"Study Less, Score More" — My Personal Mantra for Success By Dr. Sumer Sethi
                     "Study Less, Score More" — My Personal Mantra for Success
By Dr. Sumer Sethi
As a teacher, mentor, and a lifelong student, I’ve often asked myself: Can we crack 
competitive exams by studying less but scoring more? Today, I want to share the answer—
not from theory, but from experience, and from countless interactions with students just like 
you.
We all dream of this magical balance: fewer hours with better results. But unfortunately, 
many are living the opposite reality—studying more and scoring less. Over time, I realized 
that it's not about how much time you give, but how you use it. Let me show you what I’ve 
discovered, and what I now practice and preach.
1. Enter ‘Machine Mode’: The Power of Focus
Let’s begin with the most important rule: focus trumps duration. One focused hour—what I
call “machine mode”—is more powerful than four distracted ones.
So how do you get into machine mode? Use the Pomodoro technique:
Set a 45-minute timer. Keep your phone away. No distractions. Just you and your goal. This 
simple shift in routine can transform your productivity.
In those 45 minutes, you aren’t just reading—you’re learning, solving, and engaging. And 
that makes all the difference.
2. Think in Mind Maps, Not Paragraphs
Your brain doesn’t think in long text paragraphs—it thinks in flowcharts, algorithms, and 
visual stories.
So stop treating your brain like a photocopier. Start converting your theory into mind maps. 
That’s how I created Mission INI-CET. Each subject was broken into visual, logical chunks—
making revision 10x faster and 10x more effective.
Still unsure? Start with Obs and Gynae mind maps from Mission INICET—they’re free and 
will teach you how to replicate this method across subjects.
3. Follow the 80/20 Principle: Study Smart
The Pareto Principle says: 20% of the topics give 80% of the results. I see too many 
students spending hours on vast subjects like medicine and forgetting high-yield areas like 
surgical classifications, fractures, and Obs-Gyn trending topics.
We built the Transform 10X test series with this principle. Every test is curated to target the
high-probability, high-impact zones. And the LR notes, DVT, and even our OG Last Push are
designed to help you identify what matters most.
4. Shift from Passive Watching to Active Learning
Another trap I see students fall into: passive consumption. Watching videos endlessly, 
switching between apps—thinking this counts as preparation. It doesn’t.
We realized this while choosing a learning method for our own child. We chose live classes. 
Why? Because in a live class, you interact, question, and retain.
Passive watching only works if you're deeply self-motivated. If not, join a live program 
where there’s structure and accountability. That’s why DAMS Live is different—we do full 
syllabus live, over and over, every few months.
5. Use Active Recall & Space Repetition
Learning is not about re-reading the same material. It’s about recalling it actively, at spaced 
intervals.
That’s why we designed the DVT workbooks with blanks to fill. That’s why every T&D 
(Test & Discussion) session focuses on “Why is A correct, and BCD wrong?” This builds 
connections, not just memory.
After all, you’re not training for school exams. You’re preparing to think like a doctor.
6. Revise in Layers
You cannot revise everything again and again from the same source. That's a myth.
The trick is to revise in layers:
 First pass: use your class notes.
 Second: LR notes.
 Third: DVT.
Each layer should take less time and be more refined. And in each revision, add 
retrograde revision—learn from your test mistakes and focus on weak areas.
7. Sleep is When You Save Your Work
Here’s something science confirms: memory gets consolidated during sleep. You can study
all day, but if you’re not sleeping well, it’s like typing an entire document and never pressing 
‘Save’.
Also, don’t just sit all day. Your brain needs physical fatigue to sleep well. A brisk walk 
during your Pomodoro breaks, some sunlight, even five minutes of fresh air—these aren’t 
luxuries. They’re part of your study plan.
8. MCQs Are Not Just Practice—They’re Strategy
Don’t solve MCQs randomly. Use:
 Faculty-made tests (SWTs, PYTS, T&Ds)
 PYQs and special tests
 CABBAB (clinical, applied, best-answer based questions)
This is the most exam-relevant practice you can do. It reflects how the examiner thinks, and
trains your mind to pick the best answer, not just the right one.
9. Mental Strength is Your Superpower
You may feel tired, stuck at 145, or even unsure about the future. But remember this: The 
only real moment is now. Not the postponement of the exam, not the paper you missed, not 
the mistake you made.
Just this moment. That’s where your focus belongs.
Take a break when needed. Speak to someone non-medical. Recharge your mental health. 
But then, come back. Rise again.
10. Promise Me This
If you’ve read this far, promise me:
 You’ll choose focus over fatigue.
 You’ll revise in layers, not loops.
 You’ll prefer live learning over passive bingeing.
 You’ll solve MCQs with strategy, not stress.
 You’ll move your body and rest your mind.
 And above all, you’ll believe:
If you are given a dream, you are also given the means.
Let’s study less, but smarter.
Let’s score more—together.
— Dr. Sumer Sethi
(Mentor, Radiologist, and Lifelong Student)