2/12/2021 1 Studying for ABEM Multiple Choice Exams Mary Jo Wagner, MD, FACEP Chief Editor, PEER VI, VII, VIII, IX Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, PEER Professor, Emergency Medicine Chief Academic Officer/DIO CMU Medical Education Partners Disclosures I have received compensation for my work as the Editor of the PEER Boards review products from ACEP. What about the Test? “What every EP needs to know” • Content from major texts, clinical practice & national standards • No tricks or traps • Pathophysiology on the Qualifying exam • “Walking around knowledge” for MyEMCert Topic Relative Weight What mistakes do we make? • Use the wrong technique for learning style • Believing that one can cram for an ABEM exam • Using only one studying technique • Disregard usefulness of teaching for learning oneself Personal Learning Style VISUAL LEARNER – LOOK AT & READ STUDY MATERIAL AUDITORY LEARNER – LISTEN TO LECTURES OR REVIEW VIDEOS KINESTHETIC LEARNER – TAKE NOTES WHILE LISTENING, WRITE ON WIPE BOARD 1 2 3 4 5 6
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2/12/2021
1
Studying for ABEM
Multiple Choice Exams
Mary Jo Wagner, MD, FACEPChief Editor, PEER VI, VII, VIII, IXEditor-in-Chief Emeritus, PEER
Professor, Emergency MedicineChief Academic Officer/DIOCMU Medical Education Partners
Disclosures
I have received
compensation for my
work as the Editor of the
PEER Boards review
products from ACEP.
What about the Test?
“What every EP needs to know”
• Content from major texts, clinical practice & national standards
• No tricks or traps
• Pathophysiology on the Qualifying exam
• “Walking around knowledge” for MyEMCert
Topic Relative Weight
What
mistakes do
we make?
• Use the wrong technique for
learning style
• Believing that one can cram
for an ABEM exam
• Using only one studying
technique
• Disregard usefulness of
teaching for learning oneself
Personal Learning Style
VISUAL LEARNER –LOOK AT & READ STUDY
MATERIAL
AUDITORY LEARNER –LISTEN TO LECTURES OR
REVIEW VIDEOS
KINESTHETIC LEARNER –TAKE NOTES WHILE
LISTENING, WRITE ON WIPE BOARD
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3 4
5 6
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Self-Assessment
Honest self-appraisal:1. Take a Pretest2. Identify wrong answers3. Be honest
a. “Just didn’t read the questions carefully”b. Know just enough to fall into designed trapsc. Over-think the questionsd. Clear knowledge gaps
The Utility of Study Strategies
The Utility of Study Strategies
UtilityorEffectiveness
Strategy Comments
High Practicetesting Practicetestingenhanceslearningandretentionincludinguseofflashcards,practicequestionsandpracticetests.
High Spacedreview Spacingstudyepisodesoutwithbreaksinbetweenstudysessionsorrepetitionsofthesamematerial.(20%interval)
High Elaboration Adddetailstoinformationalreadylearnedtohelpwithunderstandingandmemory.
Sign in with usual ACEP login (email is user name)
Modified from “A Ranking of Learning and Study Strategies.” Created by Eron Drake, Ed.D, Director of
Academic Success, Central Michigan University College of Medicine
References:
Clark, C.M., & Bjork, R.A. (2014). When and why introducing difficulties and errors can enhance instruction. In V.A. Benassi, C.E.
Overson, & C.M. Hakala (Eds.). Applying science of learning in education: Infusing psychological science into the curriculum.
Retrieved from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology website: http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/asle2014/index.php
Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K.A., Marsh, E.J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students’ learning with effective
learning techniques: Promising directions form cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public
Interest, 14(1), 4-58. DOI: 10.1177/1529100612453266. Retrieved from
http://psi.sagepub.com/content/14/1/4.full.pdf+html?ijkey=Z10jaVH/60XQM&keytype=ref&siteid=sppsi Sefcik, D. J., Bice, G., & Prerost, F. (2013). How to study for standardized tests. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Practice TestingSpaced Review
Elaboration
Set a schedule
• Interleaved Practice
• Spaced Review
January 2020 This is a blank and printable January Calendar. Downloaded from WinCalendar.com
◄ Dec 2019 January 2020 Feb 2020 ►
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
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Cardiology TCA EKG
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Toxicology
EKG Tox
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Endocrine EKG HypoK
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Cardiology Heart failure
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Toxicology Diuretics
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Endocrine Adrenal crisis
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More Calendars from WinCalendar: Feb 2020, Mar 2020, Apr 2020
Created with WinCalendar Calendar Maker for Word & Excel
► For more calendar layouts, colors, options, and for calendars with Religious Holidays download WinCalendar from WinCalendar.com.
► You can even convert Microsoft Outlook, Google Calendar or Yahoo Calendar to Word and Excel format using WinCalendar.
► WinCalendar comes with a free desktop calendar and date picker that also integrates with Microsoft Word and Excel.
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Self-created Study Aids
Self-explanation
Associations
Cramming
Low Effectiveness
Why Study Test Questions?
Basic approach
• Look at each answer as a true/false question
• Don’t answer the question without looking at each foil
• A long question? – 1st read the phrase with a
question mark
A 55-year-old man with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver presents with lethargy, confusion, and asterixis. His vital signs are normal. Which of the following medications could worsen his condition ?
A. Diazepam
B. Lactulose
C. Neomycin
D. Thiamine
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Best Practice – MCQs
• Read question & answer
• Read explanation
• Identify how to change the question so each foil would be correct
• Identify common errors or interpretation issues
What pattern describes the most common findings of purpura in a patient with Henoch-Schonlein?
A. Begin over the distal joints and spread centrally
B. Associated with bullae or infarcted areas
C. Occurs in areas of pressure or minor trauma
D. Symmetrically affects the lower extremities
Questions with Visual Stimuli
A 34-year-old primigravid female who is 28 weeks pregnant presents with severe epigastric abdominal pain radiating to the back with multiple episodes of non-bilious, non-bloody emesis over the last 4 hours. The nurse drew her labs and reports an odd chalky consistency to the blood as shown.A. Cholecystitis B. Hyperemesis Gravidarum C. Pancreatitis D. Placental abruption