Study Tips
Study strategies that actually work.
Based on cognitive science and the experience of students who have passed Ghanaian MBBS and MBCHB exams. No filler.
Active recall beats passive re-reading
Closing your notes and trying to remember information strengthens memory far more than re-reading. Every time you answer a practice question, you are doing active recall. Aim for at least 70% of your study time in active recall mode.
Use spaced repetition — not just before exams
The spacing effect is one of the most replicated findings in cognitive psychology. Reviewing information at increasing intervals (1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks) produces far better retention than cramming. Start early enough to space your reviews.
Understand, then memorise
Trying to memorise pharmacology without understanding mechanism of action is like trying to remember a phone number in a language you do not speak. Build the conceptual framework first. Memorisation follows naturally.
Track your weak areas and study them first
Most students avoid their weakest topics. This feels comfortable but is the opposite of what works. Your weak topics are the highest-yield areas for improvement. Use your performance data to find them, then attack them directly.
Practise under exam conditions
Doing questions with notes open feels easier but does not prepare you for the exam. At least 30% of your practice should be timed and closed-book. The discomfort is the point — it is what makes the actual exam feel familiar.
Sleep is not optional
Memory consolidation happens during sleep. Staying up until 3am the night before an exam impairs recall more than it helps. Aim for 7 to 8 hours during exam preparation, and especially the night before.
Teach it to know it
If you can explain a concept clearly to someone else, you understand it. If you stumble, you have identified a gap. Study groups work best when members take turns teaching topics to each other, not just reading together.
Apply these tips with Medpass.
Medpass is built around the same principles — active recall, spaced repetition, and performance tracking. Everything you need to put this advice into practice.
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