12 ways to Active Recall in 12 minutes

By now, active recall has infiltrated the internet as the single best way to study. Most of us have seen videos about what it is and the science behind why it works so well. So in this video, I'm going to skip all that noise and cut straight to the application: here are 12 different ways to use active recall throughout your learning process to get better grades.

🙏 Thanks for watching!
- Mike and Matty

0:00 Introduction
Before Class:
0:41 Pre-test
1:19 Stop and Recite
2:21 In Class Questions
3:23 Immediate Review
After Class:
4:29 Toggles
5:22 Mind Maps
6:07 Teaching
7:36 Flashcards
8:20 Enumeration
8:48 Occlusions
9:51 Problem Sets
10:50 Practice tests

[sacdaabdurhman]

“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” Never doubt yourself

[beiba]

"You're going to get many of these questions wrong and that's OK."
This is something every kid and adult who is still studying needs to understand and accept.
It felt so amazing to hear these words from you.
Thank you!

[stefanraath]

12 Ways to use active recall step-by-step on a day-to-day basis to get better grades:

PRIOR TO CLASS
1 Pretest:
Taking a small quiz before you start learning allows you to benefit from the hypercorrection effect.

2 Stop and Recite:
When being exposed to learning material for the first time,
-> stop after every section/idea/concept/process
-> close book/pause video
-> recite what you have just learned in own words
-> the more explicit you are by writing, typing or saying the better

DURING CLASS
3 Write in-class questions:
-> for definitions and facts use What is … ? questions.
-> for processes/method/procedures/ techniques use How? questions.
-> use Why? questions for deeper understanding
-> answer the lecture objectives/review questions

AFTER CLASS
4 Immediately review your in class questions after class

5 use toggles within note taking app ( remnote)
-> allows to see forest from trees

6 use mindmaps
-> blank piece of paper
-> pick a topic of study
-> brain dump everything you know about the topic
-> actively link ideas to one another

7 Teaching ( feynman technique/ protege effect)
-> do a brain splurge of all the concepts that you have learned from memory by writing it out or teaching it in own words
-> type as if its a script, forces you to choose your words carefully
-> pretend teaching to a 7 year old ( use as little jargon as possible)
-> pretend to teach an outsider
-> pretend to teach a nosy friend ( keep answering “why” repeatedly)

ETERNAL MEMORY
8 Digital Flashcards!!
-> remnote, supermemo, anki
-> interleaving
-> spaced repetition
-> premade decks

9 Enumeration
-> particularly useful for process and problem based classes
-> list of steps to execute in particular order

10 Occlusion
-> images, structures, graphs, charts, anatomy, surgery
-> image occlusion functions in SRS
-> alternative use word doc and cover answer with shape, delete to reveal
-> cloze deletions for words in sentences

HOME STRETCH
11 Problem sets
-> make sure they come with answers and explanations
-> understand why wrong answers are wrong and why right answers are right

12. practice tests
-> mimic test conditions as much as possible
-> timing, bathroom breaks, earplugs, mask etc…
-> gauge which topics are strengths and which are weaknesses

[WhalekinMoonGenshin]

Can’t believe I watched this for free. This was a blast from start to finish and I love how every step was explained as to why you should do it and how it benefits you. You guys deserve more views thank you so much!

[shresthaditya]

0:50-Practice Problems and Quiz
1:10-Hypercorrection effect
1:20-Stop Recite is best when learning some material from the first time for eg if you are learning from YouTube or Reading then you should after every section or after specific time stop and recite/write/type(use all your senses)
2:20-Writing Questions when learning
1)Helps in Active Recall Later
2)Keeps you engaged before specific time stop or in the class
3)Helps you understand how a particular topic can be on test you can use these to frame questions Why, How, What
3:20-Immediate Review:After Writing Questions we should try to immediately solve them
4:20-Use Toggles to Group Topics of a subject into a bigger picture
5:20-Mind Map
6:07-Teaching from memory
7:40-Flashcards are 1)Mobile 2)Save Time 3)Randomize 4)Spaced Repetition
8:40-use pnemonics to remember order

[thinkofvicky]

I am applying active recall since one months!
My active recall method:
1. I read the book and write topic and conceptual question ❓
2.Next revise time I take my topic copy and think about and solve question!

[martinnhantran]

Thank you, this was very helpful!

Before Class:

0:41 Pre-test (Doing the practice test before learning the material.)
Hypercorrection effect: The more confident a learner is of their wrong answer, the better the information sticks when they subsequently learn the right answer.


1:19 Stop and Recite: Every once in a while stop learning and recite what you’ve learned.

2:21 In Class Questions: Every once in a while stop learning and recite what you’ve learned.
In class questions: Write headings as questions (Topics → what question, e.g. What is addiction?
3:23 Immediate Review: Recalling the information right after class or going to the lecture slides one by one and try to explain and teach the concept out loud.


After Class:
4:29 Toggles
5:22 Mind Maps
6:07 Teaching
7:36 Flashcards
8:20 Enumeration
8:48 Occlusions
9:51 Problem Sets
10:50 Practice tests

Ask yourself: What is one thing I will apply from this video?

[DemetriPanici]

*the new Ali Abdaal thumbnail style is catching on!*

[kaimemes]

This is the single most helpful active recall video ever

[emiliataylor]

Omg with this camera, content and editing quality HOW DO THESE GUYS NOT HAVE 5 MIL !!??

[crystaltekate]

I was already doing active recall without even knowing it was it. I was just doing what worked for me, re-reading has never worked for me for a long period. I used to re-read only for the subjects I didn't really care like history and geography 😂, the night before the test at 11pm. we all can relate😭
Thank you Mike and Matty to bring some new ways of learning to the world, that's amazing!

[anushar]

I have watched a lot of active recall videos but this was FAR superior, you explained it concisely and quickly with practical application. You need more subs

[laurengrove]

I feel like the hardest part of studying is not knowing where to start, I know so many study methods but not how to put these methods into a routine that fits me and my schedule.

[newrhymesworld]

1: pretest: just do a small quiz first
2: stop and recite: if you are learning any thing just stop and close book and recite out loud what you have learned.
3: write out: make questions during class for not felling dizzy
Example :how is thing made or what kind of think is it.
4 : immediate review :after class you have to review all question
After going class

✨Toggles ✨Mind maps✨ Teaching your friend or toys or your self using your memory ✨ flash cards ✨ enumeration : make it in steps✨occulustion : make fill inthe blanks✨problem set✨ practice test

[Lamarythressa]

As a graduate student currently on leave, I find myself reflecting on what I can improve on from my previous year. I can definitely say that my study techniques were very ineffective last year and coming across your video has really confirmed that for me and how I can get better. I was very nervous and fearful to return to graduate school next Fall, but your guidance has helped alleviate some of my fears and motivated me to want to go back to school and improve myself. This is a really helpful video. And to anyone out there who thinks they don’t have what it takes to complete their goals, please know that you do have what it takes and there are people in the world who want you to succeed. These brothers are living proof of that. Thank you so much for your videos. I am more confident in myself and I look forward to implementing these techniques. It can be uncomfortable for me to try something new but I rather try versus staying where I am.

[edcaffyn-parsons]

Medical students seem to have it good when it comes to active recall, very standardised curriculums, lots of peer created resources. Other STEM topics don't seem to have this as much.

[valkrisd]

I used to learn tons of information when I studied at university. Now I just wondering how much easier my life might be if I watched this video a couple years ago. Thank you a lot for these brilliant tips!

[anaisouarem]

I'll start my very first medical classes next week. Honestly, i am anxious because i don't know what it is like to study so many complicated subjects and memorize a lot of information in a short period of time, and your videos somehow transformed that "too much anxiety" into "can't wait to try these out!'
ps; i smiled when i saw midoriya at the end

[estherpurugganan]

Glad I found y'all now that I just barely started college. These are so helpful and it opened my eyes to better myself.

[isabelladebrisac]

I only knew flashcards, this video has so many different and useful tips!
My grades improved drastically after using this, thank youuu