RR Path: Are reading ONLY the blue HY margin notes sufficient for COMLEX?

[DMC]

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My study group and I were recently having a debate over the RR Path blue HY margin notes. We have been reviewing those notes in a summary document we've obtainted but were trying to decide if it is TRULY necessary to read all of the text as well for the COMLEX. Some of us say yes and some say no. Would they be sufficient or is that a setup for failure? I personally am not trying to ace the test but still would like to do decent obviously.

Yes, I know this may seem like we're "being lazy," but the discussion started because two of us are slow readers / learners. I don't see it possible to read through the blue HY margin notes AND the whole text, along with FA and our other material multiple times. It's too much I feel like. Sure, I can rush through them and absorb minimal, but what's the point then? It would be a waste of time...

Any experienced/educated opinions on this?

 

[Rollo]

I can give you an educated opinion and opinion based on what I've read on here from people who took the exam.

The blue margin notes are high-yield. If you read them all, and can do a decent job at putting most of them in a proper context (i.e. not just blindly memorizing them) then you should be fine. If you can link the concepts together by just reading the blue margin notes, then you will definitely have an easier time answering path questions than if you hadn't read the notes or linked the concepts.

Key is to integrate the material, not just memorizing it. Sure, there are some facts you're just going to have to memorize but majority of this test consists of making connections between the basics and putting it together clinically.

If you can accomplish that by just reading blue margin notes, I don't think it's "lazy" on your part. If anything, you're being more efficient.

 

[DMC]

I can give you an educated opinion and opinion based on what I've read on here from people who took the exam.

The blue margin notes are high-yield. If you read them all, and can do a decent job at putting most of them in a proper context (i.e. not just blindly memorizing them) then you should be fine. If you can link the concepts together by just reading the blue margin notes, then you will definitely have an easier time answering path questions than if you hadn't read the notes or linked the concepts.

Key is to integrate the material, not just memorizing it. Sure, there are some facts you're just going to have to memorize but majority of this test consists of making connections between the basics and putting it together clinically.

If you can accomplish that by just reading blue margin notes, I don't think it's "lazy" on your part. If anything, you're being more efficient.

Thanks Rollo. I appreciate it. So basically, you're saying going through the blue HY notes AND understanding them is what is important. I'm assuming if I went only through the blue margins and glanced at the text for those I had questions about should be sufficient then?

 

[Rollo]

Yeah, I don't see why not.

I wanted to mention that you also pay close attention to the blue boxes in the middle of the pages, along with all of the tables. Those are pretty high-yield, especially the tables. I like the blue boxes because he hammers in some critical information in those blue boxes. And tables, because well sometimes he will include the entire topic on the tables (which can be quite annoying to go through actually).

 

[DMC]

Yeah, I don't see why not.

I wanted to mention that you also pay close attention to the blue boxes in the middle of the pages, along with all of the tables. Those are pretty high-yield, especially the tables. I like the blue boxes because he hammers in some critical information in those blue boxes. And tables, because well sometimes he will include the entire topic on the tables (which can be quite annoying to go through actually).

Good deal. I appreciate it again!