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How to Study for a Big Exam
Kendra Campbell -- I have finished all my regular school exams for this semester and have about one week to study for the NBME's "Comprehensive Basic Science Examination." My score will not be counted towards my grades in school, but rather is a pass/fail exam that I must pass in order to sit for the USMLE Step 1 Exam (the medical licensing exam for the US). Having a week with nothing to do but study is a daunting task for me. At my school, we usually don’t have so much time to study for an exam, but since this covers all of the basic science material learned during our first two years in med school, they give us a week to prepare. I’m sure all of you out there have either already faced this issue, or will be facing it in the near future, so I decided to make a list of some helpful suggestions that have worked for me.
1. Make a schedule, and try to stick to it. This is probably the most important tip. Having a schedule provides you with structure, and is a good way to prevent falling into the trap of running out of time in the end. It also ensures that you always have a task at hand, instead of sitting around bored, wondering what you should do. I usually go as far as creating a schedule down to the hour, but depending upon how much time you have to study, this wouldn’t always be necessary.
2. Get up every day at a similar hour. This obviously goes along with #1, but it’s always a good idea. In addition to getting up around the same time every day, it’s also a good idea to "try" and go to sleep at a reasonable hour every night.
3. Don’t forget to schedule in "fun time" or time off from studying to relax. This is incredibly important, and will prevent the dreaded "burn-out." If you’re lucky enough to have a dog (or other pet), take them for a walk, or play a game of fetch. Playing with my dogs is one of my most favorite de-stressors. If you’re somewhat obsessed with cleaning (like I am), take off 20-30 minutes to wash your dishes or do some laundry. Do you enjoy being outside? If so, take a walk around the block or to a nearby park. You may have noticed that all of these activities involve physical activity. There’s an obvious reason for that. Unless you are studying while on the elliptical trainer (which I actually don’t recommend), you are probably sitting on your butt for hours at a time. We’re med students. We know that moving around and getting your blood flowing is advantageous to both your mind and body. Don’t forget what you know.
4. Do questions. This is a great way to learn. Use an online question bank, or one of the thousands of prep books. And don’t just look at the correct answers. Actually figure out why you got the question wrong (and even right), and learn from your mistakes.
5. Don’t study what you already know. This is pretty obvious, but people sometimes do it anyway. Stop wasting your time!
6. Caffeine is your friend. Never forget your friends.
7. Change it up! If you find yourself getting incredibly bored, and wondering if chewing your leg off might actually be a more enjoyable experience, change something! Either change the subject you’re studying, how you’re studying it, or where you’re studying. If you’re lucky enough to live by a beach, go there and crack open your books! It will save your sanity, and also your innocent leg.
8. Take the day or night off before your exam. Don’t forget to do this! I don’t care if you’re behind, or you think you can stuff more information into your head if you keep studying. Don’t do it! And especially don’t stay up all night before the exam. This might be the worst idea ever. Let all those pharmacology drugs simmer in your brain for a while. Give the information time to cement. Have a nice dinner or go see a movie (preferably a completely mindless comedy) and reward yourself for all your hard work.
Okay, those tips should help to at least get you started. Do you have some suggestions that I missed? Feel free to add them to the list.
December 18, 2007 in Kendra Campbell | Permalink
Comments
Hi Kendra thanks for ur tips I think u r right last year I stayed all the night before the exam but in the exam I was so tired that I couldnot concentrate easily
I think we should summarize what we study in simple diagrams
Posted by: Hager Hussein | Dec 19, 2007 4:06:39 PM
thanks for your tips!as i was reading i realised how many mistakes i make (staying up all night before exam day, never have fun times, start cooking/cleaning instead of studying and i always run out of time), maybe that is why i'm not looking forward to have my 4th year exams started!all the best wishes to you!
Posted by: Csaba | Dec 19, 2007 11:18:39 PM
Also think working with a positive attitude always helps - always think you can do this! also do not talk to any of your colleagues as they tend to worry/wind you up quite a bit!
Posted by: Srim | Dec 20, 2007 2:16:18 AM
For me,i never sleep before exams but im really okay with it.but stopping my studies a few hour before exams is a very good strategy.Also try not to destroy your social life during exams by not going out at all.
Posted by: king | Dec 20, 2007 6:02:24 AM
thanks for all your tips, i found them very interesting, specially when we have to struggle with stress...i think that's the worst part of all the process.
Posted by: gloria c | Dec 21, 2007 1:45:32 PM
good tips, but for a lot of people (myself included) studying the night before is hugely beneficial. i honestly cant remember a single exam in which i didnt use information i studied the night before.
Posted by: richard | Dec 25, 2007 5:10:27 AM
enough with these how-to columns. it's much more interesting to read reflections and insights about the process of becoming a physician than to see "advice" from people who don't have the benefit of a little hindsight.
Posted by: | Dec 26, 2007 5:25:39 PM
Wow, you are going to be a doctor and you state that "caffeine is your friend?" That is scary. Caffeine is much more dangerous than most people think. It is a leading cause of high blood pressure. It is also linked to increased gastrin production, which can cause stomach cancer. In addition, it alters calcium metabolism and is a leading cause of low bone density. Go back and study harder, Kendra, you're going to need it.
Posted by: Justin | Dec 26, 2007 6:00:55 PM
I would like to know if anyone has tips for a medical student who OVERANALYZES every question. Or are there students who do this and overcame it.. please explain how you did it.
I'm an overanalyzer, and my stress/anxiety comes from that.. I not only do that with the multiple choice exams but with the oral exams. But I can calm myself down during the oral exams.. and think through the questions that my Attending asks of me, and if there is a block.. it's just that.. a block. BUT I have not been able to overcome it for the multiple choice exams.
I have even thought about hypnosis BUT it's a last resort. I would like to know if anyone else has this problem, and what have they done??
Thank you in advance..
Posted by: Anoo | Dec 26, 2007 6:35:23 PM
Thank you for your tips. I managed to get through by utilizing most of them. My worst enemy was not making fun time. Caffine is your friend. Jason needs to study harder- it's dangerous over long term use. To help you get through some studying isn't going to kill you. Get over your self.
Posted by: JustFinished | Dec 26, 2007 7:52:25 PM
Anoo,
Questions asked in multiple choice exams are, at times, ambiguous, but, for the most part, the required answer is not. There are many questions, though. The exam is, therefore, a contest in which there are two limitting factors: time and your knowledge. In order to overcome the first, try to extract the essence of the question. Asking "Is A=B?" can be presented in very many, very fluffed, and intentionally diggressing forms. But the essence is the equality (or its absence) of A and B. Providing you know the yerritory, being able to "get the essentials" of the question, will allow you to make the correct answer almost automatically. Knowledge is, therefore, the "critical limitter" and time becomes an essential factor only when your knowlege is deficient (you start speculating rather than knowing, and speculation costs time, i.e., the chance of answering other questions correctly.) The operational rule:
1. Scan ALL questions quickly, and determine which you can answer easily and immediately, without more than 10 sec worth of thinking.
2. Answer the easy questions FIRST - do not bother about answering in order questions are presented. Theyb are rated (unless specifically marked) on the same scale, and the more you win on "easy answers," the better off you are at the end tally.
3. Go to the next step of difficulty - where some analysis is essential. In most instances, assuming you have some familiarity with the subject, the choices you are offered may provide you with clues on the essential aspect of the question. Compare, therefore, the range of answers with the question itself. Knowing your subject is essential here. If you do not know, a random shot may save your skin, but do not count on it.
4. Tackle things you have no clue about at the end. You DON'T know much about the subject: had you known, the quations would belong to the "easy" or "semi-easy" category. You may experience epiphany here, but, typically, it will be random shooting. The rule of ethics here would demand to leave the question unanswered - there is nothing wrong in admitting the lack of knowledge. Beating about the bush is, in this case, a form of lying: you try to indicate that you know when you clearly don't. As a forthcoming physician, you should train adherence to the rules of ethics from the earliest. This offers one of the chances
5. Once you answered all questions you could, check ALL answers quickly. You might have made an inadvertent error. However, do NOT waste time if sudden doubts emerge. They often do, and this is where you start overanalyzing. Remember that knowing frees you from doubting. Preparation is, therefore, critical.
The rules of preparation are simple: cram as intensely you can, then get a set of sample questions (e.g., internet), and, WITHOUT the benefit of the book, try to answer the relevant questions giving yourself 30 seconds/question. Once you run through the ENTIRE set of questions, check answers. Whetever your answer was wrong, study the question: what was essential in it? You will rapidly notice that your knowledge failed you, and overanalyzing entered as a self-defence mechanism. In two weeks you will be an expert in "getting to the core." The end rule: overanalyzing is the expression of uncertain/incomplete knowledge. You try to deduce your way to the truth instead knowing it. Thd process is easier in face-to-face confrontations: your opponent gives you clues (either by sub-questions, or even by inadvertent facial or postural indicators) that, if you are smart enough, will point in the right direction.
Posted by: Monsieur Doc | Dec 26, 2007 7:55:48 PM
Dear Dec 26, 2007 5:25:39 PM
What is your hindsight advice on how to study for the boards?
Posted by: D.O.C. | Dec 26, 2007 8:44:49 PM
I learned in my Psychology class that studying the night before was actually good if you get plenty of rest before the exam, while you sleep your brain is processing the information you just read. It is also good to take breaks in between studying and if you find something difficult that you can not figure out come back to it later and it makes more sense.
Posted by: Faidra | Dec 26, 2007 9:20:54 PM
For those of you who like to map, try mind mapping software (google it - there are tons of products). Just the act of organizing the maps is a big help. Think of it this way - you read the info, review it so you can organize it for the maps, then type it in - three reviews in one, plus a pretty picture for the more visually oriented among us.
If there are little "trivial" details that you can't dredge up readily, make a list of them that you can relate to (see mind maps or Excel spreadsheets) and review them last thing before you go to sleep at night (in bed, on the couch, wherever). Repeat this over a few nights at least a couple of weeks prior to your exam so they can soak in, and in a couple of days they will start to surface when needed.
Good luck and God Bless!
Posted by: Kristine | Dec 26, 2007 10:57:13 PM
I once spent the whole night before an exam "studying" and the next day went into the exam half asleep. I literally fell asleep during the exam nodding off and waking up doing that thing when you know you are about to fall asleep and you try to catch yourself before you do...well I naturally assumed that I completely failed the exam and that I was doomed. SADLY...I did not. I received a near perfect score and honestly that experience has ruined me...I still procrastinate thinking that I can just cram the night before and ace the exam the next day.
Posted by: Benji | Dec 26, 2007 11:05:04 PM
Justfinished-
Spoken like a true junkie. You're the one who needs to get over yourself. Caffeine is a DRUG. Recreational use is drug abuse. Look it up. Caffeine is not your friend. Hit the books a little harder, scooter. Also, caffeine increases stress and reduces the effectiveness of a good night's sleep, so it is counter productive as well. You're obviously so hopped up on the stuff, you couldn't even read my name right.
Posted by: Justin | Dec 27, 2007 4:37:16 AM
caffeine is a drug, people with HBP, Ulcer, gastritis, inmune disorders, and many other pathologies might find that caffeine is not a friend, and caffeine give a temporary high but then comes the low, even though there are people with more than 100 years of age that deal very well with it, but the same happens with alcohol and tobacco, so if you need to increase your energy level I'd rather say: Exercise , a good diet , clean water , positive mind, 8 hours of sleep, those are friends.
Posted by: Abel | Dec 27, 2007 6:57:02 AM
for the overanalyser: try to cover up the answer options, then read the question and answer it in your mind. at first you might have to write your answer down, but eventually you'll get used to holding it in your head. then look at the options and find your answer. mark that one and move on; no second guessing! try this for 100 questions, and score the last 20, i bet it's better than you usually do. keep practicing this way and it might help.
some overanalysing comes from distrust of test question makers. regardless of how you feel about your own teachers, question writers for nmbe are the best and brightest in the profession and they are motivated to be clear. they are NOT trying to trick you! i know several here in my large academic medical center, and am sure of this. if you're stuck between a zebra and something more common, pick the more common choice. if you do this consistently in the long run of the exam you will score better (i know, it's the counterexamples that stay in your mind, but i'm right on this).
my qualifications for giving this advice:
--some of my best friends write for nmbe
--i have never scored below 97th %ile on a standardized test in my life
--i've coached med students who've failed steps 1 and 2, and everyone who's worked with me eventually passed
good luck
Posted by: anne | Dec 27, 2007 8:04:00 AM
Hi Anoo,
Well, from time-to-time, I share your problem & especially, with the simpler questions, you might be asked, written &\or oral. My personal advice to you, would be to just answer the question, straight away. I know that in my Med faculty, they don't like & don't want you to be "too smart", with the questions. I.E.: If asked a question in postoperative complications & their treatment, in Thoracic Surgery, don't waist time thinking, about possible renal\hepatic\... complications. Answer the specific question, to the letter & according to what you've been asked & the possible given answers.
You're NOT suppossed & NOT expected, to be smart, with your answers!
In short, look at the question & it's answers & think about each question (& it's given answers), as if it was your only question, at the moment. That's how I did, thus far & I passed both USMLE Steps 1 & 2, without breaking my head, too much. (There are exceptions, of course...)
Good luck,
Cheers,
Eran
Posted by: Eran | Dec 27, 2007 12:13:20 PM
Hi Kendra;
Merry X-Mas, I wish you happy and safe holiday.
Thanks for your valubale recommendations.I read it word by word.and that exactly wot I do,everyday I wake at 7:00 Am and study for 3-4 hours then take 2 hrs break.but sometimes I depressed..I dn't know why!!I wish to all a sucessfull exams .
yours,
Loiy Alkhatib
Posted by: Loiy | Dec 27, 2007 12:47:06 PM
Hi! One of the things that helps me is to do some sort of list with the most important points of each subject (a particular disease or whatever i´m studying) in really big papers and hung it on my walls... It works, specially if you have a "visual memory"... And something else, if you feel you have to stay up all night studying, don´t do it the night before the test. That´s because, while you sleep, your brain select the important information, so it´s really important to have a good night sleep before a test... or at least a few hours!!! Good Luck and greetings from Argentina!!!
Posted by: Ade | Dec 27, 2007 12:57:30 PM
thanx kendra :) ,, that was a helpful..
Posted by: fatimah alalawi | Dec 27, 2007 1:03:49 PM
well thanks for tips, but it looks very brief,
and yes caffeine is gud indeed, but its harmful effects cant be chaged.
regardz
fazal!
Posted by: fazal | Dec 27, 2007 1:25:31 PM
thanks for your tips! i think it will work...will try it now...haha..thanks! best wishes to you!
Posted by: breezy | Dec 27, 2007 2:34:17 PM
great tips. but i think to go thru everything before exam is essential for me.
one question, how to read faster? i m a (super) slow reader.
Posted by: jyc | Dec 27, 2007 3:23:58 PM
thanks guys 4 ur tips and contributions.caffeine doesn't work 4 me. i think d most imp thing is to follow a strict schedule like kendra suggested.but 4 readin wat one already knows, i do it often 'cos i believe that the more u go thru a particular thing,the more it sticks.
Posted by: obi | Dec 27, 2007 3:28:34 PM
It's really funny to read these comments! I think that most of the people who read these sort of articles are students. As such, none of you (or me) know EVERYTHING about anything and maybe instead of harassing eachother in a sadly stereotypically arrogant fashion, we should try to support each other. Everyone studies differently which is why advice is nice but not necessarily right for each individual. That doesn't make the person who is giving the advice a liar or unfit to speak their oppinions and share what worked for them, it is kind of people to take the time to try to help others with these tough situations. The Steps are very difficult and I personally enjoy other people's perspectives.
As for the whole caffiene debate...the person with the puritanical view of "recreational drugs" is hopefully a vegan and avoids chocolate and other naturally stimulating substances and also rides a bike eveywhere and avoids microwaves, X-Rays, sick people, and stress. Everything has the potential to harm when deficient or in excess: oxygen, water, meat, plants, sex, stress, smog, radiation, sun, driving, LIFE! I doubt that you know everything there is to know about past, current and potential future research and discoveries on such topics and so you sound like an ignorant fool taking such a condesending approach to the subject of studying, caffiene, and likely many other topics you attempt to discuss with people. Maybe you should try to be more humble and supportive of your fellow student and human being; it might improve the quality of care you give to others.
To all of those with productive outlooks and comments, thanks for taking the time :-)
Posted by: K | Dec 27, 2007 3:49:44 PM
Hey,
The best and most affordable caffeine option is Diet Pepsi Max. That stuff is awesome.
B vitamins are good, too.
Try to get some sleep - at least 6 hours - the night before the exam.
Use whiteboards - that's what I do. I have several on my wall and I write the most important information on them in contrasting colors. They work very well.
The various books out there to prepare for the USMLE are good, too. I really like the Kaplan series with the audio lectures.
=lc=
Posted by: lonecatalyst | Dec 27, 2007 6:42:41 PM
Thanks for your advices, I think they are good. I'll copy the information and put it up in my blog, I think that many people can benefice from this ideas. Thanks Kendra. I'm from Mexico, UMSNH Med School, If there is anything that I can do for you lelt me know.
Posted by: Luis Cruz | Dec 27, 2007 7:03:48 PM
thanks for the very very helpful advice! those things mght not be absolutely work for everyone, but for me i think those would work! im about to end my 1st yr in med school but i havent established yet a good studying habit for my grade's sake! i think those tips would really guide me, until i eventually, hopefully, and fortunately graduate! thank you so much.
Posted by: Eric John A. Marayag | Dec 27, 2007 7:23:51 PM
some good tips but would have to disagree with caffeine being ur friend. It does absolutely nada for me to keep me alert or awake. Also, i have pulled many all nighters or at least nights with just 1-2 hrs sleep before an exam and find it quite effective. Id freak out if i didnt have the night before to study. U can always go home after the exam and sleep for 2 days straight!!...well, maybe not.
Posted by: david | Dec 27, 2007 8:13:57 PM
hello Kendra,
thank you for ur tips... it will be a great help for me in my preparation for entrance exams.
i'd like to add some points also.
1. backlog day in schedule: we seldome complete out schedule goals(atleast i dont) so dont forget to keep one blank day in your schedule to cover up all the backlog!
2. the finer schedule you make the more intensified is the urge to complete it... like if you have made schedules for even hours in a day(that i'd have to do that topic in 3 hrs and after that the other topic in the next 4 hrs)
3. if youre doing nothing except preparing (like i am) then a breif nap in the afternoon boosts up your evening receptive powers
Posted by: saurabh | Dec 27, 2007 9:26:34 PM
Well, I think it depends on the way your mind works :)
I don't follow any of these steps and still I am preparing for my final exam right now :)
I guess you have to find your own way!
Posted by: KSK | Dec 27, 2007 9:44:14 PM
nice comments i will just add a few
The preparation of examination involves three phases
1) Understanding ...this will start from day 1 when you were listening to the lecture in your class, reading the text for the first time or sometimes revising it for the exam...figures, charts, flowsheets , all help in that and its a very much a dynamic process.
2) memorizing the things which you have understood..most people think that its the last stage but as fact its not the last stage (as you will see in the next section) mnemonics, associations etc help in that its actually putting things together in your dynamic synapses . a good night sleep after a hard session of memorization really helps consolidating the memory
3) Now comes the real step which will help you to get the maximum out of what you have done before...thats correlating and integrating things and answering the MCQs on the exam.what i mean from that is nobody would ask you what happens in common peroneal nerve injury...everyone can answer that... but they would put to you some clinical scenario and you have to identify the cause of a disbaility . the MCQs are sometime single step... a scenario and the answer... if they make it difficult they can give scenario dont tell the diagnosis and ask for the treatment so you have to think on two levels ... first know the diagnosis and and then look for appropriate treatment in the given choices.
and there are "distractors" in the choices ... what i mean from distractors is the answer choices which are there to trap you... they come in the differntial diagnosis of that presentation but they are NOT the final or appropriate diagnosis for thee given scenario. so you have to look for these distractors as well.
Posted by: aitzaz | Dec 28, 2007 1:20:54 AM
thanks for your tips! to students who have not been able to overcome the multiple choice exams.try to answer many questions and don not waste your time to answer them again before the exam only with a marker try to mark the information asked in the MCQ and then you will be able to revise what is important before the exam
Posted by: gessy | Dec 28, 2007 2:05:29 AM
Thank you very much for your tips .It is very help ful for me in my future. HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008
Posted by: Litun | Dec 28, 2007 2:18:21 AM
hi
i am probably going to consider your tips since i am preparing for my final cemestre. hope they will be help me.
Posted by: edward | Dec 28, 2007 3:02:26 AM
Thank you very much for tips too... In some way it calms down my nervous system before exams :)
I'd like to add some information about coffee... Its really helpful & perfect for brains to drink a cup of coffee early in the morning...
The side effects are the lowest!!!
----------------------------------
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2008!!!!
I wish everybody to pass the exams successfuly!!!
Posted by: Scalpel | Dec 28, 2007 3:28:04 AM
Say to yourself" i have a good memory"
And dont forget brain food:walnut
Posted by: isaac | Dec 28, 2007 6:06:49 AM
thanx alot about the tips.. i don't know if i can do it that i have a break before the exam .. but i think it worth a try ..
and Happy new yaer every one
Posted by: soud | Dec 28, 2007 9:03:21 AM
hello .. thanx for the nice tips .. but I have ques. .. is how to study it self ?? .. like should I learn every thing by heart .. or what? .. I wish u could giude me for an easy way to keep the information in my mind
thanx
Posted by: DALI | Dec 28, 2007 9:51:42 AM
Hello!! i'm a medical student like most of the rest readers .. it is really interesting and fun to read everybodys comments.... I also liked what K wrote ''Everyone studies differently which is why advice is nice but not necessarily right for each individual.''
i'm a student who plans my work but not necessarily work my plan ...and it kills me to say that. at the moment i am trying hard to stick to whatever plan i make. And i guess i see it working ... and i am sure if i keep up doing that i'll score the highest!! Honestly even with the bad style of studying i have i find myself scoring among the ''better''or the ''best''.
i will try to use your tips kendra as often as possible !! thank you for the encouragement!!
Happy new year to everybody !!
Posted by: Mic. | Dec 28, 2007 10:13:44 AM
well i don know about the us med school sys. here we have weekly exam(or i say formative assessment) for each sem plus end of sem exam n the pro.exam part 1&2 . GOD HELP ME!!! :( .... haiz.... btw she is right though caffeine is our friend ..... but not 2 much... bec it reduce memory(advice for a Dr.) wonder izzit true???
Posted by: Bryan Hau | Dec 28, 2007 10:55:42 AM
thanks 4 tips BUT why CAFFIENE?
Posted by: Marwa | Dec 28, 2007 11:00:44 AM
hey everybody!! thanks Kendra and really nice comments .. I liked specially K's comment(I totally agree with you)..I had that overanalyzing problem even during every day's conversation that I drove people mad !!but I think I got over it .. There is something else that I need help with: during many exams that I had , I read the question,figured out the right answer , then wrote something else!!!and I realise after the exam by myself thatI have written another answer different from the one I wanted to write ..Also I do make many mistakes related to concentration( really from all types of concentration mistakes) and not to knowing the right answer or not as I am sure I knew the right answer..How can I come over this??? thanks again
Posted by: Dina | Dec 28, 2007 2:14:37 PM
I totally agree about caffeine - especially if you are an anxious person it ends up giving you paplitations so bad that you can hear your heart thumping if you've been on it for a week or so. Try Ribena or Lucozade instead - glucose is much better cos, you know that brain feeds on this stuff. If it doesn't get enough it makes ketones, which make you feel awful as if you are on an Attkins diet. And the other thing- don't forget excercise - it's so good, even a half an hour jog or situps make you happier + stop making you put on so much podge from all the glucose you've had. Good luck with exams next year!!
xx
Posted by: ellie | Dec 28, 2007 4:00:52 PM
great tips for preparation for exam.
i think i will add a little more...
1. summarize what we study in points or diagrams.
2. use colorful pens to study or make notes so we easily remeber..
Posted by: roshni | Dec 28, 2007 5:05:29 PM
Hi Kendra
I am medical student from jordan i like to take my residency program un U.S.A to do that i am must pass all the USMLE exams so i decided to start preparing for part one in the next few days, i wounder if there is an advice for preparing to this exam what is your advice and if there is any specific recommend textbooks and how much time i need to prepare, i would be thankfull if you or any one else replay on my e-mail.
Good luck in your Exam i hope the best for you and others.
Posted by: Mohammed | Dec 29, 2007 2:20:55 AM
Great advice Kendra and dont let anyone tell u otherwise. definitely a good night's sleep the day before the exam is important, but some ppl like me cant sleep from the stress and stay in bed awake all night. questions just keep popping up in my head, and i keep thinking of this and that,and oh i dont remember this and eventually i get up and look for the answers. so i end up not sleeping at all. But its hard to fall asleep during the exam, the adrenaline gets released and u start remembering everythg. but like someone said earlier: not everythg works for everyone. each one of us is unique in someway.
i stick to most of ur advice but,
I have a few problems:
1) when it comes to putting schedules. the first couple of days i manage to stay to my schedule but after that i get way behind.I dont put enough time for each topic or subject, for example: i say i will finish topic A in an hour but actually i dont finish it before 3hrs. i know how to study fast, but sometimes i just get lost in the subdetails, and start comparing books (reading the same topic from 2 or 3 different sources). once i get into the mood of studying i cant help myself from doing that, somehow i get obsessed with the minor details
2) i dont like studying something twice. the first time is really interesting and i study with full power and full energy, but the second time is horrible. i may not remember all the details, but i get bored, not interested and it takes double or triple the time. the third time is fatal for me.
3) i hate memorizing, i am great at answering mcqs and cases, but when it comes to essays and enumerate causes of this and that i get a few of them and then go BLANK. OK i know that vitamin B12 deficiency causes peripheral neuropathy, but what are the causes of peripheral neuropathy, now i can remember like 4 or 5 but not ALL.
plz if anyone has a solution for any of these problems plz tell me, and thanks in advance. Good luck to u all in ur exams, and happy new year everyone...
Posted by: Tommy | Dec 29, 2007 3:54:27 AM
If you're a visual learner, as you go through the study schedule write down onto a SINGLE SHEET OF PAPER the main points about each major topic. Draw lines to separate each sub-topic into boxes and put in only the essential basic info. This forces you to revise the info while deciding the most significant points which will lead to the detailed stuff. Then practice 2-3 times writing out each of the single sheets including the boxes separating topics from memory until you get them down pat. Very helpful easy way to access info if you're in exam feeling distracted.
If like Tommy you have problems memorizing details or making links with specific areas of info, make a note of the tricky areas as you go along and give a bit of extra time. Try using the single-sheet-of-paper method for that info too. Or make up mnemonics or visualizations (the weirder the better) to help you remember detailed stuff.
Posted by: Chris | Dec 29, 2007 11:49:16 AM
hey everyone
i think everyone has diferent ways of studing medical or non medical. so whatever works for u... jus do it. anyways thanks K.
Posted by: Ann | Dec 29, 2007 4:43:35 PM
Also,
If you have trouble studying EVERYTHING for the exam, then go over each of the topics by just looking at the major points - the overall big picture - first. Once you have done that, you can repeat, but this time add more detail - start studying things that you think are important that you didn't look through the last time and don't spend much time on things you already know. Then, if you still have time, which you probably won't, do the same but take it one step further again.
mnemonics, mnemonics, mnemonics - the crazier the better! i use WordWeb, a tiny program that sits in my tray - it has a mnemonic section that i use all the time.
make notecards and carry them with you in your purse or your back pocket if you're a guy like me. study while waiting in line at the grocery store, stoplights, etc.
=lc=
Posted by: lonecatalyst | Dec 29, 2007 5:42:55 PM
Thank you so much for your tips. I am sure they would be really helpful. I am a behavior Sciences student. I think Relaxation techniques are reaaly good when you are in stress. It relaxes your body and mind. Cds are readily available in the market. You can even record 1 in your own voice that would help even more.
Add visuals and imaginations in your studies. Make tables and diagrams. Try to summarize and brief your course as mush as you can.
Have faith in your self.
regards,
Sidra Sherazi
Posted by: sidra sherazi | Dec 29, 2007 6:27:43 PM
the only advise i have with caffeine is that dont take it before an exam otherwise you will feel the urge to take frequent bathroom trips which is only an interruption when you should be concentrating on your exam.this is because it is a well know direutic...hence avoid. but other than that if it helps you stay awake and thus study better or longer then go for it.life is too short to be over critical on stuff like caffeine...i totally agree with K on this. He/she makes a good point...you got to live a little too...anything in excess is harmful!!
Posted by: ashram | Dec 30, 2007 7:07:26 AM
thamx for this beautifull tips
Posted by: nasser | Dec 30, 2007 10:43:10 AM
I really liked your post Kendra, obviously this is one area where everyone is always experimenting. thus some good tips are always very helpful.
to add to what Tommy said, im one of those people that cannot put in the same intensity on the 2nd or 3rd read & as a result my scores suffer badily.
i would like to hear/know what other med students do across the world. how do you guys keep with the repeated readings? any tips for making it interesting?
thanks
Posted by: lia | Dec 30, 2007 7:02:05 PM
thx for the tips...but caffeine is really not my cup of 'coffee', though my friend uses it to energize her brain when exams are around the corner. My advice for coffee drinkers, be wary about the side effects. we med students have just too many exams, taking caffeine during exams=long term usage.
Posted by: JOY | Dec 30, 2007 9:44:54 PM
Loved your comment K. made the most sense. ur right no substance is without its side effects...
I just have one contribution to make, not seeing it mentioned at all..and that's prayer, cause God knows many a time that's what pulled me through. i know a lot u "intellectuals" don't believe in the power of prayer and that everything is based on hard work and chance. rubbish. It DOES work. God DOES exist and that in my opinion is UNDEBATABLE.
Posted by: brick | Dec 31, 2007 8:57:18 AM
Hey everybody. First off all, sorry for my english is really bad. I´m from Venezuela. I want to tell my opinion about studying. There are 2 cain of studies: The one wich you learn and you get goog notes.
The one wich you can only survive.
The first one is really obvious, studying with time, having little breaks every hour of 10 to 15 min doing wherever you like (i recomend to do things that can really free your mind, like go out of your house, bethroom, library), having good meal especially Carbohidrates (remember what do your brain use), and all the things that you had red in this site...
But second and more important the study of last minute. Is listen everything you can of the people around you(Be careful from who are you listening the information) before the exam because probably for all the epinefrin, your brain transformate in a Einstein brain and absorbes all the information. BUT the problem is that in the moment you go out of the room, all this information go to the trash.
SO my recomendation is doing to studies simultaniously, the first for learning do it whit allot of time, and second for having good notes, study close to the examen for remind all the details.
HAPPY NEW YEAR and remember for being a good DOC: treat the pacient like real person and not like a decease.
CHAVEZ SUCK´S
Posted by: Nacho | Dec 31, 2007 4:11:15 PM
Just wanna say ,,, Happy New year.
Posted by: Waseem | Dec 31, 2007 4:15:17 PM
Thanks , Happy new year to everybody
Posted by: Mohan | Jan 1, 2008 12:16:22 AM
i agree with all the recommendations.its really good.but,i dont agree with the caffeine thing.it has alot of bad effects on health.as mentioned by other people who commented on this article.
Posted by: | Jan 1, 2008 7:06:05 AM
heyya......the things you say r cool..but i do strongly believe that we need to get some important stuffs onto our head the night before plus 4 hours of peaceful sleep.don't u think so..hmm
Posted by: FAHEEMA HASAN | Jan 2, 2008 12:17:04 AM
Hi Kendra Campbell...
How are you?
Thank you for your bright ideas !!!
I hope you will be the great doctor in the world!!!
I just add one again to face the big exam:
believe your heart, yourself, and ask your God to help you.
Best and warmth regards,
Indonesian medical student
Dito Anurogo
ditoanurogo@gmail.com
Posted by: Dito Anurogo | Jan 2, 2008 4:17:24 AM
hi kaarle thanks fr suggestin
but i think its better to go by ur way n style
as what u feel comfort
Posted by: imran | Jan 2, 2008 11:46:45 AM
thnx for this interesting post Kindra,
and I totally agree with brick..in the end its only your Creator..God Almighty who can get you through
All the best everyone
Posted by: Umair | Jan 3, 2008 2:45:13 AM
exellent tips kendra!!! I'm sure lots of us will start doing some of the thing you mentioned. I'm a Chilean 5th year Med Student and what really helps, is to study all by yourself the first days then the 2 o 3 day before your exam try to meet some of your partners and speak out loud the information, you will learn more, you will understand many thing you didn't catch the first time and also you will be helping your partners.. Good luck for everyone!
Posted by: Patricio | Jan 3, 2008 9:04:46 PM
The most important tool I think any med student would need for success in any exam is understanding your system.understand how ur system works for u and u are on top of ur exams.As for caffein.I dont advice anyone to use that because once ur system gets used to it,u cant stop and the stress and headaches to mention but a few u cant cope with as a med student.
Posted by: vinny | Jan 4, 2008 2:08:10 AM
THANKS VERY MUCH FOT THE TIPS
IT WAS VERY USEFULL.....
Posted by: sreejesh | Jan 4, 2008 7:22:44 AM
Hi Kendra!
Thanks for the really great tips!
Something else that I find helps is to make a list of the chapters that need to be studied and tick them off as they've been studied. Helps a lot for motivation when you can see how far you are.
And Caffeine is definitely my friend.
Posted by: Linda | Jan 4, 2008 8:40:01 AM
HI!I'm not a coffee drinker but let's face it:coffein is an addictive drug. Seen many cases of addiction but what do you think about this case study? 22 year old male, 102kg (only muscle), medical student, my collegue, studying for a hard exam. The night before the exam drinks 1,3 liters of strong coffee (i myself made it) then he could study for about 2 hours then went to bed and slept like a baby? Any comments on this case? Pls post them!
Posted by: Csaba | Jan 5, 2008 3:04:40 PM
great tips! i will definitely try it for my future exams. i also have something to add. after studying by yourself, you could also try letting your fellow students ask you questions about things that they may or may not understand. this way you can also help them and at the same time remember the things you need to remember. this usually helps for me. thanks. happy new year. btw im a premed student graduating this year and hopefully going to med school also this year.
Posted by: mej | Jan 6, 2008 5:58:42 AM
hellloooo medical students, thanx for your efforts i like ur ideas in studing and i just want to add 2 advises to you,,, always think that u can do the thing you created to and never give up... write summeries for the topics u studied, stick them on the wall infront of ur bed and just take a look of them before you wear your bejama and go to your bed and have a nice medical dreams (:
Posted by: Doaa | Jan 9, 2008 1:22:12 PM
I find it helps to talk out loud to yourself while you study. Talk your way through a hormonal pathway, and point to each part of your body as you study anatomy. Saying things out loud definitely helps me. Be aware, though... my friends say I'm a serial killer, because they saw me pacing around my room talking to myself and pointing to things on my body...
Posted by: Brenden | Jan 9, 2008 4:07:41 PM
I'm a caffeine addict and certainly is not degrading my life since I knew it, all it's harmful effects are down to "negligible" even nil. Actually studying doesn't get meaningful without a beautiful mug o' tea.
Thanks for the tips and yes I believe in the work of God because I've seen myself at best preparations that didn't quite work as planned.
Posted by: B | Jan 10, 2008 3:22:04 AM
tnx for the advise kendra,this would be a great help for us student.
Posted by: joanna | Jan 14, 2008 1:24:39 AM
I study in Lambung Mangkurat University School of Medicine, Banjarmasin, Indonesia.
Thank you very much.
Very very helpful tip. :)
Posted by: Muhammad Riyad Filza | Jan 15, 2008 6:22:11 PM
thanks for this wederfull suggestions but what about keep repeating&agian in order not to forget it by write important topics&keep it in sight
Posted by: balqeis.bakri | Jan 19, 2008 10:33:30 AM
thanks for this wederfull suggestions but what about keep repeating&agian in order not to forget it by write important topics&keep it in sight
Posted by: new suggetion | Jan 19, 2008 10:35:34 AM
caffeine is a friend - but not too much caffeine. i tried having a lot of coffee and red bull before exams, but they didn't seem to help. in hindsight i realised i was taking too much caffeine - my brain would just 'wired' and i would get a buzzing feeling after having too much caffeine, and couldnt concentrate. rather, i would suggest take strong TEA. less caffeine that coffee, but perfect amount to help your concentration, and not go overboard.
Posted by: Archit | Jan 23, 2008 1:31:21 AM
hi kendra,thank u for ur tips, hope they made u reach ur goal successfully.
i just wanted to emphasise on what u said about having a good amount of rest and sleep the night of the exam,it really works. i know many people can't sleep early the night of the exam and they just feel the have to finish the curreculum once more before they get to sleep,actually i was one of those, untill in my last exam i was so ill that i had to sleep early and even skip some parts without revising ,yet i woke up so energetic than ever and thanks to Allah did great in the exam.So i just decided that maybe really our minds need a break before the exam.
And for u "overanalyzer", believe me the first choice that pops up in ur mind is the best choice especially in the MCQs,try it and u will find it true.
Wish u all happy exams and satisfying Results.
Posted by: mai | Jan 24, 2008 11:32:12 AM
hello every body
thanx for your advice
well, I'm having a problem in the way of studying itself.... I think it's time consuming
I also get bored easily ...specially a subject like community medicine ....any tips for boring subjects?
thanx
Posted by: carzy medicine | Feb 1, 2008 1:20:36 AM
Csaba,
One can develop a complete tolerance to caffeine. During the school year when I'm chronically sleep deprived, I can drink liters of strong coffee and all asleep shortly thereafter.
Posted by: | Feb 1, 2008 3:29:11 PM
For all of you anti-caffeine freaks... before caffeine, humans were in the dark ages drinking beer throughout the day while working. Caffeine is a drug, but a drug that enabled people to be more productive during the industrial revolution... it is now the most widely used pharmaceutical in the world. It is a natural antioxidant. It has been shown to extend endurance during exercise. Oh, and caffeine has been shown to reduce the risk of getting ovarian cancer! http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/94693.php
If you shun caffeine, that's utterly ridiculous! I would love to see what those people say to their patients who ask for pain killers... haha.
Try mate tea sometime and you will realize that not all caffeine is bad. Heck, go buy the book, "The Caffeine Advantage" and you will DEFINITELY be swayed.
Posted by: M1UIC | Feb 4, 2008 8:45:50 PM
Wow, Kendra!!Thanx for ur tips. Btw, i have habits that i can't leave it:
1. I can't reading my books for a long time, and always sleepy in the end (eventhough a glass of coffee accompany me)..
2. My long term memory is very bad, i must read more than once to remember it, but i don't have much time to read it again,,
Can't u give me some tips to be better with my habbits like that??
Thanx 4 all.
Posted by: moz5 | Feb 16, 2008 11:59:53 PM
thanks i ll try out these tips ... n see the results..
Posted by: grace | Mar 4, 2008 8:45:45 AM
thanx for the tips..maybe i'll try those tips..but in my med school somewhere in indonesia,there is no study week..after we are finished 1 system,we'll have our exam at the following week..so tiring.. n yes i agree with u..caffein is the best buddy..(^_^)v
Posted by: fiqah | Mar 10, 2008 2:38:56 PM
