CQB Education Inc., Author at CanadaQBank

December 10, 2020February 22, 2024

Feeling Unmotivated to Study? Try These 5 Things

For most students around the world, winter can be a real struggle when it comes to motivating yourself to study. Between the cold temperatures and the short hours of real daylight, the season can really take a toll on your motivation. If this sounds familiar, there are some things you can do that can provide that extra boost of productivity when you need it the most.

#1 – Get Daylight Bulbs

You probably already know as a medical student that there’s absolutely nothing that can take the place of real sunlight, but daylight bulbs are as close as it gets. If you’re finding it difficult to get out of bed in the morning because it’s still dark, or if you’re struggling to stay awake past 6 in the evening because it’s already dark, installing a few daylight bulbs can really help. If you opt for smart bulbs, you can connect them to an app on your phone or tablet and then program them to come on and turn off at the times you choose. Essentially, you get to simulate the sunrise and sunset on your terms.

#2 – The Pomodoro Method

The Pomodoro study method was developed to help students stay motivated and focused while they work. It’s basically a process that involves studying for 25 minutes, then taking a five-minute break, then studying for another 25 minutes and so on. All you need for this one is a timer and a small reward that you can look forward to during each five-minute break.

#3 – The Forest App

The Forest app is based on the principle of the Pomodoro method, but it builds upon it to turn focusing into a game. The framework of the app is an adjustable Pomodoro timer that allows you to choose the length of your study sessions and break sessions according to your personal needs. Before you get started, you’ll need to choose one of the dozens of cute “trees” you can grow during your study session and add to your Forest. The best part? If you turn it on, there’s a feature that will wither your tree if you access anything other than the Forest app on your phone!

#4 – Music

Of all the different ways to motivate yourself to study, turning on some music is by far the simplest – especially with all the free streaming services out there. It’s important to choose music intended to help you focus rather than distract you, and that’s where Spotify comes in. Simply search for “study music” and you’ll find hundreds of different playlists curated by other students. Aside from this, you can build your own playlists with any songs and genres that help you focus. Some of the best options include lo-fi, classical, and soft instrumental.

#5 – Reward Yourself

Most students feel more compelled to do things they really don’t want to do when they know there’s a pot of gold at the end of the proverbial rainbow. Start on Sunday evening with a piece of paper and make a list of everything you want to accomplish study-wise in the upcoming week. Then, break that down into smaller chunks spread over seven days. Write each day’s goals in your planner, then decide how you will reward yourself if you fulfill your goals for the week. Make sure it’s something you really love and make sure that the goals you set for yourself are challenging, but not out of reach.

Millions of students worldwide dread studying at some point or another, whether it’s out of boredom, burnout, frustration, or something else entirely. However, with the right music, the right lighting, and the right technology, it’s entirely possible to find your motivation – especially if there’s a reward waiting for you once a week when you’ve met your goals.

December 2, 2020February 22, 2024

Can Question Banks Help You Get More out of Your Lectures?

Medical students attend hundreds of lectures during their school years, but many of them struggle to truly understand the topics being presented. If you’re not an auditory learner, then this may sound familiar to you. Fortunately, there are several resources available to help you get more out of your lectures, and online question bank software is one of the best.

What is an Online Question Bank?

Question banks, often referred to as “qbanks” by students, are software platforms that offer you numerous multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and more to help you adequately prepare for your medical licensing exam. When choosing an online question bank platform, look for the following:

The number of MCQs. The more MCQs the software contains, the more topics and subtopics they will cover. In this case, aim for a platform that offers you thousands of questions in all the major topics you’ll find on your exam.

The quality of the MCQs. Not all multiple-choice questions are created equal, and some are certainly better than others. Make sure the questions were all written by actual medical professionals for the best possible results.

Study features. Finally, if you want to get more out of your lectures with the help of a question bank, make sure your chosen software offers study features. Some of the best include “tutor mode,” which allows you to learn at your own pace, as well as the ability to take your own notes and attach them to individual questions for later study.

How to Use a QBank to Enhance Lectures

Now that you know what a question bank can do for you as a medical student, it’s important to understand some of the best ways to utilize it specifically for your lectures. There are two methods, and you can choose to utilize just one of them or both alongside numerous other tips for better recall and comprehension.

Pre-lecture preparation. Many medical students find it helpful to take some time to prepare for lectures by reading their textbooks and reviewing their course materials. Believe it or not, medical qbanks can be a great preparation tool, too. Create a mock exam or tutoring session with only questions relating to the topic that will be presented in your lecture and see how much of the material you already know. Then, go back to the questions you missed, read the answers and explanations, and do a little research on the things that stand out to you.

Post-lecture review. You might also choose to use a question bank to review the material that was presented to you during your lecture. The method is the same; create a mock exam or tutoring session containing MCQs on the lecture topic, answer the questions, and then review your answers.

Many students find it interesting to use the online question bank software for both pre-lecture preparation and post-lecture review. Later, they can compare the results of the two sessions and truly gauge their learning.

Online question bank platforms are by far one of the most flexible and useful tools out there for preparing for your medical licensing exams. They’re far more than just mock exams, though – they’re perfect for studying, tracking your progress, and even preparing for and reviewing your lectures.

November 23, 2020May 25, 2024

What Should You Do if You Just Don’t Understand a Topic No Matter How Hard You Try?

Every single medical student in the history of modern medicine has struggled with at least one topic during their many years of education. Though it may feel frustrating – and in some cases, you might think it’s impossible to learn – there are a few helpful things you can do to reinforce those tricky topics during your study sessions and put you on a path to mastery.

Look Through the Professor’s Recommended Texts

Sometimes, and especially in medical school, the professor for a specific course will include a list of recommended texts on the course syllabus, even if he or she doesn’t teach from or even mention those texts during lectures. If you’re struggling to grasp a concept or topic, pull up your course syllabus and look for those various materials. You might be able to find various online tools or resources that you can use to gain a better overall understanding.

Re-Watch Lectures (or Find Alternative Lectures Online)

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many professors are lecturing their classrooms virtually. It’s highly likely that somewhere amongst your resources, you’ll be able to find recordings of all the lectures from your course, and these can be wonderful tools. You can even search for lectures from other professors (or even other universities) online. Sometimes in order to grasp a concept, you need to hear it from more than one angle. Recorded lectures can help you do this.

Email Your Professor(s)

If your syllabus or the texts it references aren’t of much help to you and you’re still struggling to understand a topic, reach out to your professor in an email. He or she may schedule a phone call or video meeting with you, or your professor may be able to point you toward some texts or resources that will help you get a better grasp of the topic’s foundations. Working your way up from the simplest concepts is the best route, and your professor can help you do just that.

Access a Question Bank

Believe it or not, question banks are wonderful tools for students who are struggling to grasp certain concepts or topics in their studies. Before choosing one, take a look at the various features it offers. The goal is to ensure that the software allows you to customize your experience so that you can focus your studies on the topic or topics that give you the most trouble. Even better, that software should also give you answers to questions you miss along with a detailed explanation, references, and a place to take your own notes.

Utilize Your Course Forums & Discussion Boards

Course forums and discussion boards have been important tools for students for many years – even long before COVID-19. They allow students to discuss topics amongst themselves and help one another in a virtual sense, which is important in today’s world. Simply search the forums for posts about the topic you’re struggling with, and if not, create a post to ask for help. Be specific about your needs so that the right people can provide you with the information you need and be sure to cross-check any facts provided to you with internet searches.

It’s easy to feel frustrated or defeated when you find yourself stuck on a difficult topic during your medical studies, but fortunately, there’s no hurdle that a determined student can’t overcome. Use all the resources that are available to you and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

November 19, 2020February 22, 2024

How Social Media is Changing the Way Medical Students Study

Just a few short decades ago, medical students had only a handful of ways to study their materials. They sat in classroom lectures, went to the library, studied on their own at home, or met up in a coffee shop to discuss the topics at hand. In today’s world, there are dozens of options out there – and social media is a key player. Here’s how social media is changing the way medical students around the world are studying.

Integration into Online Courses

Students choose to take their courses online for a variety of reasons. Some need the flexibility that online courses can provide, especially if they have families or their jobs make it difficult to attend lectures in real time. With the COVID-19 pandemic, some universities are closed for in-person instruction and are instead reliant on virtual learning. In many cases – and in many courses – professors rely on social media as a tool to keep their classes connected. In fact, many create Facebook groups designed for a specific course and then use them to start discussions. It’s a wonderful tool that helps medical students study more effectively.

Virtual Study Groups

Another way in which social media is changing the way medical students prepare for their exams has to do with study groups. Despite social distancing guidelines and restrictions around the world, students are utilizing social media platforms to group virtually for meaningful and helpful discussions. Facebook Rooms, which is available through the social media giant’s Messenger app, is a popular hub for these groups. It allows students to see one another in real time, which is the next best thing to an actual group.

Round-the-Clock Access to Help

Study groups are important because each member of the group has a specific set of topics they understand well – and perhaps even a topic or two that they don’t. When all of these students get together in one virtual place, they can draw on one another’s knowledge to learn in a way that lectures and reading simply can’t provide. Social media platforms give groups of students the ability to form personalized chat groups so that they can ask questions around the clock and receive answers as the other members have time.

Recommendations & More

If you’re looking for a new restaurant to try, there’s a good chance you’ll use one of several social media sites to ask your friends what they would recommend, then simply wait for some enticing answers. This works the same way when it comes to studying for medical exams. Via social media, medical students can ask questions of specific groups of friends and receive numerous answers. These questions might include, “What time is the virtual lecture?” or even, “Where can I find a specific textbook?”

Simply put, social media is a wonderful resource for not only staying in touch with friends, families, and colleagues, but also for studying and getting the most out of your medical school experience. Whether it’s a specific group put together for an online course or a place to ask your fellow students which resource or text they would recommend, every student can benefit from social media as long as they use it responsibly.

November 12, 2020February 22, 2024

Digital vs. Handwritten Notes: Which Works Best?

As a medical student, you’re more than likely aware of the importance of taking notes during lectures and as you read your course texts. Deciding whether to take digital notes or handwritten ones is personal, and each can be equally effective depending on your individual needs. Below, you can learn more about the pros and cons of digital versus handwritten notes so that you can use the system that best helps you succeed.

Handwritten Notes

Writing out notes by hand is still the most popular system among students. It requires only a pen or pencil and paper, which are easily obtainable – even at a corner convenience store. In some cases, you may choose to annotate your textbooks, which is a secondary means of writing notes. It involves listening to the lecturer speak or reading a paragraph in your text, then making a note of the most important concepts that you will need to know for your clinicals or your exams.

The downfalls associated with handwritten notes are very few. For some students, though, these downfalls make handwritten notes impractical. They include:

The need to store piles and piles of notebooks. When you’re studying for your licensing or placement exam, you will need every single note you take to serve as a study tool. If you’re taking good notes, then they are also thorough and cover a variety of topics and information. Unfortunately, in order to continue to study these notes, you’ll need to keep them – and that means piles of notebooks in your dorm, apartment, or room.
Inability to write fast enough. Many students who take handwritten notes attest that learning basic shorthand is essential, especially in medical school since there are so many facts and figures to remember. Those who don’t know shorthand often struggle to write fast enough to keep up with lecturers.
Illegibility or disorganization. If your handwriting isn’t the greatest, then there’s always the concern that you’ll pull one of your notebooks out of the pile only to discover that you can’t make out what you wrote. Along those same lines, if you failed to organize your notes in a cohesive way, you might have to spend hours digging through pages and pages of terms to find the topic you need to study.

Digital Notes

Digital notetaking makes up for many of the downfalls associated with writing them by hand. You can save all your data in the cloud, which means all you really need is a tablet or laptop – or maybe even your phone. Most people can type much faster than they can write, too, which means any device with a keyboard will allow you to get your thoughts down quickly. Finally, you can arrange your notes into folders by date, topic, or any other criteria, and you can search every single document for specific terms, too.

For most medical students, as long as they have the laptop or tablet that allows for digital notetaking, there are no real pitfalls – especially if they back up their notes to the cloud regularly. However, studies have found that students who handwrite their notes tend to recall more information than students who type them, so keep this in mind. A way to circumvent this involves using one of numerous handwriting apps on your iPad or convertible laptop so that you can get the best of both worlds.

November 5, 2020February 22, 2024

5 Tips for Practicing Social Distancing while Studying for Medical Exams

If the social distancing guidelines for COVID-19 prevention from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as from the World Health Organization (WHO) have left you scrambling for new ways to study for your medical exams, you are certainly not alone. Even with these measures in place, though, it is possible to continue your studies uninterrupted. Here are five tips for practicing social distancing without sacrificing your study time.

#1 – Study Alone

Most students benefit a great deal from scheduling solo study time into their daily calendars, but as with all things, moderation is key. Studies have suggested that group study is the best way to reinforce previously learned material, so when it comes to review sessions, visiting a fellow student’s dorm or meeting up at the library is ideal. However, with COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions in place, this is simply not possible. To make the most out of your solo study time, try saying things out loud – even if there’s no one there. This simulates a group setting and may help you recall more of your studies later.

#2 – Make Use of Online Groups & Rooms

Now that social distancing is occurring on an almost-global scale, numerous companies have provided access to online meeting rooms and chatrooms that provide a simulated group meet experience. Some of the best options include Zoom, a popular video conferencing platform, as well as Facebook, which has recently implemented its “Rooms” feature, available via Facebook Messenger.

#3 – Use a Question Bank Frequently

One of the best and most underrated ways to study involves utilizing question banks that mimic the questions that you will be asked on your placement or licensing exam. However, not all question bank platforms are created equally, which means you’ll need to be sure that you know what to look for in a quality platform. Similarly, the platform you choose should come with numerous customization options – and perhaps even room to compare your mock exam scores to others to see if you’re on the right track.

#4 – Visit Online Libraries

Libraries – and especially reference libraries – often become second homes for medical students. They spend countless hours poring through piles of medical journals and texts to understand the most complicated parts of human anatomy, physiology, and psychology. Though students cannot simply go to the library every day like they did before the pandemic, they certainly can explore most (if not all) of what the library has to offer online. What’s more, some libraries even offer prerecorded lectures that you can access if you feel like you need a little extra help.

#5 – Ask Your School’s Faculty

Finally, if you are unsure of which resources are available to you in your local area or through your school, the best way to discover them involves simply asking the faculty. Contact the school’s library or perhaps even your professors to ask them about digital study materials that may be available to you, any Zoom study groups that may be taking place, or even opportunities for phone or video tutoring for students who need some extra help.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly changed the way most of us go about our daily lives, it doesn’t have to put a complete damper on your studies. You can study alone with a question bank or through an online library, or you can study with groups through video conferencing apps like Zoom or social apps like Facebook. The possibilities are limitless – just like your potential. All you have to do is embrace them.

October 10, 2020February 22, 2024

The 5 Most Difficult Topics on the USMLE According to Medical Students

The United States Medical Licensing Examination, or USMLE, is one of the most difficult and rigorous exams you will ever take. The questions focus on numerous topics ranging from anatomy to communicable disease, and you’ll need to recall several years’ worth of information to pass and obtain your license to practice. Below are the five most difficult USMLE topics according to students who have passed their exams with flying colors.

Biochemistry

Most medical students agree that biochemistry is by far the most difficult topic you will find on the USMLE. Not only is there a ton of information to memorize and absorb like a sponge, but because biochemistry is at the cutting edge of medicine in 2020, it’s also changing almost every single day. Doctors recommend devoting a period of your daily study time to biochemistry and keeping up with the latest trends and news, too.

Microbiology

Much like biochemistry, the strange and expansive world of microbiology is difficult to study and even more difficult to truly understand. Nevertheless, microbiology is the very basis for disease; microbes like viruses and bacteria must be fundamentally understood in order to provide the best possible diagnoses and treatment plans for patients. Be sure that you spend plenty of time reviewing microbiology texts, and don’t be afraid to reach out for help if you need it.

Pathology

Pathology is the study of disease and is often referred to as the bridge between science and medicine. It’s at the very center of every single interaction you will ever have with your patients, from diagnosing them to treating them – and even slowing the spread of contagious diseases. Like biochemistry, the way we understand pathology changes on a daily basis, which means it’s incredibly difficult to study effectively. Dedicating a lot of your study time to this topic and keeping up with any new findings will go a long way toward helping you score well on the USMLE.

Ethics/Medical Legal Issues

The ethics and legality of the practice of medicine is quite complicated, and with every single passing year, that complication grows. Doctors and nurses fill out piles of paperwork with every patient interaction as dictated by numerous healthcare regulations and laws. Learning the ethics and legal aspects of medical practice is difficult because there’s simply so much to take in and it never stays the same for long.

Neuroanatomy

Gross anatomy is one of the least difficult topics on the USMLE according to med students and doctors, but neuroanatomy is a different story. This is the term used to define the anatomy of the nervous system, and while it may not seem all that intimidating at first, it’s important to remember that neuroanatomy also encompasses the complex anatomy of the human brain and the way our bodies respond to it. With so much still left to understand about the brain and how it works, it comes as no surprise that students find neuroanatomy an incredibly difficult topic.

Biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, ethics and legal issues, and neuroanatomy are arguably the five most difficult topics you’ll find on the USMLE. It’s important to utilize a variety of study tips to focus on these areas so that you can pass your licensing exam with flying colors.

October 2, 2020February 22, 2024

How to Train Your Brain to Make Study Time More Effective

Studying is at the core of a medical students everyday life, but staying focused and motivated can be difficult, especially now that so many students are learning with online courses from their dorms or homes. Learning how to focus on the task at hand and avoid distractions is by far one of the best things a medical student can do, and the techniques below can help.

How Your Brain Works

The human brain can focus on any given topic during a study session for about 25 minutes before it starts to find ways to distract itself. Though there are some exceptions – such as when the content you are studying is interesting to you, personally – 25 minutes is a solid average. For the most part, forcing yourself to continue studying when your mind simply cannot focus isn’t productive at all. You aren’t likely to retain more information, and you’re probably just wasting your time. However, thanks to something called brain plasticity, you can train your brain to stay focused for longer periods of time and really make the most out of the time you have to study.

The Pomodoro Method

The world-famous Pomodoro Method for studying has been around for quite some time, and it’s based solely on the notion that most people can only stay truly focused on a task for roughly 25 minutes. The method, which applies not only to studying, but also to other tasks, involves setting a timer for 25 minutes, focusing intently during that time, then setting another timer for a five minute break during which you remove yourself from your desk or study area to stretch, drink water, or listen to a song.

This complete 30-minute interval comprised of 25 minutes of work and five minutes of play is referred to as a “Pomodoro”, and you can use numerous Pomodoros to accomplish the task at hand. You may need four or five of them to finish studying your microbiology chapter, but you may only need one clean your apartment. It can be used for virtually anything.

Extending Your Pomodoros

Once you’ve gotten the knack of using Pomodoros to get through your study sessions, your brain’s ability to adapt (brain plasticity) will allow you make each cycle longer and longer, all without losing focus. After a week of 30-minute Pomodoros, try extending it to 45 minutes with a seven-minute break. If you can stay focused for the full 45 minutes, move to an hour with a ten-minute break. Over time, your brain will learn how to stay focused for longer periods, and you’ll get much more out of your study sessions.

With so many medical students now taking online courses, distractions are everywhere, but there are things you can do to stay focused, and over time, you’ll even learn how to block out those distractions. Aside from using the Pomodoro method, you can also try some exercises recommended by Harvard University to keep your mind fit throughout your med school years and beyond.

September 20, 2020February 22, 2024

How to Customize an SMLE Question Bank Platform for the Perfect Personalized Experience

There are dozens of different options for SMLE question banks available to medical students, but not all of them can offer a customizable experience that’s best suited to your individual needs. Here’s how you can utilize CanadaQBank’s innovative platform to completely customize your SMLE qbank to suit your goals and needs.

Use Tutor Mode First

CanadaQBank offers two unique study options: timed and tutor modes. Timed mode is designed to represent a real testing environment by giving you a set amount of time to answer a set number of questions. Though it is good for judging your knowledge, it can be a stressful way to spend all of your study time and is meant more for assessing yourself. Tutor mode allows you to take your time to answer questions. You can immediately see if your answer was correct, and you’ll get an explanation if it isn’t. You can take your own notes in Tutor mode, too, which is helpful.

Save Questions to “My Questions”

The questions that you miss during your Tutor mode study time can be placed in a separate section in the platform called “My Questions”. This area can hold any number of questions that you would like to come back and review or revise later down the line. In fact, you can study only the questions you’ve moved into this section of the platform until you’ve mastered them, and then move on to something else in a cycle. You can leave notes for these questions if you choose, too, which allows for impressive, customized learning.

Select Your Difficulty

CanadaQBank makes it easy for you to choose the right difficulty for your needs during your study sessions, too. If you’re a new medical student who wants to make the most of the platform as a study tool throughout your education, choose “Easy” for access to some simpler questions that will help introduce you to the software and how things work. Later, as you study and become more confident in your ability to answer the “Easy” questions, you can move into “Average”. Finally, before your big exam, you can start to study the “Difficult” questions. There’s also a setting that will allow you to study a mix of these difficulties.

Use Video to Your Advantage

CanadaQBank is dedicated to providing medical students with the best possible resources to help them obtain their medical licenses, and because of this, they offer outstanding multimedia content in the form of videos. During Tutor mode – as you study – you can access videos that provide instruction and in-depth explanations for certain topics. Incorporating this new way to learn helps to keep things fresh and may help you avoid burnout in the long run, too. Check out the CanadaQBank YouTube channel for a list of helpful videos that you can watch any time you choose.

As you can see, it’s easy to personalize your SMLE question bank when you choose CanadaQBank as your platform. With timed and tutor modes, the “My Questions” feature, the ability to select your difficulty, and access to multimedia options to keep your study sessions fresh and interesting, it’s possible to create the study session that benefits you the most in minutes.

September 15, 2020February 22, 2024

How Med Students Around the World Avoid Studying Burnout

Medical students work and study hard for years to become doctors and surgeons, and as a result, almost everyone will face some sort of studying burnout at some point. Fortunately, there are things students can do to avoid the “stuck in a rut” feeling, and even the American Medical Association (AMA) is on board.

Why Burnout Occurs

Medical students typically enter the field because they want to work with patients to save their lives or at least provide them with a better quality of life. Before that can occur, there are many years of study that must take place, and the difficulty of the study – the sheer time spent staring at textbooks or listening to lectures – is daunting, at best. The overwhelming amount of information and study leads to burnout in about 45% of medical students according to a study conducted by the AMA and Dartmouth-Hitchcock.

What Doctors (Former Medical Students) Recommend

Burnout is definitely real, and it can take a toll on a student’s ability to succeed in their studies, and in some cases, it can be detrimental to their careers, too. Fortunately, there are things that students can do to avoid burnout altogether, and many of these same things will go a long way toward resolving burnout once it occurs.

Take care of your body and mind. The four facets include eating a healthy diet and staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and meditating. It may seem simple but failing to cover even one of these tenets of keeping yourself healthy will have a serious impact on your wellbeing and can quickly cause burnout.
Seek support from other medical students. There’s a reason why there’s a support group for everything, and when it comes to medical school, your peers are often as effective as therapy when it comes to avoiding burnout. Talk to them about your struggles and be there to help support them, too.
Ask your school counselors about support programs. Today’s world is much different than it was even a few decades ago. Medical professionals understand that the rigors of getting an education can be exhausting and overwhelming, so many universities have numerous wellness programs in place that you can take advantage of. Aside from simply learning how to be a doctor, it’s important to learn how to deal with stress and pressure that comes along with not only your education, but also your choice of career.

Mental Healthcare is Important

Finally, it’s important to note that serious burnout can be the result (or even the cause) of anxiety disorders and significant depression. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention notes that between 300 and 400 doctors die by suicide each year, yet very few physicians actually seek mental healthcare due to confidentiality concerns. Today, the AMA in partnership with other organizations works to provide confidential, affordable, and accessible mental healthcare for medical students and physicians alike.

Burnout is indeed real, and it’s actually quite prevalent among medical students. To avoid it, or to overcome it, make sure you’re taking care of yourself. Nourish your body and mind and seek the support of your peers and your university whenever you can. Finally, make sure you access mental healthcare as needed to keep yourself healthy.