When to Move On: Knowing a Topic Well Enough
How to decide when you have studied a topic sufficiently and should move on to the next one.
The Diminishing Returns Problem
Perfectionism is the enemy of exam preparation. Spending three days mastering every edge case of a 5% syllabus topic while neglecting 20% topics is poor resource allocation. You do not need to solve every problem type within a topic perfectly. You need to solve the most common problem types reliably under time pressure. Aim for 80% accuracy on a topic before moving on.
Practical Decision Rules
Move on when you can solve standard problems on the topic without referring to notes. Move on when you can explain the core concepts in your own words. Move on when your error rate has stabilized and additional practice is not producing improvement. You will return to every topic during the review phase, so moving on does not mean abandoning the topic permanently. It means redirecting your effort to where it will produce the greatest marginal improvement in your overall exam score.