Examination Preparation Skills

Phase 1: First week

1. Compose calendar, compress time2. Mark all obligations in the calendar3. Determine clearly the studying time

Phase 1: First weeks

4. List of blocks of knowledge5. Determine adequate time for each block6. Determine the time for blocks integration7. Anticipate the time for assessment of

retained knowledge

Phase 2: Midterm of Studying

1. Careful organization of each day2. Define the questions3. Build knowledge tower brick by brick4. Logical upgrade of new on already known5. Reading of auxilary materials

Phase 3: Last week before exam

1. Re-examine the notes2. Do I understand the substance?3. Do not prepare the hiden notes

for cheating on exam

Phase 4: Last days before exam

1. Identify what is unkown2. Use textbook index3. Reread the summaries in each chapter4. Answer to all questions5. Condense the most important facts on pocket

card

A. Identify the knowledge gapsB. Divide the day in study blocksC. RereadingD. Repetition, repetition

What is crucial in the final phase?

Passing the Examination Skills

1. Peruse the entire test carefully2. Note number and type of

questions and difficulty level3. Answer the easyest questions

first4. Economize the time at disposal

1. Rule of “first impression2. If question is long: probably true3. Words: “often, usually, sometime” point to correct answer4. Words “always and never” suggest incorrect answer

“True-False” tests

Multiple choice tests

1. First read all answers, then question2. Only one answer is correct, others are not3. Apply the rule of the longest answer4. Consider the rule of the first answer5. Traps: “all is correct, except”

Multiple choice tests

Arms Legs

Right Left Right Left

Tone N(ormal) < N N

Motor strenght 4/5 4/5 3/5 4/5

Coordination N N N N

TouchProprioception

NN

NN

NN

NN

RefleksiBiceps Triceps

Supinator

- (none)- (none)

+

- (none)- (none)

+

PatelarniAnklePlantar

- (none)- (none)

<

- (none)- (none)

<

Multiple choice tests

Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?a. Polio

b. Motor Neurone disease c. Myasthenia gravis

d. Stroke e. Multiple sclerosis

f. Creutzfeldt Jacob disease g. Guillain Barre Syndrome

Which diagnosis is the most probable?

a) Poliomijelitisb) Myasthenia gravis c) Stroked) Sclerosis multiplex e) Creutzfeldt Jacobova diseasef) Guillain Barre syndrome

Multiple choice tests

Overwight 63 y. old woman is hospitalized because of jaundice. She denies abdominal pain, a painless gall bladder is palpable. Scratches on skeen point out to pronounced itching. She use to drink several liters of alcohol weekly.

Laboratory data:

Albumine 32 (35-50)Alk. phosph. 456 (<110)ALT 88 (<40)Bilirubin 120 (<20)INR 1.6 GGT 400 (0-70)

Multiple choice tests

Which diagnosis is the most probable?

a. Gallbladder stonesb. Paracetamolo overdosisc. Pancreas cancer d. Alcoholic hepatitise. Primary biliary cirrhosis

“Cross-match” tests

1. Leading list – statement– correlation list2. Test the whole block of information3. Test the ability to note the differences in

the group of closely connected facts

Match the element with its place on the table

1. Oxygen2. Helium3. Magnesium4. Potassium5. Calcium

a) 2b) 8c) 12d) 19e) 14

Match the cells and type of gastric secretion

1. Parietal cells2. D cells3. G cells4. Chief cells5. Mucous cells

a) Pepsinogenb) Gastrinc) Hydrogend) Somatostatine) Alkali secretion

Tactic in solving cross-match test

1. Identify main problem2. Read instruction carefully3. Study the correlation list4. Make the table5. Apply exclusion method

Essay

1. Format the structure2. Determine main

paragraphs3. Standard format:a) Introductionb) Expositionc) Theses and argumentsd) Conclusion

Essay - phases

1. Topic selection2. Design the diagram/outline3. Determine which message one wish to convey4. Introduction5. Main message6. Supporting message7. Conclusion8. Polishing

Essay - phases

1. Theme selection

Free or givenGiven: one or severalSelect the most familiar one, one with the most research sources or one student is intrested in the most

Essay - phases2. Make a diagram to organize the ideasIn center is the main topic, for example “Cancer treatment tody”At periphery are the important elements to be elaborated

Essay - phases2. Outline

I. Main ides – improved results of the treatmenta) Arguments - statisticsb) Facts - comparisonc) Processes – translationII. Supporting idea – significance of the sciencea) nanotechnologiesb) immunologyc) light therapyIII. Supporting idea – role of better diagnostic toolsa) CTb) PETc) Tumor markers

Essay - phases

3. Main message to be communicated. Message has two parts: first contain the main topis, second is the strongest message

E.g.In cancer treatment, significant improvement is achieved over last century!

Essay - phases

4. IntroductionTopic significance, attract the attentionUsage of anecdotes and bizarre happeningsEssay summaryExpose the main message

Essay - phases

7. Conclusion• Underline the main ideas• Expose the author’s personal opinion• Instructions for work in the future

Essay - phases8. Control and polishing

End of writing is not the real end! Check out:

Sequences of paragraphs, clarity of exposition, logic of exposition, understandability of each sentenceSpelling and grammatical errorsText formattingCorrect title? Information of author?