Tips

1
Tips suggestions

• Examination
• Theory and Practical
• Dr. Anil Kulkarni, MS. Miraj

2
Theory Paper

• Clean and neat front page
• Only official entry
• do not write something like shree , somebody
  prasanna, tribute to your parents or some deity
  etc.
• No instructions to examiners
• like my answer starts on next page, question
  no. 4 is written before Q.no.3 etc.

3

• Do not waste paper space
• Leave small but clear left and right margins
• Good and legible handwriting has no substitute.
  No examiner is interested in deciphering the
  illegible words or sentences.
• No double spacing but no crowding of the letters
  and lines either.

4

• Use coloured pencils or pens to underline points
  of importance
• Draw diagrams wherever possible
• Line diagrams are also welcome
• One picture is worth many lines and paragraphs

5

• The full text is not read but few paragraphs will
  be read as cluster samples.
• Direct the examiner to the crux of the matter by
  highlighting the same either by underline, colour
  or inverted commas etc.
• Do not highlight same words or similar phrases
• If possible write some things, outside the
  purview of routine text books and give reference
  for it.

6

• Length of the answer should be proportionate to
  the marks allotted.
• Answer to Full question in half page or short
  note answer in 3 pages are irritants.
• Do not write same things for lengthening the
  answer
• If you really do not know the details required ,
  add some relevant or related details.
• e.g.in a short note on Marphans syndrome , d/d
  of subluxated lenses and its management can be
  included.

7

• If the answer is short give a impression of
  decent size of answer
• space the words ,
• increase the size of letters ,
• increase margins slightly,
• Put down some line diagrams in middle

8

• If the answer threatens to be too long
• Reduce margin space
• Omit descriptions and convert them to points
• Number the points to highlight and direct the
  examiner to skip the details

9

• Always start answer to full question on fresh
  page
• Short notes may start on same page provided
  decent space is kept after the earlier note
• Do not write bare points
• write at least a line to explain or expand

10
All answers should follow a standard pattern
e.g. in a disease like Anterior uveitis / AION

• Aetiology
• Aetiopathogenesis,
• Symptoms,
• Clinical signs,
• Differential diagnosis ,
• Investigations non invasive followed by invasive,

• Management medical followed by surgical,
• Contra indications for management,
• Complications of the disease,
• Sequele ,
• Newer concepts or Research etc

11
All answers should follow a standard pattern
e.g. in a surgical procedure like SICS / non
penetrating Glaucoma surgery

• Origin or invention
• History of persons responsible original /or
  modifications
• Details
• Significance
• Advantages and disadvantages
• Results and comparisons with alternatives
• Future directions or modifications expected or in
  process.

12
All answers should follow a standard pattern
e.g. in a clinical entity like Diabetic
Retinopathy / Entropion

• Definition
• Aetiopathogenesis
• Classification
• Clinical signs and symptoms
• Investigations
• Management
• Research and future projections

13

• Do not overwrite
• Scratch unwanted words with single line and write
  again
• Check for the spellings and grammar
• Poor English will diminish your brilliant subject
  knowledge

14

• Label the question numbers correctly
• It is a safe practice to write the question
  itself before you start the answer
• Write the number of short note as it appears in
  question paper.
• e.g. short note no.2 papillitis

15

• Presentation of your paper is also important
• Contents will fetch more marks provided examiner
  maintains interest to go through them
• Beauty is skin deep but still is admired and
  appreciated more .

16
Practicals

• Be presentable
• Applies equally to both sexes.
• Show more confidence on your face than you feel
• Do not cry or expect sympathy, it is temporary

17

• Wear your apron and display the roll no.
  prominently
• Carry all necessary accessories including pen,
  pencils, 90 D lens, loupe, scale, torch,
  ophthalmoscope etc.
• Ask for necessary things like cotton, Fl. Strips,
  strips for schirmers test etc.
• Slit lamp exam, IDO, 90 D exam etc are not
  investigations but part of routine examination

18

• Examine the patient with respect due to elderly
  person
• Ask his / her permission before you start the
  examination
• Introduce yourself and tell briefly what you plan
  to do
• Earn his co operation un cooperative patient is
  your failure and is held against you

19

• A set pattern for history taking may need
  modifications as you continue your examination
• Keep flexibility in adding positive and negative
  history
• Any leading question should have relevant
  explanation to back the query
• Negative history is equally important to point to
  a certain diagnosis

20

• History and complaints need to be selective for
  the relevance to the present case.
• unrelated history and complaints may be ignored
  if you have come to a proper and justifiable
  relevant conclusion
• History and complaints presentation should be
  chronological

21

• Record all signs truthfully
• Try to fit the diagnosis related to the signs
• Do not fit signs or modify them to suit your
  diagnosis
• Your thought process leading to the diagnosis is
  more important.
• Reason out the points for and against a
  particular diagnosis

22

• Do not rush to a complete or pathological
  diagnosis
• Clinical diagnosis and its differential diagnosis
  is more logical
• Write a complete plan for investigations and
  management on your paper
• Do not read from the paper but keep it as
  reference

23

• Detail and coloured diagram of the condition is
  desirable
• Use standard colour codes
• Label the diagram completely correctly
• In case of poor presentation , this will help

24

• Do not argue with the examiner more than
  necessary
• You may disagree but dont appear rude or
  overconfident.
• Normally you are given hints and not wrong leads.
• Examiners are your well wishers.
• Try to accept the clues and logically modify your
  answers.

25

• Give complete answers
• Prompting by the examiner and short answers put
  together give a feeling of answering more
  questions but carry less marks.
• Examiners want to know what you know, not discuss
  about what you do not !
• Give them a break and give them clues for the
  topics you know.

26

• Do not quote some reference out of context to
  support your answer against a comment made by the
  examiner
• Some procedures may be outdated but carry some
  significance. Acknowledge it !
• Ask for a break if you want to recollect your
  thoughts and feel confused.
• Be frank if you do not know the answer so that
  some other topic can be discussed which
  hopefully you will be able to answer

27

• It is usually easy to pass the examination
• It is difficult to fail unless you really try for
  it
• Everybody wishes you good luck , utilize it for
  the best of your presentation
• Spare the examiner from frustration by making
  the use of teaching programmes to the best of
  your abilities.

28

• My special thanks to the organisers of this
  revision course eye to eye
• Dr. M M Joshi and his entire team for a wonderful
  event and a memorable stay at Hubl, the second
  home to many faculty members.