Daniel Wong

Equipping Students to Be Successful & Happy

How to Study Smart: 20 Scientific Ways to Learn Faster

Updated on January 10, 2019 By 107 Comments

study smart168.

That’s how many hours there are in a week.

If you’re a student, you probably feel like this isn’t enough. I know… You have so many assignments to do, projects to work on, and tests to study for.

Plus, you have other activities and commitments.

And I’m sure you want to have a social life, too.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could study smarter (not harder), get good grades, and lead a balanced life?

Of course it would. That’s why I wrote this article.

The main aim of education isn’t to get straight A’s. But learning how to learn is a vital life skill.

So I spent hours scouring scientific articles and research journals to find the best ways to learn more effectively.

I’m a lifelong straight-A student myself, and I’ve since completed my formal education. Over the course of my academic career, I’ve used almost all the tips outlined in this article, so I can verify that they work.

Let’s get started. Here are 20 scientific ways to learn faster.

BONUS: Download a free PDF summary of this article. The PDF contains all the tips found here, plus 3 exclusive bonus tips that you’ll only find in the PDF.

1. Learn the same information in a variety of ways.

The research (Willis, J. 2008) shows that different media stimulate different parts of the brain. The more areas of the brain that are activated, the more likely it is that you’ll understand and retain the information.[1]

So to learn a specific topic, you could do the following:

  • Read the class notes
  • Read the textbook
  • Watch a Khan Academy video
  • Look up other online resources
  • Create a mind map
  • Teach someone what you’ve learned
  • Do practice problems from a variety of sources

Of course, you won’t be able to do all of these things in one sitting. But each time you review the topic, use a different resource or method – you’ll learn faster this way.

2. Study multiple subjects each day, rather than focusing on just one or two subjects.

It’s more effective to study multiple subjects each day, than to deep-dive into one or two subjects (Rohrer, D. 2012).[2]

For example, if you’re preparing for exams in math, history, physics, and chemistry, it’s better to study a bit of each subject every day. This approach will help you to learn faster than by focusing on just math on Monday, history on Tuesday, physics on Wednesday, chemistry on Thursday, and so on.

Why?

Because you’re likely to confuse similar information if you study a lot of the same subject in one day.

So to study smart, spread out your study time for each subject. In so doing, your brain will have more time to consolidate your learning. [Read more…]

How I Became a Straight-A Student By Following These 7 Rules

Updated on December 5, 2018 By 115 Comments

Straight-A studentIn this article, I’ll explain the seven rules I followed to become a straight-A student.

(I’ve since completed my formal education.)

If you take my advice, I’m confident that you’ll get better grades. You’ll lead a more balanced life, too.

But first, here’s some background information about me, to assure you that I have some credibility in writing this article. (I don’t say these things to boast, really!)

  • I got 9 A1’s for the GCE O-Levels.
  • I got 4 A’s for the GCE A-Levels, along with 2 “Special” paper Distinctions and 1 Merit.
  • I received a full academic scholarship to study at Duke University, which consistently ranks as one of the best universities in the world. I graduated from Duke in 2011.
  • I did a double major at Duke, and graduated summa cum laude (First Class Honors). My GPA was 3.98/4.0.
  • Throughout my academic career, I never received a grade lower than an A- at a major exam.

Now, just to be clear…

Do I think I’m a super impressive person because of these achievements? No.

Do I think students should be obsessed about grades? No.

Do I think good grades are the key to long-term success? No.

But do I think that grades matter, at least a little? Yes.

A strong academic record can open doors for you down the road. More importantly, through the process of becoming a straight-A student, you’ll learn values like hard work, discipline, and determination.

These values will serve you well, long after you take your last exam.

So go ahead and pursue academic excellence. Just don’t let it become an unhealthy obsession.

Now that we’re clear on that, we’re ready to explore the seven rules.

BONUS: Download a free weekly schedule template, which will show you exactly how to use the 7 rules in your daily schedule.

Rule #1: Always have a plan.

(a) As the semester progresses, keep track of key dates: tests and exams, project submission deadlines, term breaks, etc.

Enter these dates into a physical or digital calendar.

If you choose to use a physical calendar, I recommend that you get a management diary. This will allow you to see the week’s events at a glance. The inside of the diary should look like this:

Management diary

If you choose to use a digital calendar, I recommend Google Calendar.

(b) Schedule a fixed time every week where you review your upcoming events over the next two months. Mark down when you’ll start preparing for that Math exam, working on that History project, or writing that English paper.

(d) Next, note your commitments for the coming week, e.g. extracurricular activities, family gatherings, extra classes. On your calendar, highlight the blocks of time you’ll have for schoolwork.

This planning process might sound time-consuming, but it’ll typically take just 15 minutes every week. This is a wise investment of time, because the rest of your week will become far more productive. [Read more…]

8 Truths That Successful Students Understand

Updated on March 15, 2017 By 7 Comments

StudentThrough my work with 15,000 students so far, I’ve begun to see what separates successful students from not-so-successful ones.

And I’m not just talking about academic performance. I’m talking about their overall development, and their willingness to learn and grow, even through disappointments.

The key doesn’t lie in successful students’ innate intelligence or talent. Instead, the foundation of their success lies in their beliefs — the truths they take to heart.

These are the eight most important truths that successful students both understand and embrace:

1. Life is challenging

Many students expect life to be relatively easy. They know that hard work is important, but they don’t believe they’ll need to work that hard to get what they want.

For example, I once gave a talk to an auditorium filled with 18-year-old students. At the end of the talk, a student came up to me and said, “Thank you for the talk, Daniel! I’m feeling inspired. I’d like to ask you: What can I do to ensure that I find a fulfilling career in the future?”

After telling him that I appreciated his enthusiasm, I recommended that he start by reading two books, Do What You Are and What Color is Your Parachute?.

In an instant, a puzzled look washed over his face. He said dejectedly, “Oh, but I don’t like reading. I won’t be able to make it through two books…”

This student wanted to find a fulfilling career that would last him a few decades, but he wasn’t willing to read two books. Somehow, he believed that building a rewarding career shouldn’t take too much effort.

Unfortunately, this mindset is prevalent among students.

Successful students, on the other hand, understand that life is tough, but that overcoming challenges makes life more meaningful. [Read more…]

The Simple 3-Letter Word That Successful People Use Every Day

Updated on April 7, 2018 By

Can the secret to success be summed up in a three-letter word?

Well, mostly.

And the word is… “yet.”

It requires some explanation as to why “yet” is such an important word, so please be patient with me.

Earlier this year, I had the honor of speaking at the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Conference in Dallas, Texas. I was even more honored because my co-presenter was Dr. Carol Dweck, world-renowned researcher and the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology at Stanford University.

Me and Dr. Carol Dweck

Me and Dr. Carol Dweck

Dr. Dweck’s research has centered around the themes of human motivation and development. She’s come up with a theory of the fixed vs. growth mindset, which has been proven by numerous studies.

Why effort matters more than ability

Essentially, Dr Dweck’s theory predicts who will be successful over the long term and who won’t. I know, that’s a pretty big claim to make, but she has three decades of research to back her up.

Here’s a summary of the theory:

  • People with a fixed mindset generally believe that their skills and abilities are fixed and won’t improve much, even with practice.
  • Fixed mindsetters focus on the end result more than the process of development.
  • Fixed mindsetters often focus on factors that are beyond their control, e.g. bad luck, unfortunate circumstances, unkind bosses, bad parents.
  • In contrast, growth mindsetters generally believe that no matter what their skill or ability level now, they can improve with effort.
  • Growth mindsetters focus on the process and the journey, instead of merely being concerned about the outcome.
  • Growth mindsetters focus on factors that are within their control, e.g. effort, attitude, choices.

[Read more…]