How to spot a 'very challenging' question?

[Shejeboshease]

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there is always some question with familiar terms/concepts which makes me feel like i can answer it...then i end up spending too much time and get it wrong 🙁
do you guys have any strategies to spot these kinda questions early so you can just make an educational guess and move on?

 

[kryptik]

there is always some question with familiar terms/concepts which makes me feel like i can answer it...then i end up spending too much time and get it wrong 🙁
do you guys have any strategies to spot these kinda questions early so you can just make an educational guess and move on?

if answer doesnt come to me in a minute i go with my guts and flag it, and return to it when i have time left over

 

[MilkmanAl]

This reminds me a whole lot of the Family Guy episode where Brian's girlfriend calls him to figure out if she's Jewish or not. "Are you Jewish?" "No." "There ya go." Is the question hard for you? If so, it's a hard question. Pick an answer, mark it, and move on.

 

[mq123]

I read the last line of the question first, and more often that not, I can get a gut feeling about whether this is going to be a quick or hard question.

I guess this is based more on your own knowledge base and weak areas... For instance, if it says "What is the most likely diagnosis?" I try to come up with the answer after reading the entire question and before looking at the answer choices. If it's something convoluted like "The MOA of this drug is most similar to what other drug" then I know I have to think a little harder (and be more careful)...

 

[chicksdigdocs]

I read the last line of the question first, and more often that not, I can get a gut feeling about whether this is going to be a quick or hard question.

I seem to hear that advice a lot: "read the last line first". Apparently it's supposed to ultimately save time.

I tried it. Doesn't work for me.


BUT... If I glance over the answer choices before reading the question, now THAT helps a ton (as far as gauging difficulty of question and direction - I find that simply making a diagnosis is generally easier)