Feeling ready for an exam

[OneTyme]

---

Members do not see this ad.

In undergrad I would study for a test until I felt bored with the material. At that point, I would realize that I was ready. As long as I felt 'bored' with the material I would walk into the exam and CRUSH it.

Med school is so much different. I feel incredibly panicked all the way until the exam starts. I'm not sure what it is. Maybe that there is just such depth that I couldn't ever know it all?

Anybody else have this feeling?

 

[rmaj79]

Yep. Hope it gets better / we can adjust

 

[SoundofSilver]

It's hard to feel 100% prepared for any med school exam because it isn't possible to master every little detail there is. Too much minutia.

 

[NearnstPotentia]

It's hard to feel 100% prepared for any med school exam because it isn't possible to master every little detail there is. Too much minutia.

While I agree it is next to impossible to feel confident that you can get 100% on an exam (like in undergrad), lately I have improved my study methods such that I am confident that I will score in the upper quartile on exams. This is good enough for me since we have a P/NP grading system anyways.

I think it's all about getting a feel for what is high-yield. This takes some practice. Admittedly I am still learning how to do this as instructors occasionally still throw me a curveball.

Regarding feeling panicked, this might be a good thing (being part of the pack I mean). I typically feign nonchalance much to the chagrin of my peers.

 

[OneTyme]

While I agree it is next to impossible to feel confident that you can get 100% on an exam (like in undergrad), lately I have improved my study methods such that I am confident that I will score in the upper quartile on exams. This is good enough for me since we have a P/NP grading system anyways.

I think it's all about getting a feel for what is high-yield. This takes some practice. Admittedly I am still learning how to do this as instructors occasionally still throw me a curveball.

Regarding feeling panicked, this might be a good thing (being part of the pack I mean). I typically feign nonchalance much to the chagrin of my peers.

P/NP is the motha effin shizzle... STRAIGHT UP

 

[Jack is Back]

While I agree it is next to impossible to feel confident that you can get 100% on an exam (like in undergrad), lately I have improved my study methods such that I am confident that I will score in the upper quartile on exams. This is good enough for me since we have a P/NP grading system anyways.

I think it's all about getting a feel for what is high-yield. This takes some practice. Admittedly I am still learning how to do this as instructors occasionally still throw me a curveball.

Regarding feeling panicked, this might be a good thing (being part of the pack I mean). I typically feign nonchalance much to the chagrin of my peers.

Pretty much my take.

 

[Morsetlis]

You definitely have to get a feel for what's high yield.

And, even then, they can throw curveballs.

Right now I'm doing the "know-everything" approach since I want >90%, lol...

Preeetty sure I'll forget most of it in a few months.

 

[BlueElmo]

Never felt 100% prepared for any med school exam so far. Hell, it would be a job well done if I felt 80% prepared...

 

[Juis]

Wait till you guys prep for Step 1... there is no comparison

 

[OneTyme]

Wait till you guys prep for Step 1... there is no comparison

I started prepping for step one on the first day. As in I was straight up going over first aid during the white coat ceremony....

Like a BOSS

 

[TMosby]

That feeling never goes away. Board exams... shelf exams... I just focused rather on finishing a book or two (like Casefiles or First Aid) and hoping the authors made it comprehensive enough. At least that felt like a quantifiable milestone of readiness.

 

[Crestfallen000]

I've felt prepared for hematology exams but not for resp for example. So it really depends on what your strong areas are.

 

[Radiculopathic]

Now, if I always feel bored while I study does that mean I'm always ready for the exam?

 

[Morsetlis]

Now, if I always feel bored while I study does that mean I'm always ready for the exam?

You don't know what you don't know. If you be bored studying A, B, and C, you could be a master of it all, but what if a question were asked on A+D ?

The only way to be sure is to go back through ALL the lecture notes 😀

 

[arid]

now, if i always feel bored while i study does that mean i'm always ready for the exam?

+1

 

[OneTyme]

Now, if I always feel bored while I study does that mean I'm always ready for the exam?

Well, I finally got bored with cell phys the night before the final. With about 2 hours to go before my usual quittin' time I got seriously bored and just decided I was ready.

I totally killed it.

BOOM.

The boredom meter is now scientifically proven to produce good medical students. My book is going to make MILLIONS.

 

[NickNaylor]

Never felt 100% prepared for any med school exam so far. Hell, it would be a job well done if I felt 80% prepared...

This describes the situation for me pretty well.

It hasn't gotten better yet, but I've become more uncomfortable with it. The first test sucked. Now I'm just used to the feeling.

 

[2012mdc]

Now, if I always feel bored while I study does that mean I'm always ready for the exam?

Of course, lol.

In med school it's impossible to completely master a subject bc there's too much material but after awhile you get to a point where you know you mastered close to 100% of the important stuff (drop the percentage down for Step 1) I got to a point where I was never surprised by my score on a particular exam.

 

[Elbowstoopointy]

In undergrad I would study for a test until I felt bored with the material. At that point, I would realize that I was ready. As long as I felt 'bored' with the material I would walk into the exam and CRUSH it.

Med school is so much different. I feel incredibly panicked all the way until the exam starts. I'm not sure what it is. Maybe that there is just such depth that I couldn't ever know it all?

Anybody else have this feeling?

You shouldn't feel like that if you prepared/over-prepared (unless its step 1)