The GHOST BUST Framework: Settle – The Importance of Rest Before Exams

In previous blog posts, I introduced the GHOST BUST framework, a structured approach for mastering complex subjects like physics and mathematics. We began with the Grab phase, where students are introduced to key concepts, then moved to the Hold phase, which builds understanding through progressively challenging exercises. In the Own phase, students internalize knowledge to such an extent that they begin to think like examiners, anticipating what each question seeks to assess. Now, as we approach the end of this journey, we come to a phase equally critical to success: the Settle phase.

Learning, Structure, and the Need to Settle

Learning is more than absorbing new facts. It’s a process of reshaping our internal knowledge structure, something we all build upon throughout our lives. Piaget’s theory of cognitive development suggests that every time we learn something new, our internal structure must adjust. According to Piaget, this adjustment happens in two phases: assimilation and accommodation.

In the assimilation phase, new information is presented and brought into our knowledge structure, creating initial tension and disruption. Then, in the accommodation phase, we reorganize and expand our internal structure to fully integrate this new information.

From my experience, this concept aligns with Bloom’s taxonomy in the context of secondary education. At the initial levels of Bloom’s taxonomy, learning mainly involves assimilation, focusing on memorization and repetition. As students advance to higher-order thinking—analysing, evaluating, creating—accommodation becomes increasingly significant, requiring a more organized and intricate structure to sustain new content.

In the GHOST BUST framework, we see a similar progression. As we move from Grab to Hold and then Own, learning shifts from assimilation to accommodation. By the end of the Own phase, students have reshaped and refined their knowledge structure, solidifying it into a stable framework ready for any exam question.

The Settle Phase: Time to Let Knowledge Sink In

Once the Own phase is complete, the inner knowledge structure should be well established. At this point, no further exercises or questions will significantly alter it; the hard work is done. Now, it’s time to Settle. The night before the exam is not a time for last-minute cramming or overthinking. Instead, it’s a crucial period for calming the mind, resting, and allowing the knowledge structure to settle naturally.

The Settle phase ensures that all the hard work invested doesn’t go to waste due to a cluttered mind or an overworked brain. Instead of reviewing notes or trying more practice problems, give yourself permission to relax. Watch a movie or series, read a book, talk with friends or family, and, most importantly, sleep. A good night’s rest is invaluable for academic performance, as it helps consolidate memory and enhance cognitive function.

The Value of Rest and Reflection

During the Settle phase, think of the internal knowledge structure you’ve built as a new part of yourself, fully integrated with all the other knowledge you’ve accumulated. After a restful night, you’ll feel a sense of calm as you sit down for your exam, and this newly embedded knowledge will be accessible, natural, and familiar.

When the time comes, your responses will flow naturally, grounded in all the preparation you’ve done through Grab, Hold, and Own. With the knowledge structure now fully embedded, you’ll find yourself able to tackle any question with confidence and clarity, no longer seeing the material as something “out there” to be recalled but as part of your own understanding.

As we move into the final post of this series, I’ll introduce the Triumph phase, where we celebrate the journey and accomplishments achieved, ensuring the lessons learned extend far beyond exam day.