Study Methodology Audit

Are you actually studying, or just looking at books? Answer 18 questions to reveal your flaws.

Phase 1: In-Class Absorption

1. The teacher is explaining a complex derivation on the board. What are you doing?

Copying every single number/letter blindly before the teacher erases it. Waiting for them to finish, then snapping a photo to "copy later" (which I rarely do). Listening, but getting lost halfway and zoning out. Writing only key steps and focusing on *understanding* the logic flow live.

2. You have a small doubt during the lecture. What do you do?

Ignore it. I'll figure it out later (I usually forget). Ask a friend sitting next to me while the teacher is still talking. Mark it in the margin with a '?' to look up at home. Raise my hand and ask immediately, or ask the teacher right after class.

3. How do your class notes look?

Messy, incomplete scribbles that even I can't read later. A perfect transcript of exactly what the teacher said (Verbatim). Neat, but I only write down what is written on the blackboard. Structured (Bullet points), with my own summaries and diagrams added.

4. What do you do with your class notes when you get home?

Nothing. I only open them before the exam. I re-write them neatly into a "Fair Notebook" (Takes hours). I give them a quick 5-minute read-through. I try to recall the main points *without* looking, then fill in the gaps.

Phase 2: Revision Strategy

5. How do you usually "revise" a chapter?

I re-read the textbook chapter from start to finish. I re-read my highlighted sections and notes. I watch a YouTube video summary of the topic. I close the book and try to solve questions or teach the topic to an imaginary student.

6. How do you use highlighters?

I highlight almost every sentence because everything looks important. I highlight definitions and formulas as I read the first time. I don't use highlighters. I only highlight keywords *after* I have finished reading the paragraph and understood it.

7. When do you review a topic after learning it?

Once taught, I don't touch it until the Exam Date Sheet is released. I study it intensely for 3 days, then forget it for a month. I review it whenever I have a test coming up. I use a schedule: 1 day later, 3 days later, 1 week later (Spaced Repetition).

Phase 3: Problem Solving

8. You are stuck on a Math/Physics problem. What is your move?

Immediately check the solution/back of the book. Try for 2 minutes, then check the solution to "learn the method". Search for a similar solved example to copy the steps. Struggle with it for 15 minutes, re-read the theory, and try a different approach before giving up.

9. You solved a practice question and got it WRONG. What next?

Ignore it. "I'll get it right next time." Check the right answer, nod my head, and say "Oh, silly mistake." Read the solution and memorize the steps. Analyze exactly *why* (Concept error vs Calculation error), write it in an Error Log, and re-solve it.

10. Do you practice under time pressure?

Never. I take my sweet time to solve problems perfectly. Only during official school exams. Sometimes, if I'm doing a sample paper. Yes, I often set a timer (e.g., 20 questions in 40 mins) to simulate exam stress.

Phase 4: Environment & Mindset

11. What is playing in your headphones?

My favorite songs with lyrics (Rap/Pop) that I sing along to. A podcast or a YouTube video running in the background. Instrumental / Lo-Fi beats. Silence / White Noise. The exam hall will be silent, so I practice for that.

12. Where are you studying?

Lying on my bed with the book on my chest (and often falling asleep). On the sofa in the living room with the TV on. Dining table, but there's foot traffic. A dedicated desk and chair, sitting upright with good lighting.

13. How do you memorize lists or formulas?

I stare at the page and repeat it 50 times in my head (Rote Learning). I write it down 10 times. I use mnemonics (acronyms/stories). I derive the formula to understand it, or use Flashcards for active recall.

14. When the subject is "Boring", what happens?

I skip it entirely and study my favorite subject instead. I force myself to read it but retain nothing (Zombie reading). I complain about it and procrastinate till the last minute. I switch methods: I watch a video or do a quiz to make it interactive.

15. What happens the night before an exam?

All-nighter. I sleep 2 hours or less to "cram" everything. I stay up till 2 AM reviewing new topics I missed. I review lightly but sleep a bit less than usual due to anxiety. I stop studying by dinner, relax, and get 8 hours of sleep to maximize brain function.

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