The SMARTR method

The 7 Smart Skills

School teaches you what to learn. It almost never teaches you how. The 7 Smart Skills are the how, and the DELTA Method is how you make them stick.

By Reiley Dunlop, founder of SMARTR

The short answer

The 7 Smart Skills are Meta-Learning, Memory, Problem-Solving, Smart Studying, Focus, Motivation and Time Management. SMARTR teaches them as one system for learning how to learn. The DELTA Method (Deconstruct, Extract, Learn, Train, Automate) is the five steps that turn each skill into a habit, through focused practice on your weak spots, with feedback.

The seven skills

  1. 01

    Meta-Learning

    Learn anything faster

    Learn how to learn, so every subject gets easier.

    Guides: How to take notes that actually help · How to use the Feynman technique · How to take Cornell notes

  2. 02
  3. 03

    Problem-Solving

    Never freeze in an exam

    Crack hard questions you have never seen before.

    Guides: How to beat exam anxiety · How to study maths and get better fast

  4. 04

    Smart Studying

    Study like an A student

    Study what actually counts, not what feels busy.

    Guides: How to study smarter, not harder · How to study for exams · How to write better essays · How to use interleaving to study

  5. 05

    Focus

    Focus for hours

    Train deep focus, even with your phone nearby.

    Guides: How to focus while studying · How to use the Pomodoro technique to focus

  6. 06

    Motivation

    Switch on your motivation

    Build drive that shows up on the hard days.

    Guides: How to stop procrastinating on study · How to stay motivated to study

  7. 07

    Time Management

    More done in less time

    Get more done, and get your life back.

    Guides: How to manage your study time

The DELTA Method: how the skills stick

  1. DDeconstruct (step 1)
  2. EExtract (step 2)
  3. LLearn (step 3)
  4. TTrain (step 4)
  5. AAutomate (step 5)

Knowing about a skill is not the same as having it. You know about push-ups. That is why most study methods die by week two: you were handed information when you needed training.

DELTA is the five steps that turn the 7 Smart Skills into habits. You build real competence with focused practice on your weak spots, with feedback, instead of more hours.

Which skill should you start with?

The free scorecard rates you on all seven and names the one to fix first. 26 questions, about 4 minutes.

Find my biggest gap