your channel lol, you're a 10/10
5:29...So he started studying 87/14.5 = 6 days before the exam. Ah I see my first mistake.
Recording lectures on your phone and playing it back when studying helps a lot too.
I'm not a physics major, but I feel that this information is still helpful for exam preparation in general. Good video.
Screw Mastering Physics, I really made the mistake of thinking because I could do the homework without any help I'd be fine on the exam.
Ask questions you guys. Ask them every chance you get. The more info you gather, the more comfortable you'll be.
Take your ideas and entertain different perspectives on any problem.
Play with it. Write out stuff, and leave space, come back to it write notes to yourself in the margins.
For me, memorization sucks.
If your not stuffing your head 12 hours before an exam, don't press memorization shit.
Understanding the concepts is a hell of a lot more fun.
Give yourself time. Nothing's more sure. Habits with study will take you a long-ass way.
For me, doing this makes school much easier. Stuffing shit in your head is just to stressful for me if I don't need to.
I was actually studying for physics exam when his video popped on
This is really good advice for pretty much any class!
A year late, but i really like the dividing up the homework by pages instead of time. Thats a really great idea, and i like how it ties studying into to an actual number. I've been told so many times to budget my study time wisely, but never to budget my actual workload and forget about time. As a perpetual procrastinator, my mind is deadline based anyway and having a hard number of what to do each day is groundbreaking. Many thanks sir!
Me waiting for the funny part: "Oh he's serious"
I have so much trouble with studying physics. Not only physics but all the subjects similar to it, in other words, it may seem stupid, but I don't know how to study. I was quite worried about what I am doing wring, but thanks to you, I have a guide and I will try all the things ypu said :-) thank you
9:47 I need to remember this
You're right that nothing that you said is groundbreaking but it was very well organized and structured, so helpful. Thank you!
Thanks for the tips. I'm just about to have my midterm on thermodynamics but after watching this video I'm ready to kick ass!
2:42 "This is like the Lagrange multiplier of studying" lmao
😂😂u won't believe i was studying about this for 2 days before for my exam so i was like hey i know what u mean
The way you started the video I thought it was gonna be like drink water, don't procrastinate kind of videos but this was actually tremendously useful. How can you say that everyone knows that already in the into? At least for me I have a terrible sense of timing. Most of the time I can't judge how many days I should study and by what quantity. I always forget to write down things and do the simple math just like you did which would apparently save me a lot down the road.
Hi Andrew! Thank you so much! Much needed, rewatching this now since my freshman year has started(finally, but in in covid19 ;( ), i must say this means a lot to me now than it was when i watched it in my 10th grade.
I really like your channel. I’m about to go into college, focusing on a major in physics, and your channel has been such a big help! 👍👍👍
I’m now applying to university to study physics and I’m sO terrified of not being ‘smart enough’ to get in. I’m trying to structure my preparation work better so I can give my best on the exam. This video was so helpful! Thank you💕
Eszter Juharos saame :( I have too many smart schoolmates and I'm terrified and not sure whether to take phys or not :/
Having this kind of directions is surprisingly motivating
3:04 seeing Schrödinger there reminded me of what I should be doing instead lol
LITERALLY ME RIGHT NOW
Never clicked so fast!
Wow. Your penmanship is phenomenal for a dude. 🌟
this channel is a gift that keeps giving.
Thank you for the video!!!
i agree!! i dont like to take breaks when studying or trying to finish a lot of work, my mom always tells me its more healthy or whatever but it makes me feel better just to be done with it.
Really helpful video!!!
This is exactly the way I studied for Calculus 2! Particularly with the homework and treating it like an exam. I’d always go over lecture notes first, annotate the crap out of them, explaining the material to myself in a simplified version of it, then start the homework. I would be all day at school doing this process but I passed Calc 2 with an A!
I study very well under pressure and it forces me to focus and helps me retain knowledge. I was a computer science major so of course I'm adjusting slowly but am prepared to try and dissipate that pressure but I need just enough to force me to work hard. Thank you!
Aaaah I remember my first semester when I was cramming all of the weeks work into one day. Horribe, horrible times. There were times when I didn't sleep for 70 hours
My Physics teacher always handed out old exams for us to use for studying, which I am thankfull for.
I’m taking civil engineering right now but would love to pursue a ba in physics later in my career. I took it once in high school and I’ve been hooked ever since. Great channel mate
Thank you for the video! I really appreciate it!
I failed my physics test 2.5/10 last week, wish this vid appeared a month ago at my homepage :(
That was very helpful. I have a physics II final exam in a few weeks. Thanks.
this video is left as an exercise for the student.
with it's step so obvious, they won't even be explained, just study that out for yourself
College does not cater to "slow learners". Time pressure really interferes with my ability to understand and retain course material. I cut back on my hours as a Junior and Senior (electrical engineering) so I could devote more time to projects and actually learning the material. Juniors and Seniors took the same elective classes as Grad Students at K-State. It took me 6 years to graduate, but I felt vindicated when I received the high score on the fundamentals of engineering exam, and didn't work a single practice problem.
Thanks man this has helped me A LOT
The most important thing in every exam is to simulate the exam as much as possible. This is the key to accessing your own capability and refocusing on weak points, mental and intellectual.
Good idea, not studying in groups is. It mostly leads to frustration and eventually an orgy.
This is great and I wish I saw it sooner. Sophmore year taking Analytical Mech and whatnot so hope this will help! Thanks!
I most definitely agree on the value for time. Most often that not we meet unexpected bumps and situations that can affect what we are doing, so it can be quite helpful that we have that extra time to maximize our best and minimize mistakes >:)
Me: watching this instead of studying for exam... RIP lol
me rn lol
Thanks for giving the tips!!
Can you do a video of the thought process that goes into deriving an equation or a relation?This is one of the most important skills imo.
As a senior in undergrad I've always been the type of student that studies very hard but not smart. Part of that is because I procrastinate but in bigger part I think it is because I lack organization and planning skills. Whenever I sit down to try and plan out my week or month I get stressed out with all the stuff I have to do and figuring out how I should schedule everything. So my default, that I'm trying to break now, is simply working on whatever I feel needs to be worked on the most each day without any real direction.
Sadly I think the majority of college students are like that and never really learn how to study. I was successful for my first few semesters under that strategy, so it took me a long time to internalize that just wouldn't cut it anymore. I still am a successful student for the most part but there are some classes I wouldn't get through without curves which sucks and I have slowly gone from the student that gets mostly A's and some B's to a B student that gets the some A's and the occasional C. It's pretty frustrating because I only have 3.38 gpa now which I don't really see as completive and might just barely be high enough to get accepted into some graduate school programs. I still can bring it up but I don't know if it matters at this point and I don't really know how much I can bring it up, if at all considering how I'm doing this semester.
My one saving grace is I have a lot of good research experience.
I'm watching this the night before the AP Physics test, instead of studying, because I haven't really yet
How I study for my exams:
1. I don't, lol
Omg.... I love your video...
Very helpful... Thanks 😍
For some or even most viewers, those things were ground-breaking xD
I'm currently fighting with Griffiths electrodynamic.... 😁🙏🤯
I'm planning on studying physics maybe next year or the year after that. This is very valuable to me.
That handwriting is beautiful.
This was really helpful.
I started watching u when I was in class 11
Loved this video. :)
40 seconds in:
i have always loved the analogy of comparing work to gas occupying space in a container
oh yeah this is a physics major talking
Or, you can just watch organic chemistry tutor videos
I find my biggest issue w/ physics 101 was a horrible free online txt book my professor used, he gave us nothing to practice on, the HW was okay but his lectures, nor “txt book” taught us correctly. So you had to literally google every problem and none of it reflected what he taught in class and it taught one way of using an equation. Didn’t bother to know if we comprehended the equations and used them flexibly for different situations and when we all did horrible, he’d tell us to figure it out of why we did horrible 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️ We learned nothing. I know you’re supposed to be able to deduce, but we were definitely missing something in the teaching.
Uhg, sorry for the rant but it’s nice to know some of what I was doing right studying wise, and some of which I can adapt! Thanks :)
YT recommended me this 4 days before exams, I'm very concerned
This was sooo helpful, even tho I’m trying to master maths but soo helpful still
I'm so drunk now and having an exam tomorrow, God, I'm so full of hope
So how did it go?
Feynman's method is the best way to study physics.
what's Feynman's method?
Jatt Prime Feynman technique is when you use the knowledge of a subject you have and try to explain it to someone else, this way it’s ingrained better into your brain. Named after the famous physicist Richard Feynman
What if you have no one who wants to listen to you
King Leo i take videos of myself on my laptop orjust pretend XD
King Leo I just walk around in my room talking about stuff.
I think that studying is going to be the hardest part for me when I go to university. I'm currently getting my Abitur (equivalent to a good high school degree). My Leistungskurse ("performance couses" - courses that cover more themes more indepth) are Physics and Maths. So far I could easily read the pages without solving any problems in the lecture and getting 13-14 out of 15 points. I may need to work on my studying.
I like to make chapter outlines as I go along with the class. When the Final exam comes around I can look at those outlines instead of reading the book all over again. But, I still study the problems given in the book.
The thing is idk what my mistakes are, I do most of the things you said but then I get a very bad mark , I really study hard for it ...
Me: Taking a 5 week summer physics course with 2 quizes a week.
Thanks :') I'll split my time evenly every 3 days lol.
I'll make sure to try this method when going back to normal classes in the Fall!
I'm here one week befor emy advanced mechanics final and 2 weeks before my quantum mech 1 final. I'm terrified for QM because my prof is know for massacring. Other than the hidden examples part (because regardless of being a physicist i suck at math) I'm taking this to heart and hopefully we'll get through this!!!!!
Im usually a good “study-er”, but its finding time to do it all. Im always trying to do homwork and readings for other classes or even the class I have the exam on while balancing work. Trying to keep up with that usually only leaves me with a day to study...at most two. 😫😫 i hate life so much
I graduated HS at age 16. I havent done anything with my life.
So, i havent studied for anything in about 20 years. Thats where im starting.
3:24 when your a is a partial derivative notation.
Watching this night before my stat phys exam, right after questioning what the hell I am doing in this world
11:28 - 11:32, Stright A's in Physics? Holy shit dude..... 4.0?
Wallace Obey not necessarily, it just means that he doesn't get Bs in PHYSICS 😂
Yeah. I don't get how! I literally get a 9.3 out of 10.
For like ONE mistake in the significance. And ONE time measuring a length that fits perfectly. But was too small.
The chapter that this happened to was optics.
My previous physics test.
I need advice. I love physics, it is easily my favourite subject, I get top on every test. Since I was about 8 I knew I wanted to be an Astro-Phycisist but now, in high school I get low grades in math. I just don't get it! They teach us methods that seem like random steps and don't explain things very well, just tell us "do this for the right answer". I find English and History easy and my Dad thinks I should be a lawyer, what should I pursue?
Sci Squared to be honest you need to think about what you like. Physics is all applied math. If you can learn math through physics, that is great. However, understanding complex, non-visual math ideas is something you need to do. Do you REALLY like physics? Let me rephrase, do you REALLY like connecting complex ideas with math?
Not trying to be mean, just realistic. You can always switch majors. And don't blame the teacher. In college, you should be able to teach yourself, sadly. Find the main idea your teacher is thinking and Kahn academy it.
Maths is much easier than physics no application all you need to do is loads of repeated questions I was once really bad at math but I kept watching videos to understand concepts and then did loads of questions on that topic and trust me it works
Would you feel okay doing something that is easy?
@@rafathchowdury1968 nah physics is easier, complicated maths is awful.
Go for whatever you truly want to do, and if it is what you truly want to do, you'll find ways to learn the material.
Dot rely on just your teacher/professor, having a topic explained in a different way can often help people understand something much better. That's what I do I I don't get something, I'll watch RUclips videos, consult my textbooks, practice, ask around, look at websites, consult other textbooks or study guides because the wording may be different, there are a wealth of resources out there especially in the age of information. Just keep practicing.
I'm turning 24 this year and applying to finally start uni (in Sept) and hopefully get accepted as a physics major. How often do you see people my age starting their degree? I have so many friends who have finished their degree and almost feel like it's 'too late' in a sense, which really messes up my motivation.
There's a lot even in my club that are older! We have grad students in their forties. That kind of thing just means absolutely nothing to any of us. We just like seeing people go for it, regardless of their age.
frondew It is later than usual, but Einstein couldn't read or write until he was 6. Go for it! I'm just a high schooler so I can't talk about college but don't give up!
I started taking physics at that age and this is my second year on college. Go for it, you'll be around people younger than you but that's ok because you would be able to see things from different perspectives! It is very interesting (I think that Marie Curie started college at this age and she won 2 Nobel prizes :D )
frondew I’m a first year Maths undergrad and I have a friend on my course who is 30, you forget he’s older most of the time anyway so dw about it.
I am 30 and I am a sophomore. As long as you keep your chops in math during the time off, you're good. Physics is a difficult course, and facing it with some maturity can help you stand out.
Might sound strange but what I do is on the nights I don’t have hw I usually stay up about 30 mins later than usual and revise/study and on the days you do have hw/exams you go to bed as usual but for exams I would go to bed earlier tbh cuz then you can wake up early and just go over anything while your laying down or whatever you do when you wake up cuz when you do it as soon as you get up you will retain the info much easier cuz that’s your first memory of the day. Also having a good night sleep boosts moral and self confidence and confidence is key in exams.
I am in 4th semester studying physics and have zero habits to study for an exam. So the target group might be bigger than you would imagine:D
i like how he used a lil science for his explanation
here's a secret for studying, taking the ideal gas analogy, the temperature stands for your standards, therefore when you lower the temperature, you don't get so pressured and worry about it so much (just kidding
I am a material engineer. These videos sounds good in theory and really helpful but i have 14 other lectures and exams that i bave to take simultaneously soo i only have a few days for each even if i try to learn from day 1 and also my shedule is garbage we have one lecture from each topic in one week and i am usually in classes for around 7-8 pm... My country's education system is grabage it is not about learning at all it is abiut memorizing and regurgitating thins that you have no use or no idea of. I am talking about Hungary i wanted to let you know people that country is a shithole.
had I watched this video 11 years ago, I'd have actually achieved more than just a mediocre masters degree in physics....