for the overachiever who reviews notes instead of testing themselves before exams
Goal
Spend exam-eve testing yourself cold instead of re-reading, then patch the exact gaps that surface.
Source principle
Retrieval: test before you feel ready, then patch the gaps that break. : from Ultralearning by Scott Young.
The plan
- 🌅8:00-8:30 AMMorning setup: write scope on one page, set timer, clear desk.
- 🧊8:30-10:00 AMCold pre-test on the WHOLE scope. No notes. Timed.
- 📊10:00-10:30 AMScore it brutally. No partial credit. Honest numbers.
- 📋10:30-10:45 AMList the gaps. Every miss, every hedge. Be specific.
- 🪛10:45 AM-12:00 PMDrill the top 3 gaps. Just three. Focused reps.
- 🥗12:00-1:00 PMLunch reset. Off the desk. Walk if you can.
- 🧊1:00-2:30 PMSecond cold test on the same scope. Same conditions.
- 📊2:30-2:45 PMScore again. Compare to morning. Did the gaps close?
- 🪛2:45-3:30 PMDrill any remaining gaps. Same focused reps.
- ☕3:30-3:45 PMQuick reset. Water, walk, breathe. No notes.
- 🧊3:45-4:45 PMEvening final cold test. Last pass before the exam.
- 🎯4:45-5:00 PMConfidence-graded call: 'ready' or 'not ready'. Honest.