Hello Everyone!
Ah, that day when you get done
I reached the place a little early, which was good cause they seated me early. And all the paper work and locker assignment got done in time. I couldn't sleep much the night before, but when you reach the Exam venue, you're so sure about taking the exam that nothing matters. Sleep, or no sleep! Stress is there, but the resolve is much greater.
The Exam was fair, and is not difficult. Just wanted to get that out of the way before I even start how my Exam even was. Yes, there are a lot of things perhaps that I was unsure of. I did the best I could manage. Hope it works smoothly. Yes, some questions are difficult. But they aren't many. Every concept is something you've already come across in FA and UW. Now, let's begin. Pharmacology in my Exam was the most heavily tested. More than half of them were classic side effects, given in First Aid. Other pharma questions had strange and confusing graphs, and I just DON'T like graphs. So I kinda just did the best I could at that moment. Cardio drugs are high yield as are CNS agonists and antagonists. UW covers the graphs well. You need practice for all of those concepts. But like I said, I don't like graphs! Micro was barely there. Makes like 5 questions. Immuno had few MHC I and MHC II questions. That is high yield. Structure of these molecules, who possesses them. And their differences. Transplant rejection was tested. Biochem was there too. Maybe like 6 questions. There's a page in First Aid dedicated to Mutations in Biochem. Commit it to memory. Cause few questions of genetics will be there. There were also "A researcher" questions but you've come across the concept if you have done UW and FA. Did what I could think of. Some Abdomen CT's. Asking for some space. :S Some slides on leukemias, but the options were a little strange. Did it by excluding other options. Hope I did them right. Some neuroanatomy, you had to localize the lesion. Gross Neuroanatomy. Basic Upper limb anatomy, and I was unsure of those. Again, remembering questions I had marked. Rest is stuff that was more simple. GI blood supply. Branches of Celiac Trunk. Know it. Cardiology function curves. So I kinda like those only and UW explains them pretty well. But for some God awful reason, the one in my Exam was a bit confusing. UW covers it though so you're good. Drug intoxication. 2 or 3 Psychiatry questions. 2 Murmurs, clues in the stem were enough. Confidence Interval question. Sensitivity and Specificity. Power, and Beta error.
The second subject most heavily tested, right after Pharma was Behavioral Sciences. Every block had questions on doctor patient relationships. But what helped here were the Kaplan videos. The page in FA where they give you various examples of what you should do is good too. Commit it to memory. A lot of the options were things you know you wouldn't do so that was helpful.They were a little easier than the UW and Kaplan questions where all the options seem right or all the options seem wrong! So I was surprised that the Exam's level of difficulty wasn't as bad when it came to Behavioral Sciences, as what we are lead to believe by UW etc. I remember the last block being dedicated to what we should do as Doctors. I mean seriously! I felt I had to put all my soul into thinking what a noble, pious and sensible Doctor should do in life
All in all, it was okay. Block 2 was a weird block. Had marked a lotttt of questions. You might get pretty fatigued in the last few blocks. The level of difficulty is less than UW. But it's okay if a higher level of difficulty makes you study. Also, I'd taken a lottt of stuff to eat. Juice, chocolates, sandwhich, water and nice Tea! All were helpful. Took a mini break after every block. Like 5 to 7 mins. Finger printing and signing out took maybe like 30 seconds. So that didn't affect my break much. Ate a bit during those even if I didn't feel hungry. Used the restroom even I felt that I didn't need to go. Splashed cold water on my face too everytime. Took a long break after the fourth block like maybe 20 mins, and prayed and ate. It was SO refreshing! Took an ibuprofen and a paracatemol before the exam and after the fourth block cause I do get headaches and neck aches during exams. I know it seems difficult, and it all seems like it's so much. But I promise you it will work out fine for all of you. The stress is immense and intense. But it's for an important cause, a road that will make you. So don't be afraid. I will post more preparation etc once I have the result. My silly mistakes are kinda giving me nightmare! Hope I do well InshAllah. I have never worked this hard. In like, ever. Which would explain my emo, chronic whining in the past few weeks at the Forum. Thanks to everyone who's helped. I really need your prayers and wishes though! Ask me if you want to know anything!
Ah, that day when you get done
I reached the place a little early, which was good cause they seated me early. And all the paper work and locker assignment got done in time. I couldn't sleep much the night before, but when you reach the Exam venue, you're so sure about taking the exam that nothing matters. Sleep, or no sleep! Stress is there, but the resolve is much greater.
The Exam was fair, and is not difficult. Just wanted to get that out of the way before I even start how my Exam even was. Yes, there are a lot of things perhaps that I was unsure of. I did the best I could manage. Hope it works smoothly. Yes, some questions are difficult. But they aren't many. Every concept is something you've already come across in FA and UW. Now, let's begin. Pharmacology in my Exam was the most heavily tested. More than half of them were classic side effects, given in First Aid. Other pharma questions had strange and confusing graphs, and I just DON'T like graphs. So I kinda just did the best I could at that moment. Cardio drugs are high yield as are CNS agonists and antagonists. UW covers the graphs well. You need practice for all of those concepts. But like I said, I don't like graphs! Micro was barely there. Makes like 5 questions. Immuno had few MHC I and MHC II questions. That is high yield. Structure of these molecules, who possesses them. And their differences. Transplant rejection was tested. Biochem was there too. Maybe like 6 questions. There's a page in First Aid dedicated to Mutations in Biochem. Commit it to memory. Cause few questions of genetics will be there. There were also "A researcher" questions but you've come across the concept if you have done UW and FA. Did what I could think of. Some Abdomen CT's. Asking for some space. :S Some slides on leukemias, but the options were a little strange. Did it by excluding other options. Hope I did them right. Some neuroanatomy, you had to localize the lesion. Gross Neuroanatomy. Basic Upper limb anatomy, and I was unsure of those. Again, remembering questions I had marked. Rest is stuff that was more simple. GI blood supply. Branches of Celiac Trunk. Know it. Cardiology function curves. So I kinda like those only and UW explains them pretty well. But for some God awful reason, the one in my Exam was a bit confusing. UW covers it though so you're good. Drug intoxication. 2 or 3 Psychiatry questions. 2 Murmurs, clues in the stem were enough. Confidence Interval question. Sensitivity and Specificity. Power, and Beta error.
The second subject most heavily tested, right after Pharma was Behavioral Sciences. Every block had questions on doctor patient relationships. But what helped here were the Kaplan videos. The page in FA where they give you various examples of what you should do is good too. Commit it to memory. A lot of the options were things you know you wouldn't do so that was helpful.They were a little easier than the UW and Kaplan questions where all the options seem right or all the options seem wrong! So I was surprised that the Exam's level of difficulty wasn't as bad when it came to Behavioral Sciences, as what we are lead to believe by UW etc. I remember the last block being dedicated to what we should do as Doctors. I mean seriously! I felt I had to put all my soul into thinking what a noble, pious and sensible Doctor should do in life
All in all, it was okay. Block 2 was a weird block. Had marked a lotttt of questions. You might get pretty fatigued in the last few blocks. The level of difficulty is less than UW. But it's okay if a higher level of difficulty makes you study. Also, I'd taken a lottt of stuff to eat. Juice, chocolates, sandwhich, water and nice Tea! All were helpful. Took a mini break after every block. Like 5 to 7 mins. Finger printing and signing out took maybe like 30 seconds. So that didn't affect my break much. Ate a bit during those even if I didn't feel hungry. Used the restroom even I felt that I didn't need to go. Splashed cold water on my face too everytime. Took a long break after the fourth block like maybe 20 mins, and prayed and ate. It was SO refreshing! Took an ibuprofen and a paracatemol before the exam and after the fourth block cause I do get headaches and neck aches during exams. I know it seems difficult, and it all seems like it's so much. But I promise you it will work out fine for all of you. The stress is immense and intense. But it's for an important cause, a road that will make you. So don't be afraid. I will post more preparation etc once I have the result. My silly mistakes are kinda giving me nightmare! Hope I do well InshAllah. I have never worked this hard. In like, ever. Which would explain my emo, chronic whining in the past few weeks at the Forum. Thanks to everyone who's helped. I really need your prayers and wishes though! Ask me if you want to know anything!