When I tell people I only spent one week dedicated to studying for Step 1, they usually respond with a mix of disbelief and curiosity. But it’s true! By leveraging the power of Anki and AnKing during my preclinical years, I not only did well on my in-house school exams but also managed to optimize my Step 1 preparations. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through my tried-and-true method that made this possible.
Mastering Anki and AnKing
Anki is a popular spaced repetition software that allows you to create and review digital flashcards. AnKing, on the other hand, is a comprehensive, pre-made flashcard deck specifically designed for medical students. The deck covers all the essential topics in med school and is based on top-notch resources like First Aid, Pathoma, and SketchyMedical. To make the most of AnKing, follow these steps:
- Download the latest version of AnKing from Reddit.
- Install the recommended add-ons for an enhanced Anki experience.
- Familiarize yourself with the deck structure, tags, and the hierarchical tags add-on.
All of these can be done with quick and easy tutorial videos made by AnKing himself on Youtube.
Unsuspending Tags According to In-Class Material
AnKing is a vast deck, so you’ll need to strategically unsuspend cards relevant to your current coursework. Start by reviewing your syllabus for each class and identifying key topics. Then, search for corresponding tags in AnKing and unsuspend them. This way, you’ll be reviewing only the material you’re currently learning in class.
Tracking with External Resources
Anki is fantastic, but it shouldn’t be your only resource. Supplement your learning with external resources like textbooks, lecture slides, or video courses. Try and stick to the ones already tagged in AnKing; that way, you don’t have to waste time making cards. This will also help make sure you’re learning material that your in-house courses might not cover but will be on step 1, such as lysosomal storage diseases. This will help reinforce the material and improve your understanding of complex topics.
Take advantage of opportunities to learn
Never be afraid to look stupid. My school, for example, had workshops, led by clinicians who were practicing the very material we were learning. Take advantage of these opportunities. Ask questions, and attempt an answer. If the heart’s electrophysiology is confusing you, you’re doing yourself no favors by not asking the cardiologist sitting across the table to explain it. The same is true for each of your clinical experiences. The facts you learn off a card are better remembered when you can connect them to patients and practice.
Keeping Up with Reviews
One of the most critical aspects of Anki is consistency. Make it a habit to review your cards daily, even if it’s just for half an hour. By consistently reviewing and engaging with the material, you’ll retain information more efficiently, and the workload will feel more manageable. Do not use the Postpone Add-on – it becomes a crutch that ends up hindering your progress.
Distributing the Workload
By integrating Anki and AnKing into your daily routine, you’re essentially distributing your Step 1 preparations over two years. This results in less stress, increased efficiency, and a stronger foundation in medical knowledge. Plus, using tools like FSRS and Ankihub (which we discuss in-depth in other blog posts), you can even supercharge your Anki experience and further optimize your study sessions.
Wrapping Up
So, there you have it! By using Anki and AnKing effectively during my preclinical years, I was able to reduce my dedicated Step 1 studying to just one week. This method not only saved me time and stress but also allowed me to enjoy a more balanced med school experience.
If you’re ready to revolutionize your study habits and conquer med school, give Anki and AnKing a try. You’ll thank yourself later!
