What this is showing is that you do better when you are actually problem solving and engaging. That is how your mind functions best and in all honesty, that is something a lot of people do better at because we learn best by "doing". The whole reason for "homework" is meant to spend some time taking something a teacher is explaining to us and actually doing it on our own. Our brain is set up to navigate, it's something we are genetically designed for and are born with. A very young child who doesn't know how to walk yet can see others around him walking but doesn't really master it until he slowly tries to do it himself. Just seeing others doing it doesn't provide his own ability to conquer it. When we first look at a formula, the best way to memorize it is by actually applying it. The fact that you do well when it comes to actually applying learned skills is a plus as some people can memorize but genuinely can't apply and do themselves.