The Difference Between 55% and 97% Isn't Hard Work—It's This One Secret

Hello, friend. Stop for a moment. Enough wasting time. Your exams are coming, and you need to prepare. To help you, I have some powerful study tips that could change everything.

But before we begin, you have to make me a promise. After you finish reading this, you will immediately turn off your phone and start studying. Or, at the very least, you will create a solid strategy for how you’re going to study. No more procrastination. It’s time to start.

Let's find out how many of us are truly serious about our studies.

Welcome to the ultimate guide for your exam preparation.

1. The "Three Meals a Day" Study Strategy

During study holidays, it’s easy to waste the majority of our time and then cram everything on the last day. The fear of failure might push us to study harder, but it’s rarely effective. We sit in front of our books all day, but are we really learning?

We get distracted by our phones, chat with friends about doubts, and endlessly scroll through social media. This is Shallow Work.

The alternative is Deep Work. It’s about studying with dedicated, uninterrupted focus, even if it's for a shorter period. The difference between an average student and an extraordinary one is their ability to engage in Deep Work.

So, just like you have three meals a day, start having three dedicated study "meals." If you get a full day off to study, break it down. For example, if you wake up at 8:00 AM, your schedule could look like this:

• Morning Session: 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM

• Afternoon Session: 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM

• Evening Session: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (or 8:30 PM - 10:30 PM)

When you block out time like this, you commit to one thing: during these hours, you only study. No excuses. Tell your family you're studying, hand over your phone, and eliminate every possible distraction. By following this schedule, you can achieve 7 hours of high-quality, focused study in a single day.

Why is this so effective? Our homes are usually quietest after meals. In the morning, parents might be at work, and in the afternoon, it’s often nap time. Find the quietest times in your home and design your personalized "Three Meals a Day" study plan. This way, you’re not just sitting with a book for hours; you’re making every minute count.

2. Prepare Your "Genius Mode" Trigger Space

To enter a state of Deep Work, your brain needs a trigger—a switch that tells it, "It's time to become a genius." This trigger is your dedicated study space.

If you have a separate room, perfect. If not, don’t worry. The key is to create a specific arrangement that you only use for studying. This place, this setup, becomes the switch. When you sit down here, your brain knows it's time for complete focus. This is where you activate your "alter ego"—the genius version of yourself.

Your study space should be optimized for this. Clean it, organize it, and make it different from your usual relaxing spot. When you enter this space, you are entering your Deep Work zone. This simple psychological trick will signal to your brain that it’s time to perform at its peak.

3. Study With a Target (Use Parkinson's Law)

You’ve blocked out your time and prepared your space. Now, how do you ensure you’re effective within that time? You use Parkinson's Law, which states that work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion.

If you give yourself 2.5 hours to study, don't just sit down and start reading. Go in with a clear, specific target. For example: "In this session, I will complete the 'Laws of Motion' revision, study 'Origin & Evolution of Life,' and finish the 'Acoustics' chapter."

When you set a target and a deadline, studying becomes a game or a sport. The deadline creates a sense of urgency that naturally prevents distractions. You will be amazed at how quickly you can learn when your brain is racing against the clock. Without a target, a study session is like a cricket match with no limited overs—it drags on endlessly with no direction.

4. Prioritize Output Over Input (Active Recall)

When learning a new topic, it’s natural to focus on input—reading the book, highlighting text, and trying to memorize facts. But this is a passive way to learn. To truly know if the information is in your brain, you need to focus on output.

This is called Question-Based Learning or Active Recall.

Instead of just reading, try to retrieve the information from your brain without looking at the book.

• For Math: Solve problems.

• For Theory: Close the book and try to explain the topic out loud or write down everything you remember.

The moment you get stuck, that's a good thing! Experiencing this "stuck" feeling during your study session is much better than experiencing it in the exam hall. When you identify these knowledge gaps, you can go back, review, and strengthen your understanding. This struggle is what transfers information to your long-term memory.

5. Quit Social Media (Temporarily)

The biggest problem with social media is overstimulation. You see updates from everyone—friends, neighbors, strangers. Your brain is flooded with information about their trips, their meals, and their lives. This constant stream of input creates a high baseline level of dopamine.

As a result, when you sit down for your next study session, your brain is already buzzing with distractions. Even if your phone is off, you’ll find yourself daydreaming about a photo you saw or a conversation you had.

The solution? During your exam period, quit social media temporarily. Make studying your only "game." The world will still be there after your exams are over. Your friends' posts will still be there. You can catch up later. For now, protect your focus.

6. The Holy Trinity: Exercise, Diet, and Sleep

Finally, your brain's performance depends on your physical well-being.

• Exercise: Cardio and aerobic exercises (jogging, running, skipping) are proven to increase BDNF in the brain, which is crucial for learning and memory.

• Diet: Fuel your brain with the right foods. Almonds, okra, and foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can optimize brain function.

• Sleep: Your brain cleans out toxic waste and consolidates memories while you sleep. Aim for 7-8 hours of quality sleep. Without it, you'll be stressed and forgetful, and you might make simple mistakes in your exam, like mixing up a plus and minus sign in a calculation.

By maintaining your physical health, you ensure your brain can perform at its absolute best when it matters most.