How to get 100% on a test- Being a 100%er part 1

This is very complicated so I'll break it up into several parts. I made a post on part 2 a few months back however I was criticized for lack of detail, so this post will be the first in the series so you get a very detailed answer that you'll never forget. I've been a 100%er for years and have proof from 3 different universities so this is real.<br><br>Step 1: Set your baseline<br>The first thing you need to do is set your baseline score. This is where you take a test without studying at all just to get an idea of what the test will look like- this is very important. Do not however take this test cold if that's not what you're used to. If you normally use caffeine or nootropics, then make sure to have one before you take this test.<br><br>Step 2: identify the weak spots<br>This is also very simple, but most people do not do this. Once you find out your score, then you should try to get your test back. Do not ask the professor for a grade increase or anything, just ask to get your test back. If the professor does not allow you to do so, then just ask him/her to point out which ones you got wrong. That's all you need for this step.<br><br>Step 3: Note taking<br>Okay, this is where the magic really happens. This is something that I just thought about when I was 21, and I was like "this makes a lot of sense". So when taking notes, we all know to abbreviate and use shorthand, and that's great advice, but there's a flaw in that if you think about it. You do not use shorthand or abbreviate when you take tests. This is because you are rushed for time on a test and you have to go fast. So during a test, you will actually be writing out full words. Since you don't abbreviate and use shorthand during the test, then why are you doing this now during notes? This makes no sense right- so you should be writing notes in full words, no abbreviations or shorthand. Also, do not do this on your laptop. Handwritten notes are very important. I've been a 100%er for years now, but the one semester I took notes on a laptop during lectures, I ended up getting very close to a C. That was a wake up call for me and I never did that again.<br><br>Step 4: Making flashcards<br>Once you have your notes, it's time to make flashcards. My favorite way to make flashcards is using the app. Anki. Anki has a super simple setup, and you can make flashcards very fast. I always try to make my flashcards in under 30 seconds. The reason for this is because you should be using the 2 minute rule. For each hour of notes you take, you should make anki cards plus review old cards in under 2 hours each time. This is important because if you take too long to make cards then you just won't do it. For example, I was taking 3 classes each semester for the past 2 years so I would have around 8-12 pages of notes for each class. That's a total of 24-36 pages of notes each week. If you're spending too much time making cards then it's just unrealistic. So you have to make the cards fast. You should be able to make 1 card in under 30 seconds. If you're taking too long to make cards, then you're overthinking it.<br><br>Step 5: Review flashcards<br>Okay, so you've made your cards, now you have to review them. This is very simple. Just set the settings for 15 minutes in the future. So if it's 7:00 PM, then you should set the settings to show you that card at 7:15 PM. This is very easy to set up and very important to do. This is because if you don't do this then you'll get bored and you'll get too caught up in reviewing cards and you'll be studying for 3-4 hours. This is not sustainable for the long term, because studying for 3-4 hours each day is a lot of time. Let me tell you as someone who has done this for years, you will get burned out if you study for 3-4 hours every single day. So just set the review time for 15 minutes- this is so much easier. <br><br>Now that you've done these 5 steps, you can now get 100% on the first test. However, this is just the beginning- you still have 3-4 tests each semester so you have to keep up this routine the entire semester. So the next part will be how to keep this routine going the entire semester without getting burned out.