Studying is a must in the modern world. Tests by themselves won’t ensure the comprehension and long-term acquisition of knowledge. It’s been noted by studies that of 100% of the information you are able to say after a quick round of hard memorization, only 44% will stay in your head after one hour… That’s less than half of it! This statistic is not only shocking and saddening if we think that for most of history, memorization has been the go-to technique, but also dangerous. Suppose a doctor can remember only 44% of the human body. In that case, it will be putting lives at stake, which is something organizations like NBME can’t afford to do.
Notes on note-taking
Taking notes is not only a crucial part of remembering what’s been said in classes or by an author. Still, it is also an excellent technique to apprehend knowledge in an unconscious manner. Paraphrasing is the best way to make outside knowledge your own. A good tip is to write the words precisely as been said by the teacher in class, and once you are studying, rewrite them in your own words. This will help you both in the selection, completion questions, and argumentative questions. It’s best to write your notes on paper since the conscious act of writing with your hand will aid in the memorization process. Paper also improves your spatial awareness of abstract or complex information.
Lastly, taking notes on paper will enable us to endure more extensive study sessions without compromising our eye’s health. Use colored sharpies to highlight the different ideas that could be relevant for the test, write your interpretation of those ideas in a different color, and what the textbook says in a third color. This scheming process will help you classify all the information visually and improve your awareness against any question you face during evaluation. Once you have all your notes, ask yourself what the problem is, how you can solve it, and finally, do it. It’s vital that you turn theoretical information into a practical one if you want to comprehend everything.
I learn by doing
It’s important to remember the answers that you made the information useful in your everyday life. Is better to learn a lot of little things in an extended period of time than a lot of something in a short one. Long-term memory will never fail you; therefore, activate it by practicing while you study and this is especially important for medical students. For instance, if a student is to undertake the MBME step 2 test, only relying on memory will not be sufficient. This person will be hopeless since this type of test requires more significant analytical skills, and it has a practical component to it. The grades in the MBME are crucial for your future expectations in the medical field. Since the score you get will determine the specializations, you can get into. By extension, if you’ll work in a good institution, helping to save lives and improving your societies’ overall quality of life.
Reiterate rather than memorize
Memorizing is needed in specific contexts, but in recent times the professional field is looking for employees who are able to give their own point of view and bring value to the companies by being more than a glorified parrot. It is best to study under the Feynman technique’s scope, which grants shorter and continuous periods of study, forcing them to explain the concept in increasingly simple ways. Once you’re able to give a successful explanation of it to a toddler, you are ready for your test!
Everything hangs in the balance
If you study in the same manner over and over, your brain will fall accustomed to it. Losing interest in the subject of study will not only make it increasingly harder to remember, but it will also make the learning process far less enjoyable. Remember you’re doing exams because you enjoy your career and want to revolve around it for as long as you can: memorize, practice, explain, repeat and mix it up; that’s the key to success while taking exams.
