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| DR. Shaleen |
Vote of Thanks
I sincerely thanks DR. Shaleen for writing for my blog. He is a very intelligent and fun loving person and his views will definitely help the candidates aspiring for medical science as an optional subject. Any student in need of further help for medical science can comment or ask any query, DR. Shaleen will try to answer your queries as well.
Regards,
Deepak Singla
Aspiring and
preparing for civil services after becoming a doctor is itself a big challenge
and choosing an optional like medical science is a big challenge. Even medical
graduates with good scores in their graduation years defer from taking it.
But my
experience with MS as optional is different. General impression that I have
regarding MS is that this subject is more feared. One who is directed and
determined can easily handle this bulky subject.
Through this
article I will try to clear doubts that most of students carry in their hearts
and minds.
When one decides for civil services
as a carrier first question is about choosing optional. And it is why Medical
science when most of medical candidates are rejecting it?
Dear
friends, before deciding about any optional I would recommend you to choose it
on rational grounds and not on herd mentality.
It is a
subject that you have studied for 5 years already and you just need to revise
it while for any other optional one has to start from scratch. So you will have
an advantage of prior preparation. Further if something is asked from here and
there you would at least be able to attempt something if you don’t know as you
understand the pulse of medical science.
This is a
technical subject with objective and perfect answers unlike other humanities
where answers tend to vary.
No language
bar even if you are not good at English you are not at disadvantaged position
in this field.
So it is
worth to go for this optional.
Though I am
an optimistic person but let’s accept the reality of this exam that it is not
possible for everyone to clear it either for this reason or that reason.
Sometimes it is the God that favours one so as a rescue plan it is better to be
in touch of your own subject as if medical science is not read it is so much
volatile subject that most of us tends to forget until and unless one is
brilliant enough. I am sure not everyone among us is like that.
Various issues while dealing with MS—
· Lengthy
syllabus.
· Unmanageable
as it is lock and loaded with facts.
· No
compiled up material is available in market.
· No
coaching classes.
· Problems
to answer questions especially the one related with differential diagnosis.
Now I will
answer each and every issue in detail and one would find that it can be easily
handled despite such roadblocks.
Strategy to prepare MS during 4 month
period available b/w prelims and mains.
Once you
have decided to go for MS I would suggest you now stop thinking to change your
optional. Once decided means now no turning back.
Preparation
of medical science has three phases that one has to complete in 4-5 month time
period available.
Phase 1-
perspective phase
Phase2-
retrospective phase
Phase3-
perspective again
Phase 1- Time available is up to prelims result declaration (usually
2 months). During this one needs to complete prescribed syllabus. Be specific and stick to the topics.
Refer all those standard books that you have read during your graduation years.
No need to go for any PG oriented book. Once you have completed this syllabus
get ready for a more challenging phase- the phase 2. Purpose of this phase to
refresh your memory about the topics that you had studied during 1st
year and might have forgotten. It is like refreshing the text.
Phase2—retospective one is the most challenging phase. One has to prepare
previous year papers.
Start
solving previous year papers. Begin with the latest one… yes questions they
tend to repeat in Medical science (one more reason to choose MS).
Make notes
short telegraphic ones as you need to recall only certain key words and rest
you can write.
My
experience says that one would take 2 days/ paper (actually 4-5hrs per day) to
make notes. So if one targets to solve 10 papers it would take 20 days (don’t
forget you are under a mission)
By the time
you will complete notes making you will find that some questions are repeating
and a smart guess can be made for next year paper. (No other optional allows
you that flexibility).
Those who
are still left with energy and wants to put in more can write a one simulated
test. When I wrote one I learned a lot. I would like to share-
· Unlike
papers of humanities there is no word limits prescribed for questions in MS
paper but if one tends to write a complete answer one would not be able to
complete the paper. So it is better to be smart enough while preparing and
restrict your answer roughly to the limit of 250-300 words. Or roughly 100-120
words per 10 marker.
· Practice
diagrams beforehand. No need to waste time in making a very artistic diagram. Just make it clear enough to be understandable.
· Wherever
possible write in points or flow chart format.
· For
PSM questions one can cite certain examples from newspaper. “The periscope”
page of “The Hindu” newspaper is helpful sometimes.
Phase3- this is bit lighter one. Time slot varies according to the
number of days available in b/w one’s optional. Revise all your hand written
notes first and those areas that one feels uneasy with. Memorize pneumonic that
you might have prepared.
Exam day—I call it as D-day. Don’t revise at
least 30min before exam. Take a rest. And say this all is well.
Once you
enter in examination hall get down to your seat and when question papers are
allotted to you immediately start marking the questions that you are going to
attempt and write down key words or differential diagnosis that that you are
going to write in that question as one tends to forget.
This process
must not take more than 10 min. and after that start writing with speed as you
have to complete your paper in a limited time frame. Believe me 3 hrs appear
like 1hr on that day.
After you have completed your paper before
tying it just go through once whether you have attempted all questions and none
is left. It’s a kind of recheck before submitting your answer sheet.
If possible
do mention question number and respective page number that is given on the top
of answer sheet and if u can’t because of time shortage don’t get tensed as you
won’t be peanalised by the examiner for that. They do understand your situation
and the level of stress you might be going through.
Anyways just
go ahead as you have prepared well with a strategy and practiced well. Don’t
forget “all is well and all will be well”.
Meticulous practice and sincere efforts are key to success in this exam.
Wishing you all good luck.
DR. Shaleen
Rank-81
CSE-2011.
