01
Keep an earlier attempt
Save your first explanation or working example before improving it. A later comparison can reveal changes that are hard to notice in the middle of a demanding subject.
02
Track decisions, not just pages
Record a decision you can now justify: why you chose an algorithm, how you interpreted a diagram, or what caused a bug. Page counts show activity; explanations can show changes in understanding.
03
Name the remaining gap
Write one precise unresolved question. A narrower question is itself useful progress because it makes the next reading choice more deliberate.
04
Set a return point
Choose one earlier concept to revisit using a new example. Avoid turning this into an examination of everything you know. A focused comparison gives you information you can act on.