--- {"title": "Find the Shortest Review Videos Before an Exam", "description": "Learn how to find the shortest YouTube review videos before an exam, compare manual sorting with YTSort, and organize revision time.", "url": "https://xpdaily.com/how-to-find-the-shortest-review-videos-before-an-exam-for-college-students-cramming/", "date": "2026-10-26"} --- Learn how to find the shortest YouTube review videos before an exam, compare manual sorting with YTSort, and organize revision time. To find the shortest review videos before an exam, open a YouTube playlist you own, check each video's length, and put the shortest videos first. You can make the order on paper or in a spreadsheet, or use YTSort to reorder the playlist by video length, shortest first. [^1] Check that the reordered list still follows the topics you need to revise, since a short video is not automatically the most important one. | Option | How it finds short videos | Price or fee | What to check | |---|---|---|---| | Paper list or sticky note | Record each title and duration, then rank videos by hand. | not published | Check the topic and duration for each video. | | Spreadsheet | Sort a recorded duration column from shortest to longest. | not published | Check the app's sorting features and costs. | | Existing YouTube playlist | Use the playlist as a starting point and record shorter videos separately. | not published | Check whether you own the playlist before changing its order. | | YTSort | Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. [^1] | Free; all install options include the same features. [^1] | The extension needs Chrome or Edge; the script version works in any browser with a supported script manager installed. [^1] | ## What you need before you start Finding short review videos before an exam starts with knowing which topics need attention and where the videos are stored. A little preparation helps you spend your available revision time watching instead of sorting. - **A list of exam topics.** Check the syllabus, revision guide or lecture notes. Write down the subjects that need another look so that short videos support your revision rather than distract from it. - **A YouTube playlist.** Gather relevant review videos in one place if possible. To change a playlist's order directly, you need to own it. If a lecturer or another student shared a playlist, check whether you can make your own copy or work from a separate list. - **The length of each video.** Video lengths help you identify shorter sessions. Keep the title beside each length so you can still tell which topic a video covers. - **A realistic study window.** Think about the time available before the exam and leave room for reviewing notes and practising questions. The shortest video is not necessarily the one that covers the material you need most. - **A way to record the order.** Paper, a spreadsheet and a playlist can all hold your shortlist. Choose somewhere you can check quickly while studying. - **A browser if you want an automatic option.** YTSort offers a bookmark, a browser script and a Chrome Web Store extension. [^1] Before sorting, decide whether the immediate goal is a quick overview, a review of specific topics or a final pass through material already studied. That decision helps you choose which short videos to watch first. ## Step by step These steps work whether you organize the videos manually or use a tool to reorder a playlist. 1. **Gather the review videos.** Open the YouTube playlist containing the videos for the exam. If the material is spread across several places, make a list of the relevant video titles before deciding which ones to watch. 2. **Check the topic of each video.** Match titles and descriptions to the exam topics on your revision list. A short clip about an unrelated subject will not help just because it takes less time to watch. 3. **Record each video's length.** Write the title and displayed duration on paper or in a spreadsheet. Keep the topic beside the duration so that you can distinguish similar titles and avoid losing track of what each video covers. 4. **Put the shortest videos first.** Arrange the recorded durations from shortest to longest. If you are working by hand, compare the durations and rewrite the list in the intended order. If you are using a spreadsheet, sort the duration column after checking that each row still keeps its title and topic together. 5. **Choose how to apply the order.** You can keep the sorted list as a viewing guide or reorder a playlist you own. YTSort reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, with the shortest or longest videos first. [^1] 6. **Review the proposed sequence.** Check the titles and topics from top to bottom. If a later concept depends on an earlier explanation, decide whether those videos should remain together rather than following duration alone. 7. **Apply the order when ready.** If you want to inspect the proposed sequence first, YTSort shows the before and after order before you apply it. [^1] With a manual list, read through the planned order before using it as your viewing guide. 8. **Start with a useful short video.** Begin with a brief review that covers a topic on your exam list. After watching, recall the main points without looking at the notes, then check what needs another pass. 9. **Return to difficult topics.** A longer explanation may be more useful when a short clip leaves a gap in your understanding. Keep the sorted list as a starting point, not a rule that overrides your revision priorities. 10. **Adjust the order as revision progresses.** If the list no longer reflects the topics that need attention, revise it. Use video length to save time finding a starting point, then use your notes and practice questions to decide what deserves further study. ## Tools that can do it You do not need a dedicated tool to find short review videos. The main choice is whether to record the order yourself or have a tool reorder a YouTube playlist. **Paper list or sticky note.** Write down each video title, topic and duration, then rank the videos from shortest to longest. This gives you a simple viewing guide without requiring a playlist to be reordered. Price and limits depend on the supplies already available to you, so no specific cost is stated here. **A spreadsheet.** Put video titles, topics and durations in separate columns. Sorting by the duration column gives you a shortest-first list, provided each title stays with its correct topic and length. For a spreadsheet app, check its own details for available features and costs. **The existing YouTube playlist.** You can use the order displayed in a playlist as your starting point, then record the shorter videos in a separate list. If you want to change the playlist itself, check that you own it before trying to reorder it. **YTSort.** YTSort is made by the team that publishes this site, XP Daily. It is one option among the available ways to organize review videos. YTSort is a free browser tool that reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. [^1] It can sort the full playlist rather than only the videos loaded on screen. [^1] YTSort also shows the playlist's total, average, shortest and longest video duration. [^1] It can sort videos within a chosen length range and move the others to the end. [^1] These features can help when the immediate goal is to locate brief clips before an exam. There are three ways to get YTSort: a bookmark that runs it, a browser script or a Chrome Web Store extension. [^1] The extension needs Chrome or Edge, while the script version works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. [^1] YTSort is free, open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence, and all install options include the same features. [^1] [^1] **Things to check before you choose.** Decide whether a sorted list is enough or whether the playlist itself needs to change. Check which browser options are available on your device, whether the playlist belongs to your account, and whether sorting by duration supports your revision plan. If the order of lessons matters, review the sequence before applying it. ## Common mistakes to avoid **Choosing by length alone.** A short video may cover only one small detail, while a longer explanation may help clarify a difficult topic. Match each title to the exam material before making duration the deciding factor. **Ignoring the order of ideas.** Some review videos build on earlier explanations. If a short clip assumes knowledge from another video, keep the necessary material ahead of it or watch the earlier explanation first. **Sorting the wrong playlist.** Before trying to change an order, check which account owns the playlist. If it belongs to someone else, see whether making your own copy is possible or use a separate viewing list. **Checking only the videos already visible.** A playlist can contain more videos than are currently displayed on screen. YTSort sorts the full playlist rather than only the videos loaded on screen. [^1] If you sort manually, check the complete list before deciding that you have found the shortest video. **Applying an order without reviewing it.** A duration-based sequence can put related lessons far apart. Read the proposed order and check the topics before applying changes to the playlist. **Watching short clips without checking recall.** Finishing a video does not show whether the material is understood. After each clip, explain the main idea from memory or answer a related practice question, then return to topics that remain unclear. **Spending too long organizing.** Sorting is only a way to choose what to watch next. Set a reasonable limit on preparation, then spend the available study time reviewing the exam topics that need attention. ## Frequently asked questions ### How can college students find the shortest YouTube review videos before an exam? Gather the relevant review videos in a playlist or written list, record each title and duration, and arrange the durations from shortest to longest. Check that each video covers a topic on the exam list before deciding what to watch. YTSort can reorder a YouTube playlist you own by video length, with the shortest videos first. [^1] ### Can YTSort sort YouTube review videos from shortest to longest? Yes. YTSort reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, with the shortest or longest videos first. [^1] It sorts the full playlist rather than only the videos loaded on screen. [^1] Check the proposed sequence before applying it, especially if the review videos explain topics in a particular order. ### Can YTSort show the playlist order before applying changes? Yes. YTSort shows the before and after order so you can review the proposed sequence before applying it. [^1] This gives you an opportunity to check whether related exam topics remain in a sensible order. A manual list or spreadsheet can also be reviewed before you use it as a viewing guide. ### Which browsers support YTSort for sorting review videos? The YTSort extension needs Chrome or Edge. [^1] The script version works in any browser, including Firefox, when Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey is installed. [^1] A bookmark that runs the tool is another available option. [^1] Check which installation method is appropriate for the browser you use to study. ### Is YTSort free for college students? Yes. YTSort is free, and all its installation options include the same features. [^1] It is also open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence. [^1] The available options are a bookmark, a browser script and a Chrome Web Store extension. [^1] Check the browser requirements before choosing an installation method. YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. [^1] - [Visit YTSort](/go/start-ytsort) ## Sources [^1]: YTSort's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/start-ytsort)