We always sit down as a family for dinner. Teaching my children to hold a conversation and build an argument (not just yell louder) are two of the most important things I can do for the world. And, we also almost always have pancakes and eggs for a nice family breakfast on Sunday.
My youngest is in charge of making the pancakes. He makes them from scratch with chocolate chips (extra chocolate chips), and he loves doing it. I think it’s because in the end they’re like giant chocolate chip cookies.
Now that you have this lovely scene right out of the Cleaver home, you’re thinking who cares? Perfect question.
The pancakes got me thinking. Just like those stacks of pancakes, the questions on your exams are stacked one on top of the other. Now you use syrup and butter to make them look like they are all one thing, but really, they are individual pancakes all stacked up.
One pancake, not scary. Three or four pancakes stacked on top of each other, much scarier. You see the metaphor here, right? Of course, you do.
One question and boom you’ve got the answer, and you’re cruising right along. Two questions put together, and still not too bad. Add in a third or a fourth question into one giant terrifying paragraph of a question, and you’re left quaking in your boots. It’s just too big.
You need to be like the squirrel here. The little squirrel can’t think about the whole long, scary, cold winter ahead. He just goes about his business. Saving one nut at a time.
Pay attention here because this is how you really start to SEE the test and make HUGE improvements in your scores.
On your exam, you will get some questions that are one step questions. Easy-peasy. What is the treatment for a torn meniscus in a 22-year-old female athlete? They WILL be on your exam, and you have to get those right.
But most of the questions will be 2 step questions. Not more complicated – just two questions stacked one on top of the other.
Fortunately for you, I have an example right here in order to better demonstrate the point.
Q) If you hear a machine-like murmur, you should be thinking of what diagnosis?
The questions on the exam may not be that straightforward.
More likely they will take another one step question…
Q) What is the treatment for a PDA?
And then combine them:
Q) On physical exam, you hear a machine-like murmur. What is the first line medical treatment for this patient?
The answer, if you’re going nuts, is NSAIDs. They may be as specific as indomethacin, but the answer to this question isn’t the point. The point is to see how you take one easy question and stack it on top of another easy question. As long as you know what they are talking about, it’s still pretty easy.
Be like the squirrel. One step at a time, one question at a time.
Ah, you’re looking for more aren’t you?
Well, tomorrow the March issue of the PAES newsletter heads to the printer. It’s a real deal physical newsletter sent right to your door. The printer will start printing them up tomorrow and shipping them out a few days later.
That newsletter will continue this discussion and give you a few new angles for looking at tests. Angles that’ll help you get the scores that you deserve.
I can’t wait for you to see it. And what’s more is that not only do you get the print newsletter, but now I’m including an audio version! That you’ll have right away. Maybe as early as tomorrow.
Join me here. Let’s get those scores up.
Physician Assistant Exam Scholars
Brian Wallace
P.S. Try having a big Sunday breakfast as part of a routine. It’s something nice to look forward to all week 🙂