It only takes 0.25 seconds to process visuals. Fast!

• Use the Power of Visuals— Our brains are hard-wired to quickly process visuals. Text paired with visuals improves information retention. [4]

• Distributed Practice — Spreading out study sessions over time is more effective than cramming into one marathon session. Our brain needs the time in encoding new information into our memory. [5]

• Interleaved Practice— Instead of focusing on a topic end to end, study related concepts together. Establish relationships between the new information and previously existing memories. [6]

• Sleeping after studying— Sleeping after learning something can help you learn faster and remember better. [5]

• Forgetting isn’t bad — According to research, we need to forget a new piece of information at some level before remembering it in order to reinforce that memory over time. Just like in exercise, muscles won’t grow without rest. [5]

Case Study: How the Author applied the 80/20 Principle and the Learning Techniques

I set it on my mind, to top the board. My older brother have done it, and so can I. There was positive pressure.

Before review classes started, I used Gillesania’s Book: CE Board Exam Reference and made a detailed list of the covered topics for the past 5 years. It took me about 2–3 hours to make this list.

Next, I identified the activities that consumed my time and concentration. I was hooked with a lot of series shows + animes + games. Studying is priority, so I limited watching and playing during a 2-hour break time after dinner.

Luckily, there was a new branch of Review Innovations in Baguio City. It enabled me to study in the comfort of our home. I concentrate better at home. I was also exempted from my household chores like cooking, washing dishes, and doing laundry. These little things helped tip the odds. Concentration is better if there are fewer things to think about.

I enrolled in the morning classes. During lectures, my focus is on passive learning. My attention goes to absorbing the concepts and ideas explained by the instructors. When I return home, the focus shifts to active learning — solving the discussed examples and capping it off with additional problems. The Efficiency Curve (to be discussed in part 2) can guide you about how much practice solving is required.

The following methods are also effective in getting ideas to sink in:

• Repeatedly writing the formulas and terms on paper. Write out everything you know about the subject as if you were teaching it to someone else.
• Explaining concepts to one’s self. Recently confirmed this from a book, talking to one’s self is totally normal and healthy. Just don’t do it aloud in public 🙂
• Teaching others and/or participating in discussions

Have you noticed all these are forms of active learning?

IMPORTANT: The ‘Notebook Summary’ Technique: How to Memorize and Remember Concepts and Formulas

Two months into review, I had trouble preparing for a pre-board examination. With inches of review materials, searching for a particular topic or formula resulted to wasted time and concentration. This is when I realized a technique my older brother used, the Notebook Summary.

After solving problems and getting a good grasp of a topic, I made a summary of the topic on a notebook. The summary contains all important concepts and formulas, and if necessary with sample problems. I had a notebook each for Math+Surveying, Hydraulics + Geotechnical, and Structural Design + Construction.

The contents were written by hand, drawn with pencils, pens, and ruler (with exception to topics with graphs and tables). I used combinations of texts, acronyms, symbols, diagrams, whichever I saw fit for the topic.

Many thought I wasted time for doing it because there were hand-outs already given during the review. There were also the ready-made engineering compilations by Gillesania and Padilla. It might seem counter-intuitive but

Putting the effort to create the summary is the secret. The task of thinking, researching, writing, and drawing are forms of active learning packed into one activity. And because the summary is organized and concise, it aids in recalling the information rapidly. The handy notebook also enables you to recall anywhere, anytime.

Ever wondered why we easily recall something we wrote instead of the photocopy of our classmate’s notes?

Timing is the key

It is given that we will forget. It isn’t necessary that we remember information all the time. What matters is we remember during the right time.

Several days before a big exam, I reviewed the summary and performed rapid information recall. Timing is the key to remembering.

In the next post, I’ll share the reason why Mark Zuckerberg dress simply and how it can help you prepare for the board exams. Click to here for Part 2: Learning Hard: How to Concentrate and Practice Better for the Board Exams.

I am a writer in training and this is my first post. Writing and preparing the materials took lots of time and creative energy. Note that I didn’t learn these ideas on my own, I received a lot of help along the way. I believe in the adage of ‘passing it forward’ and it is my goal to spread these ideas. If you have suggestions, feel free to comment or send me a message. More importantly, share this post to the people who needs them. Study well and make your parents proud! 🙂

Rucel Britanico Virata
Civil Engineer | I share self-improvement hacks you won’t learn in school
Artist/ Writer — PassTheBoardExam