6 Common Mistakes Students Make While Preparing For MCCQE1 Exam

Medicine is one of the most prestigious careers in the world, and as such, it takes much effort to get in. In the process of trying to be a doctor, many things have to be taken into consideration, one of them include exams. Passing the MCCQE1 Exam is an important step for medical students in Canada; in fact, this is a step in getting the certification that will enable them to become a licensed physician in Canada.

The Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) is an exam created on the objectives of the Medical Council of Canada and designed to test your clinical expertise and skills as a medical student. It also evaluates if you have the expertise and skills required to practice knowledge in Canada. It has been recognized as one of the hardest standardized tests globally and unlike the NAC Osce— which international students have to write before this— it is a one-day computer-based examination.

The MCCQE1 Exam consists of disciplines which include surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics as well as obstetrics. Given that this is one of the exams that will lead to a certification, it is imperative that candidates prepare well for the Exam. It is not enough to work hard for an exam; one must also work smart. Medical students make a lot of mistakes while preparing for this Exam, and while some of these exams are due to pressure and stress, others can be caused by ignorance and a lack of strategy. In this article, we’ll highlight the common mistakes students make while preparing for the MCCQE1 Exam. Let’s get right into it!

1. Not Using the Right Textbooks to Prepare for the Exam:

Preparing for the MCCQE1 Exam is a very challenging one, and this is because of the large number of study objectives that must be covered before taking the Exam. These objectives are must-know topics that candidates need to know; otherwise their chances of passing the Exam become really slim. The MCCQE1 Exam is unlike other standardized tests like USMLE because it’s clinically centered and based on the Canadian Medical Education Directions for Specialists framework.

The framework outlines four objectives which are clinical diagnostics, management strategies, clinical problem-solving, preventive exams, and ethics. However, it can be difficult to find a textbook which encompasses all these objectives; different textbooks cover different objectives to varying degrees. While this is a constant challenge, the MCC objectives are constantly evolving to reflect the new development in medicine. This might mean that a textbook which was previously adequate may no longer be sufficient. Because of these challenges, many candidates have shifted to less bulky textbooks, which highlight the need to know points faster to ensure that they know all they need to know while preparing faster for the board exam.

A perfect example of a textbook in this category includes Toronto notes and essentials for the Canadian Medical Licensing Examination. However, active learning and recall must go hand in hand with reading textbooks. This will help you connect the dots and recall essential information vital for eliminating other options.

2. Procrastinating Learning New Information for the Exam:

Procrastination is a thief of time, and this time, it’s no exception. It’s like a voice in your head gives you other options of things to do instead of studying— and in this situation where there’s not enough time to adequately prepare, it can reduce your possibility of facing the Exam. However, there are ways to combat procrastination from getting in the way when preparing for your MCCQE1 Exam.

Prepare a study schedule which will give you ample time to go over most of your objectives.
Stay motivated throughout your reading time. Remember that you have a goal to accomplish and work accordingly towards that. Maintain a good attitude and surround yourself with people that can help you stay motivated during this period.
Remove all distractions. You may consider studying in a library if you get distracted by the possibility of having your spouse, roommate or family members with you.

3. Rushing Through Question Banks While for the Exam:

Many question banks, including CanadaQbank have explanations for each question. These questions use a combination of hyperlinks, summary tables, and illustrations to explain the answer, and it’d be unwise to rush through or skip it altogether. Many questions in CanadaQbank are high-yield, and each answer was gotten by a skilled physician who took their time to answer each question. The base strategy is to start early and take your time while answering the questions and going over the explanations.

4. Lack of Proper Preparation for MCCQE1:

Preparation time should be a dedicated allotted time. Many students try to study and, on the one hand, try to surf the internet, watch YouTube videos, check social media or text friends. The time allocated for reading should be treated as such, and all those other things can be done during free time or breaks. If you don’t need your phone, you can put it on silent or airplane mode. Notification of text messages from social media or emails can absolutely distract your reading. Make out a proper study time; make a list of subjects you need to cover while inserting a bit of break in between. Following a schedule gives you structure and improves your efficiency. Prioritize your goals and keep them in mind as you study.

5. Not Reading Any of the Explanations in Question Banks:

The Canadian Exam is a standard computer-based Exam whose questions are standard, and there’s a high rate of passing the Exam if you prepare for it properly. However, being adequately prepared takes time, and that’s why question banks like CanadaQbank have provided summary points and graphs to make the preparation shorter and even more effective. With a combination of these question banks and a recommended textbook, acing the MCCQE1 Exam will be a walk in the park.

6. Starting Too Late With Question Banks:

Many students get anxious about starting their MCCQE1 preparation; some even get overwhelmed by the number of questions they see in question banks. They claim they aren’t prepared to take questions from question banks and will rather make do with textbooks. That is the wrong approach to take. Why is that? Because the best way to effectively prepare for the Exam is to familiarize yourself with questions and their formats. Most question banks, including CanadaQbank, include tutor and time modes which help you assess your studying and time management. You can do this over and over before the actual Exam. Also, you can also move from one subject category to the other without having to finish that course. This means you can attempt different courses simultaneously. In all, question banks expose you to several formats of challenging case scenarios, and the earlier you are able to prepare for these formats, the higher your chances of scoring high scores.

Conclusion:

Proper preparation is important for success in the MCCQE1 Exam, and you should make an effort to get the maximum possible score in the MCCQE1 Exam. Avoid negative thoughts. Thoughts like “I can’t do this” should be discarded as they are counterproductive and increase exam anxiety. You should also discard obsessive thoughts; once you find yourself obsessing over the volume of the material or your inability to pass the Exam, it’s time to distract yourself with something else. If you are having any issues with any course, it’s important that you get all the help you need to pass the Exam on the first try. With over 3000 high-yield questions, you can count on CanadaQbank to offer you many case simulations and self-assessments to challenge you while pushing you to your limits. You can also take tests in timed, un-timed, and tutor modes, choose how many questions you want to take in each block, mark questions, and write your own notes during the test, review detailed analysis of MCCQE Part 1 tests taken, review performance by subject category, and compare your scores with other users. Other features of Canada Qbank include:

Upgraded exam interface for true simulation, with normal lab values
Revised and expanded with feedback from the most recent exams
Continuous updates to the questions and explanations
Accessible 24/7 from anywhere