One of my favorite ways to study is to write your own test questions. Writing your own questions forces another level of understanding. It gets you inside the head of the test creators. It makes it so that you start to see what they need to do to create good questions. It helps you to see all the traps and pitfalls along the way.
Once you start writing questions, you begin to see how you need to create a path to get the reader to the right answer. It isn’t about tricking anyone. Usually, it’s the exact opposite. It’s actually pretty hard to leave enough breadcrumbs to get the test taker to the right answer.
Give it a shot and you’ll be blown away. First, by how hard it is and, second, by how much it helps with your retention and test taking skills. Spend some time writing questions, and you’ll see what I mean.
I’ll make it easy. Here are some topics for today so you can practice. It doesn’t matter if these are the answers or part of the vignette. Let’s see what you’ve got.
•Appendicitis
•Endometriosis
•Anemia
•Bouchard’s nodes
For me, the really hard part is coming up with three good WRONG answers. That makes you think too, so don’t give up on it. The more you think it through, the more the information and the skills will solidify in your brain. If you race through this, it won’t stick.
Send me what you come up with.
Even if they’re short questions like the The Final Step, it’s helpful, but if you write longer PANCE-like questions it’ll be even better.
Brian Wallace
P.S. This technique can be game changer – can you think of one person you could help by sharing this email with them?
