Study Skills & Test-Taking Strategies for Medical Students

This guide aims to provide techniques that aid medical students in their understanding, analysis and recollection of study material. Topics discussed include taking notes, time management, problem-solving, stress management, organization, working in study groups and preparing for exams.

One Identification of Learning Style.- Purpose.- Taking Control of the Examination Process.- Learning Style Questionnaire.- Sensing (S).- Intuition (N).- Judging (J) and Perceiving (P).- Additional Myers-Briggs Learning Style Dimensions.- Extraversion and Introversion.- Extraversion (E).- Introversion (I).- Application of E and I in Examination Preparation.- Thinking and Feeling.- Determining your Type.- Perceptual Preference.- Visual.- Aural/Oral.- Kinetic.- Gustatory.- Tactile.- Summary.- References.- Suggested Readings.- Two Time Management * Goal Setting * Memory.- Purpose.- Time Management.- The Memory Curve.- Optimal Memory Curve.- Improving Memory.- Specific Study Strategies.- Schedule Construction.- Selecting Study Tasks.- Narrow Your Focus.- Work with Related Material.- Using Your Learning Style.- Vary Sensory Use.- About Procrastination-The Emotional Warning Signs.- Time Accountability.- Time Log and Time Pie.- Time Log Formulation.- Time Log.- Personal Time Pie.- Study Tricks And Treats.- Methods for Time Efficiency.- Catching Up with Missed Work.- Summary.- References.- Suggested Readings.- Three Taking Notes.- Purpose.- Taking Classroom Notes.- Classroom Note-Taking Necessities.- Labeling Notes.- Labels You Cannot Do Without.- Using Labels in Essay Writing.- Using Isabels to Construct Exam Questions.- Expanding Class Notes.- Leaving Space.- Taking Notes From Textbooks.- Organizational Components.- Headings.- Details and Items.- Labels.- Labeling Textbooks.- Indented Format.- Chart Construction and Use.- Cell Chart.- Flow Chart.- Summary.- References.- Four Problem-Solving.- Purpose.- Individual Differences in Problem-Solving Skills.- Know Yourself.- Expand Learning-Style Techniques.- Using Sensing, Intuition, Thinking and Feeling to Examine the Problem.- Using Extraversion and Introversion, Judging and Perceiving.- Define the Problem.- Devise a Strategy-Form Subgoals.- Execute the Strategy.- Evaluate Your Progress.- Summary.- References.- Suggested Readings.- Five Preparing for Medical Licensing Examinations.- Purpose.- Mind Your Mind.- The Exam.- Review Strategies.- Plan.- Subject Coverage.- Time Use.- Scheduling.- Integrating Subjects: Organ System/Pathology Review.- Setting Up an Organ System/Pathology Review.- Four-Step Strategy.- Question Matrix Steps.- Renal System Organ System Review.- Use of Study Partners in the Comprehensive Review.- Summary.- References.- Six Stress Management for Exams.- Purpose.- Causes of Transitory Stress.- Self-Efficacy.- Signs of Stress.- Stress Redution Techniques.- Developing Positive Self-Talk.- Eliminating Negative Self-Talk.- Exercises for Identifying and Improving Self-Talk.- Evaluating Your Attitude Toward Examinations.- Demonstration Of Negative Or Positive Thinking.- Positive Thinking.- Negative Thinking.- Stress-Reduction Exercises.- The Alexander Technique.- Breathing.- Physical Exercise.- Spot-Check Mini-Exercises to Be Done During Studying and Exams.- Restful Images.- Involving Your Family and Friends.- Summary.- References.- Suggested Readings.- Seven Test-Taking * Discrimination Skills.- Purpose.- Equipment.- The Examinee.- The Exam.- Pacing.- Choosing Answers.- Question Format.- One Best Answer-Positive Stem.- One Best Answer-Negative Stem.- Matching-Type Questions.- Case History Type Questions.- K-Type Format.- Question Analysis.- Types Of Questions.- Simple Recall.- Problem Solving.- Process Questions-Chain of Cause/Effect.- Three Steps In The If-All-Else-Fails Department.- Memory Jogs by Content Recall.- Memory Jogs by Study Situation Context Recall.- Memory Jogs by Material Context Recall.- Guessing And Analyzing.- Performance Analysis-Test-Taking.- Summary.- References.- Eight Organizing and Working in a Study Group.- Purpose.- Some Dos and Donts of Groups.- Do Establish Structure.- Don't Get Sloppy.- Group Study Tasks * Organ System Review.- Choosing the Study Focus.- Preparation for Group.- Becoming an Expert.- Follow Group Rules.- Reveal Your Weaknesses.- Application of The Problem-Solving Model to Groups.- Summary.- References.- Suggested Readings.