Tag Archive for: study tips

How the 5 minute rule can help YOU!

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stop watch for 5 minute rule

Spring is in the air, the sun is starting to shed some warm rays, and the first shoots of green grass are starting to burst out of the ground. If you’re like me, the LAST thing you want to do is be cooped up inside studying. Spring fever is real! But…so are exams 🙂

Some days it feels like there’s a mental block stopping you from doing anything productive. Whether it be due to distractions, mental overload, or just plain old tired of doing the same things, everyone feels this way from time to time. And let’s be real, being where you are right now is overwhelming. If you’re prepping for boards, maybe you’re in rotations, maybe you’ve got your own practice, either way there’s a lot of stuff going on around you. Your brain can get a little worn out from everything and demand a break. That’s where a good method like the 5 minute rule can come in!

What is the 5 minute rule?

The 5 minute rule is a concept used in several therapy modalities. It’s pretty simple- all you have to do is sit and do an activity for 5 minutes. That’s it. Then you can get up, walk outside for some fresh air, check your socials, do whatever you want. YOU GET YOUR BREAK!

The next step to this rule is after a while you go back and do another 5 minutes. 5 minutes on, an interval of time off, 5 minutes on, an interval of time off,– you get the point. Even though it doesn’t seem like you can do much in 5 minutes, you’d be surprised how far into a question bank you can get or how far into a chapter you can read in that much time. Especially when you’ve come back to it a few times!

So if the springtime song of birds are calling you to run outside, or the spring fever cleaning bug is making you want to reorganize your house, you can let it! Just slip in those 5 minutes throughout the day and you won’t get too off track.

Curious how far into a bank you CAN get in 5 minutes? Give our question banks a try- FREE- using our Free Trial! Jump on Test Mode and get a feel for how the timed version of exams work. Want more material to work with? Check out our Question Banks and find the perfect fit for you! Or, contact us with any questions you have so we can help you get your 5 minutes in!

Time to go back to the ABC’s

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Yes, we know you know your ABC’s 🙂 But, sometimes it helps to reinvent the old classics to help us in the here and now. We’ve compiled a quick list of test taking tips that might help you as you prepare for your exams ( using A-E, because those are the letters you’ll see on the exams and maybe that will help keep these in mind!).

ABC blocks

The ABC’s of Test Taking

A Apply basic knowledge

This is the old adage, if you hear hoof beats, don’t assume it’s zebras. When you get your first look at a test question, whether it’s a standard multiple choice or a multiset vignette, the first thing to do is to look for the obvious. Most questions will be testing your basic knowledge and will give you clear signs that point to an answer. Some will be trickier of course, but a good rule of thumb is to dust off Occam’s razor and keep it in mind as you go through the questions. Keep your basic knowledge front and center!

B Block out distractors

Test makers are devious. There, I said it. They intentionally create distractor answers that will try to trick you (so rude). Falling back on the letter A, keep your basic knowledge in mind and then block out the answers you see off the bat as incorrect. For example, you might be reading a question about someone who is lethargic, has a lack of appetite, low mood, and disrupted sleep. Answer options could be Bipolar I, General Anxiety, Depression, PMDD, or Substance Withdrawal. Now, some of these conditions do in fact share the listed symptoms. But there’s missing information that would be required to make those answers the BEST answer.

Bipolar I would require symptoms of mania; GAD has other hallmark symptoms such as feelings of dread/worry that they cannot control; PMDD is cyclical around menstrual cycles in females; substance withdrawal requires mention of something that would cause the withdrawal. The distractors are there to make you second guess, so if one pops out as the best one, chances are it probably is!

C Check the question stem again

Well, maybe the distractors did a good job and now you can’t get passed it. Go back and find the question stem again. What is the question asking? Does it give the information you would NEED to make the other answer fit, or are you banging a square peg into a round hole? While the test makers are tricky, they aren’t totally evil. They will give you all the information you need with minimal need to fill in the blanks.

D Don’t over think it!

Ok, we got through the distractors and now we have our answer, Depression! Makes sense, fits the symptoms…wait, doesn’t it need a time frame to make a diagnosis? What if it’s none of these answers and actually something like Dysthymia? Or– stop. Stop over thinking it. Again, this is the job of the distractors to make you start thinking in circles. If the answer fits the information given in the best way, move on to the next question.

E Every little bit helps

You get about one minute per question on the exams, so you want to crank out as many answers as possible. And, most exams don’t “penalize” wrong answers, they just add up your correct ones. Leaving answers blanks and guessing and getting it wrong will do the same thing to your score. But, guessing might also get you one right! So if you need to stab a guess at one, DO IT because there’s a chance you could get it right!

Want to give this method a shot? Try our Free Trial and see how well it pans out. We’d love to hear from you, and you can Contact us with any questions you have or to let us know if these tips helped you or not!

Preparing for your Board Exams: How to make the MOST of your time!

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Life can be incredibly hectic AND it can be seemingly impossible to fit in studying for your Board Exams but with the right planning & priorities, anything is possible.

Think of it in straightforward terms…Each day we’re 86,400 seconds the same as before, and the same as the subsequent day. But as you add tasks, activities, and other daily necessities that number shrinks and it can feel like there’s no time left to study or even eat (oof).

“So what do I do?!” you may question.

Well, it’s simple, zoom out and take a glance at your days and weeks ahead. What do you have planned that’s truly paramount? Well, we know at base level eating and studying are essential, one you need to live, and the other you need to pass your Board Exams.

What else is paramount & essential?

  • Is it taking the proper amount of time or is it a waste?
  • Can you be doing some of the essential tasks together OR around the same time so you make the most of your downtime? 
  • What’s NOT paramount? (That’s the most important question you need to ask yourself.)

Your time comes down to prioritizing your days. While at first sitting down and laying it all out can seem like just another task added to your already packed day but if you sit and plan it once, you’re going to end up being less stressed when it comes down to it. Then, when you’re studying and feeling stressed change your mindset!

*REMEMBER: As you study and go through each question remember that for every second spent studying you are one step closer to being fully prepared AND one step closer to passing your Board Exams.

So the takeaway?

Prioritize your days & get your mind right! Plan plan plan… create a plan, and attack it! Next thing you know you’ll be in the groove and ready to pass your Board Exams with ease, and hey, we’re here every step of the way to help YOU!

Ready to dive in? Utilize our expert-curated Question Banks and maximize your studying today! 

Need more guidance? 

Contact us today! We’ll help YOU pass your Boards with ease!

How to create study habits that are long lasting!

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Your study habits can make or break your success in school.

If you’re already struggling with how to create long-lasting study habits, have no fear… you’re not alone! May students go through the same issues as you.

The solution for long-lasting study habits is straightforward!

First, find a place to study regularly, consistency is key!

You might find that having a set time and place in which you study helps keep your motivation high as well. Even if you’re a procrastinator and tend to put it off until the last minute, finding a place that’s comfortable for you will make all the difference.

Next up: keep track of deadlines and important dates. If you know what’s coming up then you can plan accordingly and make sure not to procrastinate!

Once you’ve got those two things squared away, you’ll want to start thinking about how you study best. — Maybe it’s listening to music while reading; maybe it’s taking notes on index cards; maybe it’s something else entirely! Whatever works for you is great! Just remember: what works for someone else might not work for you.

After all your base preparation, don’t stuff & cram for your exams!

Instead, just relax and get ready for what’s ahead by practicing some relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation. You’ll be surprised how effective these methods can be at helping calm down before big tests or projects!

Once you’re relaxed and have taken time for your mental health jump back into it! Throughout the weeks set aside time to quiz yourself with appropriate materials or question banks to ensure you’re retaining the information!

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Still, feeling uneasy or overwhelmed? Contact us and we can help YOU pass your boards with ease!

Studying Tips Broken Down: Set yourself up for success!

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Time to get back to studying… wow… it seems like just yesterday the summer was just kicking off!

Now it’s time to head back to school, so naturally, we’ve received some DMs asking “How can I make the most of the upcoming school year?”.

Going back to school can seem like an overwhelming time and it can be, but we’ve put together a few studying tips that should help you excel in your learning.

Our Top Five Tips!

1️⃣ Get Organized…

Get all your study materials together, ensure you know your new schedule, and plan your time properly. Take a look at each class; What do you need? What do you already have?

2️⃣ Be Active In Your Learning.

Don’t just follow your current curriculum. Seek out other experiences and knowledge whether you’re in a group studying, participating in volunteer labs/programs/research groups, and much more. You can gain more knowledge and experience this way!

3️⃣ Study, Study, Study — but with others!

Studying with others can improve your memory recall, provide other points of view, and give you a great trusted group whom you can make memories with outside of just staying. Since you’re all going through the same experiences together it can help ease the stress. You could even utilize various question banks and tools to make the most of the study sessions!

4️⃣ Use Your Time Wisely

Just because others are going out every night doesn’t mean you need to… you can still have a solid social life AND go to school. Write down and prioritize everything you need to do. Ensure you have built a solid routine, and get what you need to do, but also make sure you are taking time to have fun too (which brings us to our next section.)

5️⃣ Take Care Of Your Mental Health!!!

This is last but certainly NOT least. We’ve said it before and we will keep saying it. Take care of yourself and your mental health. You need to ensure you aren’t pushing yourself too far. Find things and activities which help you relax. School is not forever so take everything one step at a time. Use your support group/study group we mentioned in point 3.

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Need some additional tips or a tutor? Contact us today!

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Who is My Psych Board?

My Psych Board is a board review website created by Dr. Abdel, MD, MBB. CH., founder and CEO of Westlake Brain Health clinic in Cleveland, OH. This program offers access to unique courses and question banks to prepare residents and medical students for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) Psychiatry Certification Exam, Psychiatry Resident In-Training Examination, United States Medical Licensing board examination, and Nurse Practitioner examination. Each question bank is specifically tailored to the required difficulty and type of questions expected for the different board exams. New questions are continually being added to the question banks, ensuring the most current and up-to-date information is being made available.

My Psych Board is created by experts in the field and covers all the topics you need to master in order to pass your board-certifying exams. Feedback is given immediately in Practice Mode as questions are answered, including in-depth explanations that accompany each question for both correct and incorrect answer options. Additionally, students have the option of accessing a one-time phone call with Dr. Abdel to discuss their best studying strategies and one-on-one tutoring to help them gain maximum preparation. My Psych Board is customer oriented; we take your feedback seriously and are always looking for ways to improve the user experience! 

How to make studying enjoyable (even in the summer!)

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How to make studying enjoyable (even in the summer!)

Earlier this week we were asked by Melissa –⁠

“I know I should keep studying because I’ve been putting in so much work this year but since we are in the middle of the summer it’s getting hard to do everything. I’m putting all my time into working on prep and studies, but I want to be able to still hang out with my friends. Then on the alternate side, I will go by weeks without studying because I feel I covered enough…what can I do? Is it even possible to enjoy my summer at all?”⁠

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☀️Well.. thanks for the question, Melissa. The short answer is YES you can enjoy your summer & ensure you’re studying efficiently. Taking advantage of your summer break can make all the difference so let’s dive into our top 5 essential tips!⁠

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➡️ FIND BALANCE⁠

Ensure you’re not overloading yourself. You should split your time between enjoying the summer, time with friends/family, & studying. It will help you feel more refreshed & focused. If you focus on studying too much…you’re going to reach the ceiling & not take on additional information.⁠

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➡️ CREATE A PLAN⁠

This can be done in any number of ways from writing a schedule, making to-do lists, setting deadlines, prioritizing your work, & so much more! We’ve said it before, everyone’s studying routine varies so find what works for YOU! Once your plane is in place follow it to a T!⁠

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➡️ CHANGE UP YOUR STUDYING LOCATION⁠

Now, this MAY not work for everyone but it’s worth giving it a try. The weather is beautiful so why not try going outside? A change in scenery could help you stay more focused. But, if you notice it’s slowing you down, it might be time for you to change up that location too.⁠

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➡️ KEEP A CONSISTENT SCHEDULE⁠

The saying goes “30 Days should be long enough to help you create a new habit.” We’ve found that since you’ve already somewhat tuned yourself to studying before the summer it may be easier to pick it back up.⁠

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➡️ REWARD YOURSELF!!!⁠

It’s summer after all… so get yourself a treat or do something nice for yourself. If you have something to look forward to at the end of each study session it will help motivate you!

Are you ready? Let’s jump in. Brush up on your knowledge with a FREE trial of our Question Banks. Featuring Q-Banks for the ABPN, USMLE, Nurse Practitioner, and PRITE Exams!

Feeling like you need a bit of extra help? Contact us OR sign up for our tutoring!

Getting the facts straight: Truth and LIES about the USMLE Exam

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When preparing for the USMLE Exam it’s important to get the facts right.

Getting the facts straight: Truth and LIES about the USMLE Exam

First, Let’s sort out the USMLE LIES…

❌ The more you put off your test and study, the better your score is going to be.

Studies show that cramming can actually be hurtful. Med school is a full-time job and you need to manage your time wisely. You should study alongside your course work AND practice practice practice… But if you take too long and say you’re not ready, you may lose info that you focused on months or weeks back.

❌ Using as many resources as you can leads to a better score.

This will just flood your brain with info. The most ideal way to study is by using practice question banks that imitate real-life tests. While everyone had various study methods, research shows that the Practice Q-Banks hold higher retention than lectures or reading combined.

❌ Practice Question Banks are all the same!

NOPE. You want to ensure you’re not just getting the information correct but that it matches the real-life test. Many question banks are NOT formatted properly and will only just feed you endless information… Thankfully, our USMLE question bank is formatted to get the most out of your learning experience. Studies have proven members who use formatted practice q-banks have a much higher score/pass rate.

NOW, Let’s get the TRUTH right so you can pass your USMLE With Ease!

✅ The more practice questions you study with, the higher your USMLE Score will be.

As we covered before about the Pract. Q-Banks, you want to ensure you’re studying with resources that will benefit you. They say practice makes perfect and this is 100% true!

✅ There is no “one perfect way” to prepare for the USMLE Exam.

Find a study plan and create one that works for YOU. Everyone is different so don’t listen to the noise others spew about how YOU should be studying.

✅ With the right study plan, you will pass!

This goes with any test and we’ve covered it before, put in the work, create a plan, and dive in. If you’re prepared it’s almost impossible to fail.

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We hope this helps! What other lies or statements have you heard? DM or Contact Us to let us know. We love hearing your feedback!

How To: Create the PERFECT Morning Routine to maximize your success!

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Image shows a man with brown hair running through a beautiful forest and mountain rage. The image is "How To: Create the PERFECT Morning Routine to maximize your success!"

Starting off the week on the right foot can completely change how your week plays out! ⁠
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This is a KEY part in helping you pass your boards. If you wake up, rush around, and fill your morning with stress it’s most likely that your day will be filled with stress. It can feel like a marathon if you just wake up and jump into the day. That will then hurt your odds of having a successful study session. ⁠
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Studies from @Forbes show that waking up earlier than usual has incredible health benefits. They state it gives you ample time to focus on your goals and conquer the day with more energy, mindfulness, and strength.⁠
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✨ Here are some helpful tips we’ve complied after doing some additional research!⁠
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• Let’s start with the obvious..get a good night’s sleep…you need to be RESTED for your brain to function properly. ⁠
• Avoid the snooze button!⁠
• Instead of snoozing, wake up a few minutes earlier and give yourself enough time to wake up. You can Lay in bed for a few minutes and ease out of bed.⁠
• Write down your thoughts! This could be a to do list for the day, or just general thoughts. Talking about your stressors on paper can also help relieve them.⁠
• Eat something, your brain needs nutrition. Even if it’s something small!⁠
• Do something you enjoy, this could be working out, going for a quick walk, reading a book and so on!⁠
• Drink a full cup of glass of water before you leave the house (or start working/school if you do it remotely from home). ⁠
• Don’t rush! Give yourself enough time. If you know you have to leave by a certain time try and be ready 10-15 minutes before that and make sure you have everything you need.⁠

Did you know we offer a FREE trial for our question banks? Just head over to our website (exams.mypsychboard.com) to get started today risk-free (with no Credit Card required!)

Feeling like you need a bit of extra help?

Contact us OR sign up for our tutoring!

How To: Choose the best path when studying for your Psychiatric Board Exams!

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An image reading "Choose the best path when studying for your Psychiatric Board Exams!" - in the image is a dark path for stressful exam prep OR a light path for easy studying.

When taking your journey there are many choices you can make that will either help or hurt you in studying. Would you want to take a path that seems rocky & has a higher chance of failure OR one that is sunny & straightforward?

Everyone is different when it comes to taking tests & exams BUT, if you go into your exam with a clear plan your odds of passing become so much higher already!

🤨 “So what’s your advice then?”

You’ve taken tests all your life & know what works for YOU. Take a look back at some of your best / worst tests. Write down the areas you think hurt you & those that helped so you won’t make the same mistakes. Just focus more on the positive areas than the negative.

If you spend more time worrying & less time studying/creating a plan you’re just going to make things worse. You’ll just stress yourself out. The exam is only a small moment in time so don’t let it run months of your life.

⏰ Since we’re talking about time, remember to pace yourself!

Some people finish within seconds to spare & others finish early, but again, we’re all different. There are a few strategies that you can put into place. We’ve outlined two, but we recommend researching more about what others have done.

1️⃣ Review & Tag Method:
Read your question & choose the answer you think is right after thinking quickly about it. Tag questions for review & return to them later. This will keep you moving quickly through the exam hitting questions you’re confident about. When you complete the questions go back & spend more time on the ones you weren’t sure about.
(*Some exams do NOT allow tagging. DM us if you want to learn if you’ll be affected).

2️⃣ Using every second:
It’s not a race, so if you’re the type who feels more confident taking it slow then do it! Spend as much time as you can considering each option & remove the choices you know that wouldn’t be correct. It’s better to answer every question than to leave it blank. You still have a higher chance it’s right.

When your exam is done, leave it in the past. There’s no point saying “I should’ve done this”.Well, that’s enough for now so we will focus on what to do AFTER your board exams in a future post…

Stay tuned!

Did you know we offer additional tutoring? Contact us today to learn more! OR Jump right in with our FREE question banks!

How to make the most of DOWNTIME while in school

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Text reads "How to make the most of DOWNTIME while in school!" it shows 2 students walking into a beautiful school and then a desk inside with a green chalk board.

Are you feeling overwhelmed with school or maybe you feel as if you’re not doing enough..?⁠
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Here are our top 3 tips on how YOU can make the most of your downtime while in school.. it’s not all books and tests, you can have fun too!⁠
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Stay Active!

Exercise is crucial to your mental health, not just physical! Getting up and being active can help by reducing anxiety and depression, improving your mood and self esteem! Studies show it also alleviates social withdrawal and improves your ability to study and learn!

Be Social!

Talk to your fellow students and friends! It will break up the monotony of your classes. Go do something you enjoy, join a club, or just go grab coffee. Being social ALSO has positive effects on your study routines!

Study Study Study!

This should go without saying…make sure you use your time wisely! Although the other topics are essential to your mental health…so is studying!


📲 SHARE this with someone who could use the help! Are you enjoying these tips? Check out our previous post on how you can get the most out of studying. It’s a lifesaver…

Did you know we offer a FREE trial for our question banks? Just head over to our website (exams.mypsychboard.com) to get started today risk-free (with no Credit Card required!)

Feeling like you need a bit of extra help?

Contact us OR sign up for our tutoring!