How I Ranked 1st at Monash University: 4-step Framework

Discover the 4 steps to outlearn your competition.

Every week, I distil what really works for improving results, memory, depth of understanding, and knowledge application from over a decade of coaching into bite-sized emails.

=== Paid Training Program ===

(Designed for busy students and professionals aiming to achieve top results without endless studying. 77% of our students cover the same amount of study material in 30% less time within 1 month.)

=== Timestamps ===

00:00 Ranking 1st at Monash Uni
00:45 What I was able to achieve
03:25 Step 1: Aim high
05:12 Step 2: Cram early
09:26 Step 3: Build prior knowledge
13:51 Step 4: Be strategic with your resources
18:06 Make sure: Never compromise the non-negotiables

=== About Dr Justin Sung ===

Dr. Justin Sung is a world-renowned expert in self-regulated learning, certified teacher, research author, and former medical doctor. He has guest lectured on learning skills at Monash University for Master’s and PhD students in Education and Medicine. Over the past decade, he has empowered tens of thousands of learners worldwide to dramatically improve their academic performance, learning efficiency, and motivation.

[JustinSung]

Every week, I distil what really works for improving results, memory, depth of understanding, and knowledge application from over a decade of coaching into bite-sized emails.

[jeep]

1. Aim High: Shoot for the moon, fall on the stars.
2. Cram early: Cram the right way. Focus on the structure initially. Focus on the fine details later.
a. Structure Focused: create anchor points of relevance. build prior knowledge.
b. Detail Focused:
"There is a time for learning everything."
3. Build Prior Knowledge: Get general knowledge. Increase in complexity every iteration.
"Choose the path of most relevance."
4. Be strategic with your resources.
"Never compromise with the non-negotiables."

[barryobrien]

Great points. As a 60yr old beginner, I find what works best for me in addition to building a framework, is to find some aspect of the subject that you really love (ex. When learning a language - can you love writing the script or translating a poem). This can give relevance and the brain some nourishment, so when you get distracted, you can go for a quick snack and then return with more energy. I excelled in engineering by learning body language, and then by selective questioning the profs, I predicted 70% of the paper. It's a hack, i know, but it worked

[Zedicy]

the full saying is actually "shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you'll land among the stars", which makes sense:)

[aridivinity]

“Are you really wanting help ?”

“Or are you just wanting validation for why it’s hard for you ?”

Wow !!! Great questions ❤️❤️❤️

[dedude]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:

03:28 🎯 First strategy is to "Aim High, " as setting higher goals makes you think and act differently, pushing you to excel.
05:18 📚 Second strategy is "Cram Early, " which involves studying all content at the beginning of the semester, allowing more time for other activities and reducing stress.
07:22 🧠 Effective learning involves adapting to the "timeline of learning, " focusing on structure in early stages and details in later stages.
08:44 🧩 To retain information, create connections between new knowledge and what you already know, making it more relevant and memorable.
08:58 🧠 Prior knowledge helps connect new information more effectively, creating "Anchor points of relevance."
09:41 🔄 Learning should be incremental and flexible, often requiring out-of-order approaches to understand materials effectively.
10:22 🕰️ Learning and consolidation should happen simultaneously to be efficient. Doing them separately is less effective due to memory decay.
11:18 🗓️ Being strategic about what to learn at each stage is crucial, especially when time constraints exist.
11:59 🔄 Adopting a non-linear mapping technique for learning is highly effective, with more details in another video.
13:51 🎓 Leveraging university resources like staff should go beyond asking basic questions; aim for self-regulated learning skills.
15:00 🙋‍♀️ Use questions to test hypotheses and validate your synthesized understanding, rather than seeking basic information.
16:56 🏆 Effort in understanding and synthesizing material can be validated through expert review and even be a contribution to others' learning.
17:10 🧠 Use expertise strategically. The speaker emphasizes the value of leveraging the expertise of lecturers or mentors only for complex issues, not for basics.
17:52 🚫 Don't compromise on non-negotiables. The speaker did not compromise on essential habits and approaches needed for success, even when other students were struggling.
18:37 📚 Work ahead, even without full information. The speaker suggests studying in advance, even if all course material isn't available yet, to get a head start.
19:19 ⏱️ Effective time management. The speaker was able to work full-time while pursuing a full-time education program by optimizing his study techniques.
20:01 🛤️ Solutions-oriented mindset. The speaker avoided looking for reasons why he couldn’t succeed and instead focused on finding ways to achieve his goals.

[jacky]

1. Aim high -> What would a high achieving student do?
2. Cram early w the right way -> Create a structure of knowledge connects to what you already know - How can you make the information relevant?
Consolidate at the time of learning in the order of most relevance
3. Synthesis mental model of content and present it to an expert
4. Solutions Mentality = stop trying to find reasons that it's hard for you

[slashervs]

My hypothesis of the non-negotiables was: sleep, nutrition, exercise. But it was better than I expected, no more Victim mentality! I can't afford the course yet, nevertheless I've applying the videos techniques and advice, and will continue. Splendid work Justin!

[wingso]

Lol I am glad that Justin released this gem right before the new academic year is about to start so we have to get to work now and cram early!

[lukec]

Justin Sung is honestly extremely inspiring....
He's the kind of person that you'd do a "What would Justin Sung do in this situation?"

[malavikaravi]

Thank you for making videos like this, I am 100% sure videos like this would be valuable for all.🙏

[iolandatesta]

You're really underrated. If i say out loud what you are trying to teach us it seems obvious and just logic but as a third year college student who is really behind on the material that's just what i needed to hear: trying to speedread a chapter and then repeat it until i memorize it it's madness. I kept forgetting past topics after studying a new one and i was so discouraged because that method worked in highschool and i couldn't figure out what changed. I figured i just became stupid but i didn't. It worked just because i was constantly cramming. Basically in italian highschool you have a very detailed test every month on few chapters for every subject. That was good for me because i have a good memory but bad for my future self because focusing so much on few topics doesn't allow to create connections and so i forgot everything i learned in highschool and i had to study it again. I wish textbooks implemented your method by covering all the basics first because if you're a beginner in the subject it's not easy to recognize important or useless detail. Actually now i wanna write textbooks that work like that. Also lectures have the same problems and i hate them cause i am constantly screaming internally "why do i have to know that? Just tell me how does it fit in the big picture!" i know it's something us student are supposed to figure out but it's frustrating listening to someone who just skips from a topic to another. Also, i study chemistry in college, in some cases the big picture is created after 3 years and various courses, so you just have to blindly study what they say to finish college in the correct amount of time (3 years in my case, it will take me 4)

[ehrqrxy]

Justin I did not liked studying before or i can say I was average in studying but after following your instructions for 8 months (because it intrigued me) it's like I like to study, now way more than before because it's enjoyable as well as result yielding and studying is easier than it used to be so 🤣🤣

[abdullah_abisola]

Your 2 questions at the end were so profound that the light couldn't even fathom them
Well Done Justin 😁🤣

Really Grateful to you for pushing out content like this. I'm in my 11th year of schooling at South Africa and earlier this year, I struggled to figure out "What would be the right way to study?". Thankfully, I stumbled across your channel. Now I find myself watching at least one of your videos and putting it into practice daily

[aligolightly]

Synopsis:
1. Create high goals and emulate the qualities you think someone who achieves those would have, eliminate the qualities that wouldn’t work.
2. Do an intense general overview at the beginning of the course, and build knowledge from there.
3. Use resources wisely after doing the mental work.
4. Choose: success or excuses, and be open to trying something new.

This all makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the content. I’m giving it a shot.

[hardcore_boop]

Your great! just the theory of not wanting your own mistakes repeated and even the idea of contributing the knowledge from your years of experimentation to everyone and putting it out for free. You really are an idol to look up to for me, we need more people like you making everyone's life easier.

[mangounjuicemangoe]

I learnt this lesson the hard way:

I wasn’t paying any effort during the first 4 weeks;
I didn’t study the basics until they don’t seem basic;
all my assignments were left right before the midterms;
I put myself under immense pressure and stress, nothing seeps into my brain.

Week8 and I’m just getting started. Thanks for the advice, and hope this valuable lesson taught me something.

[realninja]

The reason I know and trust Justin Sungs techniques is because they are all linked to chunking as the inherent technique. Associations and chunking is the best way for the brain to learn. The prior knowledge technique to create chunks is absolutely genius. I was first introduced to the idea of chunking from the books 'The Art Of Learning' and 'Mastery'. Josh Waitzken describes the art of chunking as 'Making Smaller Circles'.

[BigChief]

Bro...teachers should teach this way. The cramming time line was spot on. If the first week the teacher conceptually went over the general material of the entire syllabus, then spent the later weeks going over the details the curve would be squed in a favorable direction for the whole class

[Chicoyo]

Dude this guy is so practical and it breaks it down in a way I can understand. You’re videos are helping me. For my freshmen year I didn’t study at all. I was way too chill and just didn’t really care. I still got A’s thou but now I’m a sophomore and it’s a little harder. So I’ve actually been learning to study and using different ways to learn. So far it’s been successful and I’ve gotten A’s but some things I struggle with. I’m going to experiment with what I use to study and put it to good use. Good luck to y’all and I hope the year goes great.