How To Study Bootcamp Blog

“… all your thinking has been done in the pre exam training…”

yes

Question answer in, question answer out!!!

I had this same experience with A level physics. I was overly frustrated with reading a chapter then doing some multiple choice questions and always getting it wrong.

So, after being fed up, I decided to simply read questions, their answers and explanations, and I did so for about 400 questions. (40 questions a paper, 10 papers). I knew I was going to fail anyway, so I just adopted this question answer revision technique out of hopelessness.

Boy oh boy, that paper 1 in physics what I did in the exam room was the best paper I had ever written. Ever. If I had just adopted the strategy for the other papers, I would have got an A (writing over this November).

Now that I hear an expert encouraging others to use this technique, I will be sure to apply this to everything else. I know we learn from making mistakes, but this strategy for question answer format learning has real power in it.

Thanks for the vid!

Sam

By Samuel on May 3, 2008

Oh my goodness! Thank you for your kindness!

I so excited, I can hardly bring myself to sit down and write this short comment. LOL.

It’s been a while I have been studying yet doing not too well in exams. And I am at this point in my life where failure certainly is not an option anymore (taking care of mom and stuff). God is good, even when he seems to be silent. I was reading a book one of my friends gave me, called the Power of Your Subconscious Mind by J. Murphy, and I believe that the Think and Grow Rich ebook in your bonus package is just as powerful. Our dominant thoughts determine our reality, yes? As a man thinks so is he? Lasting change starts in the mind. And I am glad that Rob (aka study buddy) shows us this.

Eddison L., one of my two only buddies, is writing over O level Chemistry this year (O level exams are taken when one is age 16). This year will mark his fourth (4th) attempt. He has failed over the past 3 years. He is an officer of the law by trade, but science is his true passion. He has somewhat a hidden bitterness, a disliking, to study strategies. I remember his criticism of my testimony of my paper 1 physics success. “You think you can do that for all your subjects?” he moaned. He believes a full understanding of the text is all one needs.

My other buddy and I have nicknamed him “Thomas Eddison” partly because of his high failure rate and partly because of his determination to succeed.

But Edison knew that if one strategy didn’t work, another must be adopted. “I have not failed 10,000 times. I have successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.”

Ah, do you have the time or resources or money to learn from 10 000 ways that will not work for exam success?????????

Even worse, are you willing to use the same (useless) strategy over and over and over again expecting a different result (insanity)????????

If not, here is your answer.

Thank you again my friend.

(Sorry if I wrote too much, I have a problem writing concisely!)

Sam
Caribbean

By Samuel on May 5, 2008

I do really belive in Q/A reflex cause it has worked for me since I was 11 and still is especially when I DONT have much time . The problem I am having now is that I cant find enough exams or questions covering the study material. This is my forth year in college and all I am getting is Bs and sometimes As every now and then.This is my last chance , I have been studing and reviewing throughout the semester ;but I am not sure if this enough I have only 19 days for my final exams, and I really want to get more As. So I was wondering if there was an alternative? Thank you

By Neemo0o on May 6, 2008

Hey Neemo0o,

If you are a science/engineering dude, then you could check out the solutions manuals for your respective textbooks. As a matter of fact, I recently downloaded a solutions manual for a physics text, and personally, I find doing the whole question and answer study system is helping me not only gear up for exams, but understand the material a whole lot better.

What you majoring in?

By Samuel on May 7, 2008

It is very intresting. Keep it up

By Akintola Oluwafemi Ajayi on May 9, 2008

thx for the great video cant w8 for the next 1 so far so good

By storm on May 13, 2008

I like your question/response idea Rob. It makes a lot of sense. The issue for many of my students is how do you know what questions to ask. That can be easy on the general knowledge level, but when you start having to anyalyze and synthesis information the questions need to reflect those cognitive skills. Do you have a video on how to ask good questions or do we need to purchase the book and or video to get that information?

By julia higgins on May 15, 2008

My incoming college entrance exam is coning near I would like to ask how to apply this reflex when most of the question there require critical thinking and some of them are trick questions?

Pls. Help

By Paolo on May 21, 2008

Hi Paolo…

Great question. The main point I’m trying to get across to everyone is to study using the skills that you’ll actually use in the exam itself… just like you would if you were learning anything else such as sport, a musical instrument, a language etc.

With regard to your question about college entrance exams, I assume you’re referring to the SAT. If critical thinking or trick questions are involved, you need to work on those skills. In fact here is a quote about studying for college entrance exams from the SAT Preparation Center…

“…offers practice questions and a test to reinforce your test-taking skills and help you be more comfortable when you take the SAT. This practice test will give you a good idea of what to expect on the actual test. On their site you can:

* Download and print an official SAT practice test.
* Receive a score and skills reports.
* Review explanations of answers to test questions.
* Review student-written essays with score explanations.”

This type of exam is not the usual type of exam because you’re not tested on material you’re supposed to learn and understand, but more on aptitude. The best thing you can do is test yourself on as many past examples as possible.

Rob

By Rob on May 21, 2008

Mind if I ask if I can also get a copy of your study system?? hehhehe hope its alright with you

By Paolo on May 22, 2008

No problemo Paolo… Just click the picture of the book up in the top right hand corner. Take care…

Rob

By Rob on May 22, 2008

Hello Rob I felt like saying wow to make you know the wonderful performance I am experiencing. Thank You and may the Good lord JESUS BLESS YOU!

By Asamoah Kwame Paul on May 30, 2008

Hey everyone!

I was involved in an accident – broken arm from a drunk driver.

But, I am still alive today and as long as there is life there is hope.

@Asamoah:
The study system is amazing isn’t it? It gives one the ferocity of focus to tackle big ugly exams head on! God bless Rob indeed. Have you read out the Think and Grow Rich book? And the Mind Mapping book? I sure hopes Rob does a video on mind mapping.

@Paolo:
What I find when it comes to the SATs (or any Thinking Skills/Critical Thinking exam for that matter) is to do as much questions as you possibly can go over. So, say if you have 4 weeks, then get about 280 questions per section – cause 10 questions a day per section can be easily absorbed into the brain.

I collect a list of questions that I copied and pasted over the internet. That is, key questions that I personally find I am not too sharp in, together with their explanations. I find it a joy to learn from example; to learn the question answer reflex. Do this for each type of question that comes. You develop a feel or tonal center for the question that comes.

And I believe that thinking skills and aptitude can certainly be developed – just develop the question answer reflex.

People, pray for my health! God bless you all!

By Samuel on May 31, 2008

<>

How about that.

That’s some good advice right there.

Thanks!

Nope it was the left hand. I was sitting on the front seat of the taxi and they rammed me from the left hand side. I am a right hander so, I guess when I start to complain, I should really count my blessings!

By Samuel on Jun 1, 2008

Rob,

I can’t say thank you enough. I have two exams to study for and I have only 18 days to study. Planning study time is one of my worst personality traits. I always leave it to the last minute and then it becomes this daunting task. I lead an extremely busy life and as a mature student everything else in my life comes first, much to my dismay. Your QA reflex strategy sounds incredibly sensible. I will implement it and let you know how I did. Solicitors accounts and drafting. HELP!

Thanks again!

By SNJ on Jun 12, 2008