Guidelines for August and November 2015 attempt

Guidelines for August & November 2015 attempt:

FIRST THING: You have to decide whether you're going to apply for Aug or Nov?

If you think that you can manage your study & your prep is satisfactory then August attempt is NOT bad.

For Aug: DON’T EXPERIMENT NEW THINGS (New Book i.e if you have studied BRS for Patho then stick to it. Don’t start studying Goljan for Aug)

November People can try one or two new books (as they have enough time)

For Aug & Nov:

FIRST OF ALL cover-up your weak subject(s) or topics in particular subject(s).

Now you may ask how can I know that this subject is weak? The answer is “You know the subject in which you had difficulty while solving MCQs in your last exam” and 2^nd If some subject seems boring & you hate it the most then this yours weak subject. It is our basic human nature to avoid hardship. We always choose the task which we consider as an EASY.

ONCE you deal with it (deficient subject) then start others subjects. Aug people have to give just superficial read & November people must give one GOOD read.

CHANGE Your STUDY Style: Try to focus on CPSP’s favorite topics & highest yield point (in any particular topic). While studying any topic JUST EXTRACT Three things. The MOST common, The LEAST common & Unique thing. For example if you’re studying organisms causing Osteomyelitis then Just memorize TWO. The most common Staph and Sallmonella in Sick cell disease pts.

MCQs: BOTH (Aug & Nov) have to solve MCQs books (Asim, Chandkian’s & Rabia Ali – Medicine candidates should also solve Ganong’s MCQs – Link is here)

While studying course books, solve Rabia Ali along with it (as it is complied chapter wise)

SOLVE MAXIMUM RECENT PAST PAPERS: If you can manage your time then solve other specialties papers too (medicine people – surgery & gynae etc papers and vice versa)

Recent Past Papers mean Feb 2014 to June 2015.

Books? We already shared the table for medicine & allied (Link is here)

SEEK HELP: We all need motivation as well as help. So whenever you feel low or need some help, ASK. Group is full of helping people.

LAST but NOT the LEAST: Ask people for prayers as success in part 1 is = Hard work + Good Luck + Prayer.

Best of Luck.

Last 15 days study plan

So finally we are here with last 15 days study plan.

But before that just want to clear one thing that below guidelines are for those who have completed their course (finished one good read) and now busy (mainly) in MCQs.

In which group you’re right now? In last 15 days of study, candidates for FCPS part 1 can be divided into TWO groups.

1st: "Oh My GOD! It is such a mess, can’t do it anymore and my study… just a mixture of confused concepts. I think if I get 15 more days then I can handle it but only in 15 days with so many things (remaining) it is very difficult for me to go there (in exam hall) with confidence that “I am prepare”… Actually I am thinking that in next attempt I will be much more prepared. Passing in this attempt will be miracle."

2^nd: "All right! Honestly speaking I am not 100% sure about my prep and there are some weak areas/subjects BUT one thing is sure that I am gonna fight till last second. My job is to work hard and do continuous struggle, the rest is ALLAH ki marzi and my luck. Next attempt??? NEVER think about that bcoz I have to PASS in this one."

 Make sure that you’re in group 2.

Divide your time in (we are here giving you in %)

You have to give 40-45% time to MCQs books. If you already solved MCQs books once then restart it but this time ONLY those MCQs in which you stuck on first read.

Give 15-20% of your study time to FIRST AID. You may say that I hate this book then let me tell me you that “me too” but it is truly “First Aid”. Micro + Pharma + Immunology + Biochem & SLEEP topic from behavior science portion, these are the things you have to do from First aid. (Special Patho is optional). Revise First aid many times (if possible).

40% of your study time will be for course book. Give superficial read to general topics (as a whole) and concentrate on High-Yield Topics. In last week focus on important charts and tables (like BRS Physiology: Table 2.5 and 2.6 etc or in Anatomy structure passing through skull – various foramen etc etc).

In course books your top priority book will be the subject which is directly related to your specialty (Physio & Patho for Medicine and Anatomy for Surgery, Endocrine Physio, Reproductive Patho & Pelvis/Perineum Anatomy for Gynae & Obs  etc etc)

The last 15 days are all about “Consistency, not losing hope & temper, staying focus, working hard & remain optimistic” With positive attitude you will surpass yours (& others) expectation In’Sha’ALLAH.

Passing in part 1 is equal to “Your hard work + Prayers + Luck”

So do your job.

Ask others (friends & family) to do theirs (prayers)

Good Luck

Tips & Tricks : How Solve an MCQs? Part 1

[Shared on group by Our Chief - Dr Syed Ali Raza]

Dear members MCQs solving is a technique which is need to be learned by every candidate appearing in medical exams both local and foreign ones.
There are some tips 

1) Time Management : Time management is most imp. The more u will give time to a mcq the more u will get confused. And if u will give less than required time then again u will mark it wrong. So give an adequate specified time to every mcq. Mark it and u can come at later stages to think about it.


2) First come First Mark : Usually the first ans. clicking your mind is the correct ans. So give that option most importance.


3) Exclusion Method : In case u r not sure about an ans. Than exclude the irrelevant options first and narrow ur ans. To only 2 options then mark the one which is more relevant to that topic.


4) Don't solve the Mcqs on the basis of ur general Andaza ever than it will be wrong. Try to ans. On basis of what u have read directly/indirectly. Or closest to whatever u have read about that thing.


5) Don't ever lose heart to see a very difficult mcq. Read the mcq again and again there is always a hint in mcq u need to find that. Then read the options again and again and the ans. Will click ur mind naturally. 
Your brain is like a computer which process the data itself in ur subconscious.so trust ur brain.


6) Most frequent cause of failure is that people start feeling to see a very difficult paper that they are not going to pass the exam.Then they don't solve the rest of mcqs with full heart. They don't fight on every mcq and eventually they fail.


7) No paper can defeat u unless u accept the defeat. Fight on every mcq till last minute.


To be continued.....

Test Taking Tips : How to Answer the Question.

Test Taking Tips:

There are three types of questions:

·         The ones you know

·         The ones you may know if you think about them or you know part of the answer

·         The ones that you leave blank (on first read) – that you do not know at all.

1. For the ones you know, read the question carefully, answer it and do NOT go back to it.

2.       For the ones you know partly, eliminate the answers/options that you know are wrong and either mark your BEST choice or put down a mark to tell yourself to return to the question later.

3.       For those you do not know at all, put down an answer according to the clues we will be giving you.

4.       Try to reason out the questions.

a.      Decide what the key concepts or keycepts/keywords are.

b.      See if the answer you choose fits in with key points of the question.

c.      Circle all the keycepts/keywords in the question, such as symptoms, lab test, Hx clue, whether question is a negative form.

d.      You may want to work backward, seeing if a answer fits in question.

e.      Check for Double negative.

5.       Clues to the wrong answers:

a.      An answer that “does not fit” with other options is probably wrong.

b.      A wordy answer/option that is unclear or does not read well is probably wrong.

c.      An answer with word Always or Never is probably wrong.

d.      An answer that is ungrammatical with the question is probably wrong.

6.       Pace yourself

7.       If you have no idea of the answer, try the following:

a.      Similarities: If two answers are similar but NOT the same, One of them is usually correct.

b.      Opposites: If two answers are opposites. One of them is usually correct.

c.      Odd man out: The answer that does NOT read well is probably wrong.

d.      Wordy: A wordy answer that does not read well is probably wrong.

e.      Ungrammatical: If grammar does NOT fit the question, the answer is probably wrong.

f.        Always/Never: Answers with word “Always” or “Never” are usually wrong.

8.       Answer all the questions you know FIRST and then go back to work on those you don’t know.

9.        Read the stem carefully, Circle the key words. After you have decided, read the stem and ANSWER one LAST time.

10.   Give yourself a rest period for minute or two after every hour or so, to maintain your mental efficiency at high level.

Learn how to relax while taking test. Don’t prompt yourself with NEGATIVE sentences such as “Don’t feel anxious” but rather with “I can feel relax now” – a POSITIVE sentence.