PHOTOS

1. Time is the problem: do not dilly-dally! If you do not know the answer to a question, write something and proceed to the next one.

2. Answer exactly as the question demands: if only 2 findings are asked for, only 2 lines of answer are expected.

3. Be as accurate as possible in the answer: not just a facial palsy, but say right sided lower motor neuron facial palsy.

4. Avoid abbreviations: no MRI or CT or NAD etc.

5. Sometimes the stem of the question may suggest the answer: "what is the antibiotic of choice" suggests an infection, so look for an infectious cause.

6. Have a system especially for X rays: look carefully at the peripheries and bones not to miss things. Obvious findings are still findings: a NG tube is as crucial as a tension pneumothorax.

DATA

1. Time is not so much a problem here: think carefully before you answer.

2. Answer as accurately as possible, to the point.

3. Look carefully at the normal values of data to decide the significance of a result.

4. If you are stuck, write down all the positive findings and results on the side and then you might see the diagnosis.

GREY CASES

1. Be careful with time: it is so easy to think too hard about one case and forget the rest of them.

2. It is very useful to summarise all the relevant points you see in the case on the side so that the diagnosis becomes clear to you.

3. List the possibilities after this, prioritise them: how well they fit the case, are they treatable, are they common. This will enable you to put the best choices in the spaces provided.

4. If the follow-on question is "what investigations" then this list will let you prioritise the investigations based on the diagnoses. As far as possible, try to list diagnostic investigations: ask for a blood film for Haemolytic Uraemic syndrome, not blood count.