How I Memorize Efficiently in Med School

How I Memorize Efficiently in Med School — The 40:60 Method

By: Ishwari Chandran

Many people feel medicine is all about “understanding things”. However, I feel understanding concepts isn’t simply enough. We should be able to recollect the information and apply what we’ve learned in order to provide the best care to our patients. 

Medical students need to remember things ranging from risk factors of diseases to treatment protocols. There is a LOT to memorize.

When I just started studying medicine, there were days where I spent HOURS studying only to forget more than 50% of what I studied, the very next day.

To tackle this problem, I started using the 40-60 method of studying. 

I classify learning into two parts: 

• Passive learning 
• Active learning 

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Passive learning

When you’re reading a textbook or are attending a lecture, you’re taking in information for the first time. This is known as passive learning. This is a very important aspect of learning as you have to concentrate and focus to grasp all the information.

• Attend lectures 
• Read a textbook 
• Watch lecture videos

Active learning 

Active learning is a much more efficient way to learn. This is because, by using this method, you will be training your brain to recall the things that you’ve learned before. This can be done by flashcards, practice questions, or by actively participating in discussions.

This way of learning will help you know if you’re on track before you learn something new.

• Flashcards 
• Practice questions 
• Participate in discussions 
• Teach the Concept

So my major study tip for y’all is simply: Spend 40% of your time learning things passively and spend 60% of your time learning things actively. 

Reading a textbook for 10 hours straight might sound like a lot of work and you might feel like you have studied a lot! But this isn’t as efficient or successful as doing so for 4 hours followed by 6 hours of solving questions and doing flashcards. For studying efficiently, it is very important for us to challenge ourselves along the way.

This is the reason why I not only make teaching videos, but also create quizzes. I also make videos explaining the answers to the quiz. I also share study tips and parts of my med journey!

I post my quizzes on Instagram and my videos on Youtube. Do check it out! 🙂 

I have always looked up to doctors and senior medical students who had everything at their fingertips. This method of learning truly helped me think quicker and recall things better.

I hope it helps you too!

For LifeofaMedStudent’s own study tips, check out the post “How to Study in Medical School” – you’ll find a lot of the advice is similar to Ishwari’s here. 

To save money on study products, check out our “Medical Student Discounts” page. 20% or more off your favorite education resources! 

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