a quickie primer

This primer is just based on our experience.

And from our experience, our exam was different from the previous batches based on their feedback.

Always prepare for the unexpected.

Your exam will probably differ from the batch(es) before you.

FAQs about the BOARDS!

Who can take the boards? Aside from the documentation requirements on the PRC website, only Filipino nationals who have finished their internship are allowed to take the exams. Who gives and makes the boards? Board of Medicine composed of 6 physicians, headed by Dr. Pareja (UP) Given in August and February What are the contents on the boards? 12 exams (enumerate) divided into 2 weekends 3 exams per day for 4 days What scores do I need to pass ? 75 average, but at least 50 per subject. Who takes care of your application?

You! You have to make kulit the college and OUR for your papers to beat
the deadline (mid-July).

REVIEWING 101

REVIEW CENTER OR SELF-STUDY?

ASK YOURSELF.
Know your learning style first.

TOP NOTCH REVIEW

When Where Price Early May to Boards week 47 Mercury St. Fairview, QC (near Radio Veritas) Php 15,000; Php 8500 x 2 (if paid in 2 installments) Handouts: well-constructed, helpful mnemonics, high-yield subject pearls Young lecturers (vs. older consultants in other centers): new teaching methods, new learning styles, newest trends in Board Examination; very open to constructive criticisms and new information Mentoring method: emotional support from mentor Fairview is quite a trip for most of the reviewers, thus our classmates opted to share a pad Schedule may seem pretty demanding and may cause anxiety for some who are used to studying at their own pace

UST REVIEW
When Where Price Early May to 1st few weeks of June, whole day UST Auditorium Php 15,000 (including hand-outs) Best sessions: Pharma, Anatomy, Physiology and Legal Med (Rebosa brothers) Handouts include mnemonics and greatly simplified tables, some parts are high-yield Sessions are too long Information overload Spoon-feeding may culture-shock some UP students. Some lectures/handouts are similar to what UST students studied in medical school

UP REVIEW
When Where Price late May to early June, 7 days straight, 7-4 or 5pm BSLR-E and West Php 3,000 Pre-tests are actually a very close approximation of the look and feel of the Medical Boards. Session on testmanship Some lectures were helpful (OB-GYNE and PHARMA)

Mostly feedback: most of the lecturers would only discuss the answers to the 100-item exam Only a few lecturers came up with a list of Hi-Yield or Must-Know topics. Lecturers were not the best of our PGH consultants

BRAINS REVIEW
When Where Price May-July, advertised as 4 days a week, half day *schedule frequently changes! Across Hi-Top along Quezon Avenue Php 11,000 *Discount available for early birds, previous Brains enrollee (NMAT) Best lecture: Biochemistry (given by a biochemist, not MD) Plenty of mock board exams (3 rounds) One FX ride away from PGH Not all lecturers teach topics that are high-yield No session on test-taking strategies No feedback for the mock board exams Not all reviewers are inclusive in the fee No parking for those with cars; for pedestrians, either you cross 12 lanes of highway or walk far to get to the footbridge

UPEC Review
When Where Price Mid-May to 1st week of July, 3x/week, 8 to 5 pm SOLAIR Bldg, UP Diliman (near the Gym/Archery range) Php 12,000 (EXCLUSIVE of hand-outs) Appropriate venue Most of the lecturers are from UP High- yield sessions: Rebosa brothers (Legal Med and Med Jurisprudence), Dr. Edna Go (Pathology) and Dr. Bles Mantaring (Anatomy). Overpriced. The famed UPEC samplex booklets DO NOT come for free. Majority of the sessions are not helpful (only put a lot of us to sleep) No pre/post tests and mock exams/feedbacks

REVIEWERS

BEFORE YOU BUY BOOKS

Make sure that it suits your style. Borrow or download a copy first.

TO SAVE MONEY
1. Borrow used books 2. Download and print. 3. Have continuous ink system installed on your printer.

Anatomy

STUDY WITH AN ATLAS and CORRELATE clinically. Dont forget HISTOLOGY! Netters Atlas of Anatomy Hi-Yield Anatomy Snells Clinical Review of Gross Anatomy Anatomy Road Map

Physiology

Dont merely memorize but understand . BRS Physiology

Microbio

Mostly recall. Memorize most common stuff. Study common entities in the Philippines. Microbiology MRS Jawetz Microbiology Review US MLE First Aid Step 1 (Microbiology section)

Biochem Patho Pharma

One of the most feared subjects because of its deemed complexity. Lippincotts Illus Review: Biochemistry Kaplan Biochemistry Lecture Notes Digging up the Bones Biochemistry (as supplement only Study pathology well because almost all subjects need a good grasp of pathology. Know the histopathologic description and not merely depend on the pathognomonic sign. BRS Pathology Companion to Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease

Classifcation, MOA, ADR including uncommon ones. Study in tandem with IM.
Lippincott Illustrated Review on Pharmacology Katzung Pharmacology Pharma Companion Kaplan Pharmacology Pharmacology Road Map

Surgery
IM Pedia

Put equal emphasis on anatomy, pathophysio, assessment and management algorithms Be familiar with the surgical lingo. Study all subspecialties. Schwartz Manual of Surgery (first 10 chapters) First Aid ABSITE/ABSITE Review Surgery Recall Your knowledge of physiology, pharmacology, pathology and microbiology is a must. Integrate , integrate, integrate! Hi Yield Internal Medicine Step-Up to Medicine

There has been no single reliable book. Do not focus on Gen Peds alone, they also ask questions from different subspecialties First Aid Pediatrics NMS Pediatrics Del Mundo Pediatrics Pocket Pedia/Pea Brain

OB
Legal med

Exam questions are mostly clinical and analytical. Pay attention during summary rounds and Gyne rounds. OB Black Book Blueprints OB-Gyne Baby Williams Limited number of references for the above subject. Answering old exams and getting summary or class notes of other schools (UE, UST) are a big, big help. Summary Review on Legal Medicine Solis chapter notes Rebosa lectures
Questions come from Occupational Health,

Prev Med

Environmental Sanitation, Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health Laws and Legislations, Family Dynamics and Life Cycle, Family Illness Trajectory, Supportive and Palliative Care, Prevention of Common Diseases, Communicable Diseases, DOH Programs and Primary Health Care Approach. UST & UE Prev Med notes (hodgepodge!)

Others

First Aid Step 1 Kaplan Med essentials Kaplan USMLE notes

1. Know yourself.
This will guide your study schedule, review material, whether a review center is beneficial or not, etc Even if a reviewer is recommended, as long as it is not working for you, change it! Youll just waste your time.

2. Plan the next 2-3 months of your life.

Make a schedule & stick to it. A second reading of the basics is highly recommended.

3. Decide & gather materials for review early on. 4. We cannot review what we do not know.
This is where your study habits (or lack thereof) during the 5 years of med school will pay off or haunt you As the saying goes, you reap what you sow

5. Include time to unwind and reward yourself.

Use whatever you can to help you get through the day. In short, pace yourself. Do not wind yourself to a nervous breakdown come exam day.

6. Have a medical dictionary with you always. 7. Make sure to get a good nights sleep.
Take care of your health. Eat the right food, get some fresh air.

8. Surprise yourself. Increase the number of pages you read each day. Practice discipline. 9. Touch base with your support group and/or your faith.

10. Dont use this guide as your sole basis.

Ask around. Initiate. The best learning is still the one you make on your own.

WHERE IS PRC?

ESPANA

Nicanor Reyes St. QUIAPO

EVER Recto

REQUIREMENTS
Requirements
(4) Passport sized coloured photos with nametag & white background available in Kodak, Php 70.00 Original & Photocopy of Transcript of Records *with photo & board only remarks NSO-issued birth certificate *printed on NSO paper Community Tax Certificate (cedula) NSO-issued marriage contract *for married females only Check www.prc.gov.ph for more details

Fee: Php 950.00

Bring a friend when you apply If you have a foreign-sounding name, you may want to check with PRC first if they need additional documentation from DFA.

What to bring
Pencils (minimum of 3), sharpener, eraser, BLACK ballpen. Your PRC examination permit. Food (lunch), candy, water.

Room Assignments/Venues
PRC releases the room assignments a few days before the board exams through their website.

DO. NOT. PANIC.

now back to facebooking.

continuing to find ways to improve ourselves and others.