3.2 What are the common traps of studying?
Studying medicine is like going to the war. You cannot do it single-handerly. Teamwork is important. Nobody is your competitor and everybody is a collaborator. Everyone has to share their ammunition to win the war and get a common victory. There is no quota of how many should get A in medical schools. The fact that a friend gets A does not deprive your chance of getting A. The more you give, the more you will get. In other words, the more you give your knowledge to your friends and share your notes, the more they will share whatever they have with you. So, two plus two equal to five, which we call ‘synergy’.
1. Don’t know where to begin
This is a common problem. Do not panic. It is quite normal to be overwhelmed by the amount of things that you have to learn. Begin by making a list of all the things you need to know which will be available in the syllabus or told by the lecturers. Divide your workload into manageable portions. Learn to prioritise and schedule your time realistically. Discipline yourself to use the few minutes between lectures to review lecture notes. Avoid last minute work and begin studying early with a minimum of four hours per day.
Never skip any lectures as missing one-hour lecture can never be replaced by five hours of studying on your own.
2. I’ve got so much to study…and so little time
Be smart. Ensure that you practice PCR (Preview, Concentrate, Review) of your lectures. Make a study sheet summary of all your subjects. This can be made easier with a group of friends in your study group. The summary should include the lecture notes, tutorials, problem-based learning and laboratory work which all have to be well inter-related. Identify the most important topics that have been emphasized and areas which are difficult to understand.
3. This subject is so difficult, I can’t understand any of it
Be patient! Learning about the highest creation of God is never easy. But believe me, once you acquire the knowledge, it is the most satisfying thing you can ever get in this life. Regard it as a challenge. A good approach would be to discuss with others in class. It helps to know that others find the subject difficult too.
Have the courage to make an appointment with the lecturer to clarify on the difficult areas. Lectures are always more than happy to help. Personally, I get thrilled when students ask questions. One key point to remember is that the more difficult the subject is, the more useful it will be for your future clinical practice and post-graduate studies.
4. I read it. I understand it. But I just can’t remember it.
Discuss. We remember best the things that are most discussed. Research has shown that we remember 70% of what we discuss. Try to relate it to something meaningful to you. As you are discussing, try to relate the topic to your own examples. Try to co-relate the subject with what you have learnt before.
5. I guess I understand it
Don’t be too sure. Test yourself by talking about subject. Make up questions with your friends about the key sections and test each other. Keep in mind what the lecturer has stressed in the lectures. Study the relationships between each topic. Try to generate your own exam questions for the topic and answer it.
6. There’s too much to remember
Organise. Information is recalled better if it is represented in an organized framework that will make retrieval more systematic.
There are many techniques that can help you organize new information, including :
# Write chapter outlines or summaries. For example, in pharmacology a tree diagram to show the relationship between the various autonomic drugs will prevent confusion of their various modes and sites of actions.
# Group information into categories. For example, pathology of a kidney can be categorized into those affecting the glomeruli and those affecting the pelvicalyceal system.
# Information mapping. Draw up a matrix to organize and interrelate material. For example, in obstetric and gynaecology, a table comparing the different stage of management in different types of obstetrical problem such as multiple pregnancies or breech presentation will help to differentiate the different emphasis at different stages of pregnancy.
7. I knew it a minute ago
Review. After reading a section, review and practice output learning. Try make up questions about the section and answer them. If you cannot recall enough, re-read the portions you have trouble remembering. The more time you spend on studying, the more you tend to recall. Even after the point where information can be perfectly recalled, futher study makes the material less likely to be forgotten entirely. In other words, you can’t over-study.
However, how you organise and integrate new information is still more important than how much time you spend on studying. It is not the number of hours spent but how much you obtained during the study session that matters. A measure of how much you have learnt can be reflected upon by the number of questions you can answer. Try to make some essay questions and answer them, and try to answer some multiple-choice questions to consolidate what you have studied.
8. But I like to study in bed.
This is no good. Treat your study seriously. Reading medical books is not similar to reading storybooks. You have to study with a paper and pen in your hand and scribble or make diagrams in order to study actively. You can never do this while lying down.
In addition, recall is better when the study situation is similar to the test situation. The greater the similarity between the study setting and the test setting, the greater the likelihood that material studied will be recalled during the test.
9. I study better at the last minute.
This is never true. Recall increases as study time gets spread out over time. There is of course, some stress induced hormones that make you more alert and active and feel full of energy to study. However, this will lead to easy exhaustion and you may get panic attack especially when you find that there is too much to cover. This is futile and you will get the repercussion during the exam. I have seen many of my friends who had this attitude ended up having to repeat so many papers and in the end had to repeat the academic year and many of them took two extra years compared to others to graduate. This will lead to frustration and lack of self confidence.
10. I will stay up all night until I finish.
This is counterproductive. The most important thing during a test is to have an alert mind. Therefore, you must have enough rest. Avoid mental exhaustion. Take short breaks frequently when studying. Before a test, have a rested mind. It is more important than ever to take care of yourself before an exam. Eat well, sleep, and get enough exercise and pray hard.
( Adapted from AAC Study Tips, Ohio University
One of the ideal times to study is early morning, right after dawn,. This is when the brain is still fresh as no input has yet to enter.
(How to become a good & successful medical student; Muhaya Hj Mohamad)
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