I recognize what you mean about exams. With some distance from it I now think a lot of what is needed to study for an exam is not really important, it's just in

I recognize what you mean about exams. With some distance from it I now think a lot of what is needed to study for an exam is not really important, it's just incidental stuff that you need to perform in a timed setting, eg memorizing derivations. On the practical side it makes total sense that you're better, because young people generally have not practiced long term productivity.