How are you all feeling? The following sound familiar?
-Frantically trying to read through whole text books in half a day
-A to Z word chasing (you know the one - you read something in the A to Z, you see another word that is highlighted, you go to that entry, and so on....and on).
-Getting worse marks in the MCQs than when you started revising.
-Slight sick feeling that you should have started revising earlier.
-Other half completely fed up with you
I'm sure you get the picture! The weekend before the exam starts is horrible. It feels like there is a lot to get through, but the awful truth is (with the exception of a few jammy people) most of what is read this weekend will make no difference at all on Tuesday. In fact, the last time I sat this exam, I could have done the majority of the SAQ paper months previously and it wouldn't have changed my marks grossly. Sick isn't it?
So, what to do for two and a bit days? Everyone will be different but here's what I'm attempting to do in no particular order:
-Anatomy (there will almost certainly be one SAQ - learn the diagrams!) - done today.
-Bricker SAQ book
-The new Guide to the FRCA Final examination MCQs & SAQs (it's a new edition - some MCQs will come up and there may even be SAQs as well)
-Some sexy topics (see earlier postings)
-A quick flick through some old RCOA SAQs
-If not already done, consider having a go at the practice paper I set out in an earlier posting.
Saturday 18 October 2008
Tuesday 14 October 2008
Disaster
We are having a new boiler installed at the moment, which is just as well because it's freezing! I was helping to move a bookcase for the plumbers who wanted access to an under-floor area when the bookcase collapsed........on my thumb........on my right hand!
Firstly, the negatives: the £$*&@@^ A-delta & C-fibres were the last thing on my mind at that point as I performed what was probably a comedy ACME cartoon dance holding my throbbing thumb. Then, I realised the potential problem of the little test which involves a small amount of scribbling next week - could I learn to write left-handed in one week? Unlikely. Would I have to pray that I have the healing powers of the hot cheerleader on Heroes? Most likely. It kind of scuppers my plans of doing lots of practice SAQs this week though.
Lastly, the positives: I don't have to do any practice SAQs this week...... Hmmm - great attitude! Seriously though, I did manage to do the practice exam which I posted last week. I sat down and did the whole lot in almost three hours exactly so my timing shouldn't be too much of a problem. I give myself about 35 minutes to plans for all 12 questions. I take 3 pieces of blank A4 paper, divide them in half horizontally and write my 12 plans in each section. I then look at all the questions and decide on an order to do them in, starting first with the questions I find easiest/know the most about, and ending with the weaker questions. I find that this gives me some confidence at the beginning and I find my writing flow. I'll spend 10-11 minutes per question rigidly and then move on. The hardest section of the exam for me is concentrating on and writing the last four questions - your hand hurts and your mind is tired and wandering. That's why you need to train yourself by doing lots of full papers. Judging by a couple of postings on Doctors.net we're all extremely fed up now. We're nearly there - it's often a battle of the mind at this point because we've done most of the leg-work - so keep going and I'll look forward to sharing a beer with you all next Tuesday evening!!
Below is a picture which describes my thumb, and also should describe how we're all feeling too!!
Firstly, the negatives: the £$*&@@^ A-delta & C-fibres were the last thing on my mind at that point as I performed what was probably a comedy ACME cartoon dance holding my throbbing thumb. Then, I realised the potential problem of the little test which involves a small amount of scribbling next week - could I learn to write left-handed in one week? Unlikely. Would I have to pray that I have the healing powers of the hot cheerleader on Heroes? Most likely. It kind of scuppers my plans of doing lots of practice SAQs this week though.
Lastly, the positives: I don't have to do any practice SAQs this week...... Hmmm - great attitude! Seriously though, I did manage to do the practice exam which I posted last week. I sat down and did the whole lot in almost three hours exactly so my timing shouldn't be too much of a problem. I give myself about 35 minutes to plans for all 12 questions. I take 3 pieces of blank A4 paper, divide them in half horizontally and write my 12 plans in each section. I then look at all the questions and decide on an order to do them in, starting first with the questions I find easiest/know the most about, and ending with the weaker questions. I find that this gives me some confidence at the beginning and I find my writing flow. I'll spend 10-11 minutes per question rigidly and then move on. The hardest section of the exam for me is concentrating on and writing the last four questions - your hand hurts and your mind is tired and wandering. That's why you need to train yourself by doing lots of full papers. Judging by a couple of postings on Doctors.net we're all extremely fed up now. We're nearly there - it's often a battle of the mind at this point because we've done most of the leg-work - so keep going and I'll look forward to sharing a beer with you all next Tuesday evening!!
Below is a picture which describes my thumb, and also should describe how we're all feeling too!!
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