Do you get to review your exams?

[Amadeus011]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I have an important question that I would really appreciate some feedback on from other medical students.
Medical students really like to be able to review their exams so that they can know what they got wrong and get the question right the next time they see it.
However, at my medical school, we only get to review something called a "concept sheet" that lists the concepts associated with the question we got wrong. This can be incredibly vague, and even if you kind of remember the wording of the question it is referring to but you still think the answer you put is correct, not helpful because you can't see what the supposed correct answer was.
I am very curious to know how many medical schools let their students review the actual exam, with the right answer and the answer they put. This is a policy that I feel should be changed at my school, and I want to get a sense of what happens at other schools so I can have some idea of what the general practice is. I would greatly appreciate any feedback on this important issue.

 

[turkeyjerky]

I agree that's a terrible policy. My school allows students to review the answer key and challenge questions for a few hours right after the exam in a special room set aside for this. Then all the exam booklets and answer keys are gathered up and kept, so that people cannot give the exams to next years students to review.

 

[armybound]

My first year we were allowed to review the exams with an answer key. It was crucial to understanding how our thought process was wrong.

Second year they changed it because they felt some people were memorizing questions and answers and passing that knowledge on to subsequent years. It was a horrible change and we tried to get it changed back immediately. Not sure what the current state of the policy is

 

[dr zaius]

A few days after the exam we go back into the computer room and are allowed to log in and review the exam. The instructors are also in the room to answer any questions and/or allow you to challenge answers. It's a pretty good system.

 

[Phyozo]

I have an important question that I would really appreciate some feedback on from other medical students.
Medical students really like to be able to review their exams so that they can know what they got wrong and get the question right the next time they see it.
However, at my medical school, we only get to review something called a "concept sheet" that lists the concepts associated with the question we got wrong. This can be incredibly vague, and even if you kind of remember the wording of the question it is referring to but you still think the answer you put is correct, not helpful because you can't see what the supposed correct answer was.
I am very curious to know how many medical schools let their students review the actual exam, with the right answer and the answer they put. This is a policy that I feel should be changed at my school, and I want to get a sense of what happens at other schools so I can have some idea of what the general practice is. I would greatly appreciate any feedback on this important issue.

At my med school, we are allowed to review any test we've taken. This is essential because otherwise you won't know exactly what the error in your thinking was. Reviewing a concept sheet is inadequate since most people will read the necessary concepts and agree with them, but they still will not know why they answered the question incorrectly. Also, this method allows test writers to get away with poorly written questions.

 

[tryp]

We are allowed to review our exams after the marks are released by making an appointment. It's supervised but I think you do get the actual exam and answer key.

 

[MrBeauregard]

We gather in the room where we took the test along with faculty and testing administrators. We receive a print out of our answer/score sheet. It contains # of question, mean, median, mode and SD for all questions given by a particular professor as well as for the test overall. We are allowed to get individual copies of the exam and sit at our desk to review the exam with a friend or alone. We are encouraged to speak to our professors about questions we missed and where we went wrong in our thinking. This is an incredibly important time for a medical student and has contributed greatly to my understanding because it allows me to clarify concepts before I see them again, maybe in another system or on boards.

It sucks that your school only gives you concept sheets; that doesn't help you as a student at all. I definitely think you should talk to your administrators and professors about the possibility of changing the policy. It really is only hurting the students in the end. Your school may be very concerned with protecting test questions, but there are ways to do this while still allowing students to thoroughly review and understand their mistakes.

 

[Amadeus011]

I want to thank everyone that has replied so far. I really appreciate the feedback and it seems that many schools do employ the most sensible option of allowing students to review the actual exam.
I won't feel as off base now making this point to administrators at my school. They just don't seem to get how crucial this is.
Thanks again, and any further feedback from other users is appreciated.

 

[Staradmiral]

In first year the majority of the professors voluntarily reviewed the exams a week after the test with the class going through all questions and answers. Students copying down answers isn't a problem because the professors write a new exam each year. In second year we can review any test by appointment. Students must be able to know what they got wrong and learn from mistakes.

 

[smltwnDr]

At my medical school we are able to review exams for one week. We have to check out the exams and sit in a designated room and go over questions. We are also able to challenge questions as well (up to four). I would hate not being able to review questions you got wrong, because I think thats how you learn, not just the knowledge you missed, but how you are at taking tests.

 

[LossForWords]

My first year we were allowed to review the exams with an answer key. It was crucial to understanding how our thought process was wrong.

Second year they changed it because they felt some people were memorizing questions and answers and passing that knowledge on to subsequent years. It was a horrible change and we tried to get it changed back immediately. Not sure what the current state of the policy is

Exact thing happened at my school. They changed it right after my 2nd year so I dodged that bullet.