Tanking an exam?

[Henley]

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Hi All...Basically I have fallen behind in material for my first Anatomy exam which I have in one week. I am quite certain I am going to fail this first exam. Is it best to just stop studying for this upcoming exam and focus on the rest of my classes and be ready when we start the next section on Anatomy?

I am having a hard time convincing myself to do this, but some people I trust have told me this might be the best option as to not fall further behind.

I am struggling in my first semester classes not in understanding the material but in trying to keep up. I have thoughts of just giving up since I don't feel as if I have the aptitude to master these subjects as my other classmates seem to have naturally.

Is it ok to tank an exam in regards to coming back stronger for the next one?

Thanks.

 

[cpants]

I'd say this is probably a bad idea. You still have a whole week to study. Skip the superbowl and hit the books. Master high-yield, and work on details with the time you have left. You could still pull out a pass in this one. It is ok to fail an exam and come back stronger. It's not ok to give up a week before the exam.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

Hi All...Basically I have fallen behind in material for my first Anatomy exam which I have in one week. I am quite certain I am going to fail this first exam. Is it best to just stop studying for this upcoming exam and focus on the rest of my classes and be ready when we start the next section on Anatomy?

I am having a hard time convincing myself to do this, but some people I trust have told me this might be the best option as to not fall further behind.

I am struggling in my first semester classes not in understanding the material but in trying to keep up. I have thoughts of just giving up since I don't feel as if I have the aptitude to master these subjects as my other classmates seem to have naturally.

Is it ok to tank an exam in regards to coming back stronger for the next one?

Thanks.

That sounds like a terrible idea, to be blunt. Assuming you have a cumulative average for your courses, "tanking" an exam and getting say a 50 would be a lot worse than working your butt off for the next week and pulling out either a low pass or a high fail.

And the people to whom anatomy and rote memorization comes naturally are few and far between. I guarantee you that there are others in your class who are feeling just like you right now.

You have one week - turn off the computer, get the distractions out of the way, and get to work. If you put in a big effort this week, I think your grade is still salvageable.

 

[TMP-SMX]

There isn't much understanding involved with anatomy. You either know the nerve lesions and relationships or you don't. Are you studying Netter? What do you use to study?

 

[njbmd]

Hi All...Basically I have fallen behind in material for my first Anatomy exam which I have in one week. I am quite certain I am going to fail this first exam. Is it best to just stop studying for this upcoming exam and focus on the rest of my classes and be ready when we start the next section on Anatomy?

I am having a hard time convincing myself to do this, but some people I trust have told me this might be the best option as to not fall further behind.

I am struggling in my first semester classes not in understanding the material but in trying to keep up. I have thoughts of just giving up since I don't feel as if I have the aptitude to master these subjects as my other classmates seem to have naturally.

Is it ok to tank an exam in regards to coming back stronger for the next one?

Thanks.

Your are likely not the only person struggling to "keep up" that is in your class. Stop comparing yourself to anyone else and do whatever you can to get as much material mastered in the time that you have between now and that exam. After that, don't get behind and if you do, go immediately to where the class is and "catch-up" on the weekend.

Most people make the mistake of trying to catch up when they are being bombarded with information during the week. Skip over what you don't know for that particular day that you got behind and tackle what the class is doing in the present. Good luck!

 

[beethoven]

Your are likely not the only person struggling to "keep up" that is in your class. Stop comparing yourself to anyone else and do whatever you can to get as much material mastered in the time that you have between now and that exam. After that, don't get behind and if you do, go immediately to where the class is and "catch-up" on the weekend.

Most people make the mistake of trying to catch up when they are being bombarded with information during the week. Skip over what you don't know for that particular day that you got behind and tackle what the class is doing in the present. Good luck!

What is the "reason" for which you should skip what you fell behind on and go to where the class is? Thanks!

 

[Habeed]

What is the "reason" for which you should skip what you fell behind on and go to where the class is? Thanks!

There isn't one, I do the opposite and just quit going to class until I finally catch up, skipping breaks.

The only one I can think of is that it can be hard to motivate yourself to study all day until you catch up.

 

[finished]

I'd try to keep plugging away at all your classes and just do your best come exam time. That's all you can do.
Please don't compare yourself to your classmates or think about giving up. If you weren't cut out for medical school, then they would not have accepted you. Medical school can be hard and lonely at times. What helped me was staying focused on all the patients I wanted to serve eventually, because being sick can be hard and lonely as well. Just think of all the extra empathy you'll bring to your patients, knowing what it's like to struggle.

Best Wishes and Good luck!

 

[FrickenhugeMD]

Hi All...Basically I have fallen behind in material for my first Anatomy exam which I have in one week. I am quite certain I am going to fail this first exam. Is it best to just stop studying for this upcoming exam and focus on the rest of my classes and be ready when we start the next section on Anatomy?

I am having a hard time convincing myself to do this, but some people I trust have told me this might be the best option as to not fall further behind.

I am struggling in my first semester classes not in understanding the material but in trying to keep up. I have thoughts of just giving up since I don't feel as if I have the aptitude to master these subjects as my other classmates seem to have naturally.

Is it ok to tank an exam in regards to coming back stronger for the next one?

Thanks.

Where are you going to school that has just started in January?

Either way, you just need to suck it up. Med school ain't a cake walk, and it isn't going to get easier as you go. Buckle down and ride it out. Adapt your studying to fit your goals and the passing score.

And make sure not to fall behind after this set of exams! this is key!

 

[Habeed]

St. George (Carribbean) starts in January. I don't go there, but I had an acceptance in hand to that class.

 

[confuse]

I don't mean to sound harsh but do you know that some people only took a week off to study for Step II? And here you have a week to go and in your mind you're already resigned to failing an Anatomy exam. You're going to have to do better than that.