Tips for Examinees

These tips are from examinees who have taken and passed their specialty exam to become members of AIMVT.

Studying for shorter sessions over the full year of application may be more beneficial than trying to study intensely after the application is accepted.
Start studying when you start the application process. Dive into topics and learn as much as you can along the way. Take breaks from studying and enjoy your friends and family that are supporting you, it will help your mind stay focused.
START EARLY! I also made extensive notes on all the disease states listed in the knowledge list, and the procedures and skills that we perform. I read as many of the required texts as humanly possible and quickly found that there was not enough time...so starting early is really key!!!

Relate your study back to the patients you are seeing. I found studying the diseases of the patients I was seeing that week made it much easier to retain the knowledge.
Ask questions, use the people around you to quiz you in the moment.
Review/study the pathophysiology of your cases at night, even if you think you know it. You will always learn something new.
In addition to "reading everything I could find", I studied my cases/patients. As I took care of my patients, I continually asked myself WHY??? Why are we giving this medication? What results/side effects should I see? Why didn't I see the results I expected?? Why were the diagnostics performed for this case?? What did we expect to see?? How does this disease work?? What organ(s) does this disease effect?? If I didn't know the answers, I kept a notebook close by so that I could write my question down and either research it on my own or ask one of the DVMs as soon as I could.
Think of all of your work experiences as study time. If you work in a teaching environment and are able, sit in on case discussions or diagnostic treatment plan workups. Doing this along with researching a disease or condition while it was fresh in my mind has helped greatly to have a better understanding of internal medicine in general.

Having a "study buddy" to exchange a question of the day with was very helpful.
Get in a study group! Stay organized.
Last year while studying, three of us met once a week. Each week, we would choose a section of the knowledge list to study and each come up with a set of questions and quiz each other. We saved all these questions and used this as a study guide and test for ourselves.

I would suggest to anyone sitting the exam to make sure they follow the knowledge list. Delegate time for each section.
Use the knowledge list as your guide, making sure you understand the underlying anatomy. Anything that doesn't stick straight away, keep going over (even if it's painful)! You will get there!
Break each section down, then organize it in the order of what you feel you need the most work on first, to least work on last. Then set a time limit to study each section spending more time on the subjects that you are least familiar. Following the domains for the exam is a great pre-made outline.
NOTE CARDS!!!! As I was studying, anything that just wouldn't stick in my mind- I made a note card, then I would review them over and over again- I could separate the ones I finally got down and then focus on the ones I just couldn't retain-even on the plane trip to take the test- I never put them down!!! I still get them out now to review- very helpful!
Something that helped me prepare for the exam was basically going through the knowledge list and making notes on each section. I filled up two steno notebooks with my notes and used those to study just prior to the exam. I knew what areas I needed to focus more on and what areas that I felt comfortable with. My boss also held weekly book club to help me prepare and I also attended the intern lectures that were offered in my hospital.

I took one day a week for myself. I went to a movie, took my dogs for a long walk, hung out with friends, etc. The point was to relax and NOT TALK/THINK ABOUT the exam. It was actually pretty difficult to do because I felt pressure to spend every "free" minute studying.
The day before the exam, I allowed myself to study until 1600. Then I put my notes and books away, went for a nice walk, ate a nice dinner, watched some TV and got a good night's sleep. The morning of the exam, I ate a good breakfast and proceeded to the test room. I did not open a book or my notes to stress myself out with all of the information that I wanted in my head that wasn't there already.
The night before the exam, find a way to relax. Be sure to eat a well-balanced dinner and try to get a good night’s sleep. It’s a big test, but the worst that could happen is not passing it this time. You get 3 opportunities to take it. You can do it!!!
Stay calm and read each question carefully.
TRUST YOURSELF AND YOUR KNOWLEDGE!! You worked so hard for this for over a year

The exam questions submitted during the application are how the exam questions are actually worded.
I would have been more comfortable if I had studied outside my specialty more - I knew my specialty inside and out, but I was less comfortable with the general exam.