Happy New Year folks! I hope you’re all ready to kick ass this year! 2020 was a year with unique challenges for each of us so here’s to a New Year with new opportunities!
For better or for worse standardised testing is still very much the norm in medicine and almost universally required to progress in your career. It’s important to say, struggling with exams does not mean you’re a bad doctor; the same way excelling at exams does not make you a terrific doctor. It means you’re good at standardised tests, nothing more. But you can always improve your odds and give yourself the best chance. When it comes to exams, as with anything else in life, do the simple things well and you will excel. Here are seven tips to get you through the exams you have coming up this year!
- Know your learning style
- Get to grips with the exam
- When it comes to resources, less is more
- Be Strategic
- Start Early
- Consistency is key
- Look after your physical and mental health
- Know your learning style: This is critically important because it will dictate the type of resources you use. Everyone has different learning styles and it pays to know yours. Verbal learners work better with text heavy material. If you’re a visual learner you might benefit from more pictures or video illustrations of which there are many. For aural learners, a resource like pathoma or a study podcast may be a good option. Group study on the other hand is a great tool for social learners. But first you must know yourself and what suits you. Reflect on exams you enjoyed studying for and the ones you hated or failed. You may identify certain things that have always worked. Once you’ve found something that works, stick to it.
- Get to grips with the exam: This follows on from point number one. Going into an exam without prior information is like going to sea without a map. Knowing the exam will require you to do your research. What is the scope of the exam? Is it a basic science heavy exam or is it more clinical? Who are the examiners? Will there be real or simulated patients? If it’s in a different country from your country of study or practice you need to find out the norms of exam practice and presentation in that country. Talk to others who have recently passed the exam and look up forums. Knowing the exam will help dictate your method of preparation and optimise your study time.
- When it comes to resources, less is more: Beware of spreading yourself too thin with too many resources. If you dip your hands in too many pots, you will fail to get the full benefit of any. So pick a resource that suits you and go through it methodically. Use other resources as references if needed.
- Be Strategic: In other words, study smart. This is where people often fail. Despite knowing their strengths, weaknesses and what the exam entails, they fail to adjust their study plan accordingly. For example if you’re studying for step 1 of the USMLE and you’ve nailed pathology, studying more pathology won’t increase your score by much. You’re probably better off learning that Kreb cycle you’ve been putting off! Tackle your weakest areas especially if they are heavily examined. This approach will give you the best return on investment.
- Start Early: This for me is one of the key steps. During med school, studying is relatively easy because you’re a full time student. Starting early is even more important for post-graduate exams because you now have the added responsibility of work. Do yourself a favour and avoid putting pressure on yourself close to the exam. You want to keep your sanity throughout the study period and the less pressure on you as the exam approaches the better. It means you’re studying for longer, but it also means you have more time to identify your weak spots and build the right foundations.
- Consistency is key: Here is where discipline comes in. If keeping to your commitments is something you struggle with, preparing for exams will be difficult. So you’ll need to keep your eye on the end game here and get into thinking along the lines of delayed gratification. Personally, when I am preparing for an exam, after work I go straight to the library and do a bit of study. No matter how little. It may seem inconsequential, but the little things you add to your learning everyday will make a huge difference. The key to medical exams success is to commit to a daily study plan.
- Look after your physical and mental health: Get enough sleep. Burning the midnight candle means you lose out on that REM sleep period for consolidating what you’ve learned. Try to maintain a healthy balance and make physical activity a part of your weekly routine. You may not have as much time for all your hobbies, but spending a bit of time doing the things you love every week goes a long way. Sometimes you have to avoid people who always talk about exams and stress you out. It is also important to avoid comparing yourself with others if you want to stay sane.
Wishing you success in all your goals this year! Go kick some ass!
These are so helpful! 👏🏾👏🏾
Great idea to reflect on exams that went well/badly and change exam prep appropriately!