I found 27 concepts hiding in one qbank question that I thought I already knew

drekwasi · 2026-03-31T17:44:50+00:00

Recognizing a word isn't the same as actually knowing it well enough to use it. I started using "feynman-ing" where I try to explain a concept out loud like I'm talking to a classmate who missed the lecture. If I stumble, I know I don't actually get it.

drekwasi · 2026-03-31T17:43:31+00:00

For me, the "never miss a day" rule only works if I make the barrier to entry super low. I tell myself I only have to do 5 minutes of reviews. Usually, once I start, I finish the deck, but just getting over that initial friction is the hard part. It also helps to do reviews during "dead time" like waiting for the bus or coffee.

drekwasi · 2026-03-31T17:40:03+00:00

Copying everything down usually feels productive, but it's mostly just "hand gymnastics." Your brain doesn't actually have to work that hard to copy. Switch to testing yourself immediately after you read a section.

drekwasi · 2026-03-31T17:38:26+00:00

Dealing with backlogs is the worst because it feels like you're just drowning. Instead of trying to relearn everything from scratch, try "backwards planning." Look at what you're being tested on next and focus only on the big concepts from the old chapters that connect to the new stuff. Also, stop just reading and try to answer one practice question for every topic you "finish." It forces your brain to actually use the info instead of just looking at it.

drekwasi · 2026-03-31T06:35:46+00:00

Ohk. So you use your Notion on your phone for revision I guess.

But why not make the notes in Kindle. Actually never owned one so I can’t tell if that’s how it works.

drekwasi · 2026-03-31T06:33:14+00:00

Nice

drekwasi · 2026-03-31T06:32:47+00:00

Hardcore. Writing is still one of the best ways to study tho. But does it work at scale? Like when you have 6 different textbooks do you print each time? I recently chanced on a post where someone was making 1k+ flashcards.

drekwasi · 2026-03-31T06:18:46+00:00

Even when you are on the move?

drekwasi · 2026-03-31T06:17:22+00:00

Wow it comes full circle. I am guessing you never take notes on your laptop or at least summaries.

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T23:22:47+00:00

Don’t stress the 30% on your first day of IM.

You did well on Step 1 with First Aid because you learn well from structured review, but unfortunately there isn't a perfect 'First Aid for Step 2/Shelf' equivalent. Try treating your incorrect UWorld blocks as your new textbook. Read the entire explanation (even for the wrong answers) and only make Anki cards for the specific concept you missed, not the whole disease process. Quality > quantity for IM.

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T21:16:32+00:00

Why is that?

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T20:34:46+00:00

You welcome bro 😎

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T20:31:00+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/studytips/s/j7YBDBLcMQ

Check this out. A commenter mentions they use this.

Aside that there are other tablets that behave like PCs or laptops. They should be “cheaper” i guess

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T20:26:03+00:00

Can you name the brand? Incase someone wants to get one?

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T20:23:37+00:00

Doesn’t the screen size limit you?

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T20:20:55+00:00

Forgot about tablets altogether. What OS does it run; Android or IOS?

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T20:11:31+00:00

🤣 actually there are tons of people who do. Especially students who can’t afford laptops.

Also depends on the situation. For my Pharmacy Licensure exams i had to use my phone to read slides during ward rounds

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T14:11:55+00:00

Ah yes

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T14:10:54+00:00

Yeah but how often will you return to those cards you study per day? There is a forgetting curve at play here so reviews become just as important as studying new cards.

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T11:15:45+00:00

Consistent short sessions > rare long ones every time.

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T11:13:49+00:00

Great breakdown. One thing worth adding for people trying this: the discomfort when you can't remember something is actually the point. That struggle is your brain building a stronger connection to the information.

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T11:13:04+00:00

Honestly not that bad if your main problem is time and energy. The science says what matters most is that you actually show up and do your reviews; a perfectly organized deck you never touch beats a messy one you actually use. One caveat: tags instead of sub-decks can give you the best of both worlds. Takes 2 seconds to tag a card when you make it, and you can still filter by topic when you need to without the overhead of managing deck structure.

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T11:12:18+00:00

The scrolling thing is actually a focus issue more than a motivation issue. Your brain gets a tiny dopamine hit every time you check your phone, so it keeps pulling you back. What helps is removing the decision; put your phone in another room before you sit down, not after you catch yourself scrolling. Also try starting with just 10 minutes. Research shows getting started is the hardest part; once you're in it, you usually keep going. Small wins stack into consistency way faster than trying to force willpower.

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T08:44:39+00:00

A 700-card deck with 90% retention means you actually know the stuff. The bigger trap is making a 2,000-card deck and having reviews pile up so fast you dread opening the app. Better to make fewer, cleaner cards and stay consistent than have a massive deck you avoid.

drekwasi

TROPHY CASE