HOW I PASSED FCPS PART 1 EXAM, AND PREPARED FOR IT - MY JOURNEY
If you would like to skip to a very summarized version of this post, please scroll down, and read only the highlighted parts and the summary at the end.
I initially had no plans to take the exam. But due to a lot of changes taking place in my life last year, I made the decision to take the exam. What I would like to say about myself is that I wasn’t a very good student until third year of my BDS. I even got detained in my second year. I wanted to be an artist and a writer, so it was extremely difficult for me to manage my hobbies with my studies. But it’s ok. The year I got detained was life changing for me. One of my professors said that if you get into a habit of quitting now, you will keep quitting on things your whole life. That advice stuck with me and inspired me to work for what I wanted.
Something else I might want to add is that I firmly believe
in the word “working for what you want” and I look down upon using the word “hard”
with work. When one is supposed to do something, work should be done with sincerity
and to your utmost best. Only you know how much input you can give to a certain
task and where you stand; so all in all, working honestly and giving it your
best automatically is hard work, and that is how life should be lived –
unapologetically honest work. Work is work. You either do it or you don't. Make a choice.
This is why it was important for me to say no to a lot of
opportunities coming my way so I could focus on the exam. I didn’t go to
fashion weeks, I said no to working with a lot of brands as a fashion and
lifestyle blogger, and mentally prepared myself to give the best of me to this
exam.
As luck would have it, I got sick the day I registered for the
exam the first time around and had to go into emergency surgery of my
intestines because I had seafood at the fashion show I had promised myself
would be my last till I passed the exam. As luck would have it, I was bed
ridden for about three months. Now, the time between my surgery and the exam
was almost two months. I would also like to add that I am a very naïve person
who thinks that no matter what, he has to try. And that I did. While two months
might seem inadequate – and they are – I was ready to dive into the
preparation as I lay in pain on my bed, recovering from one of the most
traumatic and scary experiences of my life. I decided to give it my all.
But what can a sick man give, and what is a sick man’s all?
My mother is a doctor and one advice of hers that, I think,
set the base for my studies was this.
Start with the basics so you can make sense of it all, and here’s how she laid out the study plan for me:-
Start with the basics so you can make sense of it all, and here’s how she laid out the study plan for me:-
- Start
with Embryology: Knowing how the body forms is integral to understanding
what parts of the body perform which function. And all of this starts from
Mitosis and Meiosis (often questioned in the exam).
- Then
move on to Anatomy. Now, breaking down anatomy is important. After
embryology, it makes sense to study Histology, followed by General Anatomy
and then move to Neuroanatomy. Gross anatomy comes at the end.
- After
Anatomy, take physiology and biochemistry together. If possible, start
with biochemistry first and then take on physiology. This would help make
sense of physiology more, and you would understand why the pancreatic
juice has a higher acidic pH than the gastric secretions (a topic oft
repeated in exam), and would make the process of understanding Acidosis
and Alkalosis easier (just giving examples).
- With
Pathology, I want to be honest. As a
- After
going through all of this and keeping the physiology of the body in mind along
with the pathology, Pharmacology will make sense. I wish someone had told
me this is my second year so I wouldn’t have had to fail. But alas, had I
not failed, I wouldn’t be the man I am today and I am content with it all.
- Then
I went on to Dental Materials in depth. I feel like having studied
Operative Dentistry makes the understanding of dental materials much
easier.
- After
all of this, I wanted to focus on the leftover subjects like tooth
morphology, oral pathology and Oral Bilogy.
So, this is what I had in mind on how to tackle the prep in
these two months. Now, two months are not enough. I knew it, my family knew it,
and my friends knew it. But I had registered for the exam and I wasn’t gonna
quit. So I studied. And here’s how I studied.
I knew I wasn’t a good student back in the early days, so it
was important for me to get a grip on my basic sciences. I had to start over. I
am an audiovisual learner (its so important to know what kind of a learner you
are) so one of my friends suggested I get the KAPLAN USMLE Lecture series and
use those to study. That I did. I also bought the KAPLAN USMLE Lecture
notes/books that go along with the video lectures and studied from those. As we
all know, time is important in situations like these, I studied neuroanatomy,
embryology, histology, physiology and pharmacology from these. For Pathology, I
took help from Pathoma lectures. After I was done watching the videos, I would
study from the books. I will list down the books as following.
1 – Embryology: BRS Embryology
2 – Gross Anatomy: K L Moore’s
3 – Neuroanatomy: Kaplan Lecture Notes
4 – Histology: Kaplan Notes + NBDE 1
5 – General Anatomy: SK Pearls
6 – Physiology: Kaplan Lecture Notes + BRS + Rabia Ali Notes
before MCQ’s
7 – Biochem: Faiq’s
8 – Pathology: BRS
9 – Pharmacology: Kaplan Notes
10 – Microbiology: BRS Microbiology
11- Dental Materials: McCabe + Notes
12 – Oral Pathology: NBDE 2 + Notes
13 – Oral Biology: NBDE 1
14 – Tooth Morphology: Notes + NBDE 1
So for the first exam, I was so busy trying to gain a hold
on my concepts that in the last ten days, I had realized that I didn’t have
time left for biochem, microbiology, special pathology (which back then I didn’t
even know I needed to study), Oral pathology, and tooth morphology. I had spent
almost a month on Physiology and had only a month left for the rest. So I finished
Anatomy, General Pathology, Pharmacology and Dental Materials and went into
revision in the last ten days.
If you’re reading carefully by now, you will notice that I haven’t mentioned studying from any of the MCQ books. That’s because I didn’t. I didn’t have the time. I only attempted Rabia Ali MCQ’s after completing a topic to see how I was doing, along with the BRS ones at the end of every chapter. At that time, I got 80% of the studied topics right and I felt confident. I decided to skip the rest of the MCQ’s books because I just didn’t have the time and it was important for me to at least cover my basics.
If you’re reading carefully by now, you will notice that I haven’t mentioned studying from any of the MCQ books. That’s because I didn’t. I didn’t have the time. I only attempted Rabia Ali MCQ’s after completing a topic to see how I was doing, along with the BRS ones at the end of every chapter. At that time, I got 80% of the studied topics right and I felt confident. I decided to skip the rest of the MCQ’s books because I just didn’t have the time and it was important for me to at least cover my basics.
It was only after I took the first exam that I realized what
a blunder I had made by not taking on the MCQ Books. Most of paper 1 was tooth morphology
and biochemistry – the subjects I had decided to forego. And paper 2 was half
Dental Materials, and half special pathology + microbiology. So there was that.
Well, the result came out, I didn’t pass. And it was Ok.
Nobody expects you to pass the first time around. The first time is a test of
perseverance and dedication and knowing how far you can push yourself. I was a
person who barely held his attention for ten mins, and I was studying fourteen
hours a day. So I was ok with it all. I had discovered within me a strange
change and a power to push myself for what I wanted and I was amazed when I got
around 60% in the exam. THAT WAS A WIN FOR ME BECAUSE I WASN’T EVEN EXPECTING
THAT!
So getting a 60% was symbolic of telling me that I got this,
that if I study those leftover subjects, I could make it. And that’s what I did.
I took a short break. My body was starting to give up on me. I had been studying fourteen hours a day while being ill and it was too much to handle. So I scheduled some photo shoots, went toLahore
I took a short break. My body was starting to give up on me. I had been studying fourteen hours a day while being ill and it was too much to handle. So I scheduled some photo shoots, went to
Now, about a month left till the next exam. I was sure my
theory was good. It was then I decided to study from the MCQ’s books.
Here’s a list of the MCQ’s books I used.
1 – Rabia Ali’s
2 – Kaplan + BRS chapters’ end MCQ’s
3 – Asim and Shoaib’s pool of questions
4 – Vijay Pratab Singh’s MCQ’s pool (the full big books, not
just dental materials)
5 – Dentogist (that includes MCQ’s + the fill in the blanks
at the end of the subjects)
6 – In free time when not home, AnkiDroid, a flash cards
app.
7 – Jahangir’s Past Papers (save it for the last)
8 – Chandkin’s pool of questions.
In the end, I just made my younger brother quiz me on the marked questions only.
For revision, I went through the marked MCQ’s and the stuff I had outlined in books along with the tables in BRS.
So I follow this YouTuber who came out with this video recently and I feel he sums up the way I studied. This video is really helpful for those looking to understand how to study, and want to know my approach to studying for the exam.
EXAM EXPERIENCE:-
I want to be very clear that this is my own personal
experience and I do not advise you follow each and every thing about it.
Have a healthy breakfast. I had pizza because that’s what I
like, but if you like chicken karahi, or chow mein, I would advise you start
the day with the things you like i.e. food. Haha. But honestly, its important
to be well fed.
I am a coffee addict so I took my coffee with me in a nestle
bottle. Yup, I don’t have a fancy tumbler. If you’re not like that;
Congratulations! Your exam jitters will be lesser than mine.
Now, we are made to believe that past papers tend to
repeat themselves but I disagree. In my experience, the topics tend to
be repeated, but the questions are morphed in the tiniest way to blind us into
believing this is a question we know. I felt that with a lot of questions!
Which is why, what I did was just read, analyze and ponder over the question
for no more than 20 seconds, and skip it. I went through all 100 questions per
paper by having solved only 10-15 in the first go. This way, I saved time (an
anxiety of the further questions) and was able to ponder longer over the
questions that needed pondering. (Remember, you can only skip the questions
once)
One thing I also felt was that this time, I wasn’t blindsided by the options like last time and left completely flabbergasted. Almost all options made sense, and I had the idea of, at the very least. This can be good and bad. Good because you know your s**t. Bad because almost every option fits into the question and then it gets even more confusing (times like these, ignorance is bliss, amiright or what?). So just make sure to take deep breaths and trust yourself.
One thing I also felt was that this time, I wasn’t blindsided by the options like last time and left completely flabbergasted. Almost all options made sense, and I had the idea of, at the very least. This can be good and bad. Good because you know your s**t. Bad because almost every option fits into the question and then it gets even more confusing (times like these, ignorance is bliss, amiright or what?). So just make sure to take deep breaths and trust yourself.
Speaking of that, what’s a blog post of mine without an
advice? Haha
GENERAL ADVICE:-
1- Be very very very sure that this is what you want for
yourself. I had to go through a lot of struggle before coming to the point
where I felt ready to take on a responsibility as big as FCPS. Because it’s not
just this exam. Its just the first step. After passing is when the real
struggle starts i.e. finding a training spot, then taking entry tests for those
positions, then interviews, then induction, the working hours, the studies, the
exams, IMM, Part 2 (and add persona life to it as well). Be very sure that you
are ready to spend the next ten years (on average) struggling. It’s not
important here to know what you want, but to understand and accept what you are
ready to bear, and sacrifice. It was only when I got offered a book deal and my
art started getting attention from galleries that I realized I have to make a
choice, and a time dependant one. So yeah, I gave up on all of that to take
this path and I am happy with it. I owe no one anything or any explanation, but
to myself. It’s easy to give up, honestly. But do you really want to go on
living with the regret of not having given your dreams a chance? If your dream
is FCPS, go for it. If its not, then congratulations! At least you’re aware of
what you don’t want. And that carries its own importance too.
2- Please do not ask more than 5 people on how they passed
the exam and prepped for it. It will only leave you overwhelmed and confused
about how to proceed with your preparation. Ideal number would be 3 people.
3 – DO NOT SKIP SLEE P,
HEAL THY FOOD ,
AND EXERCISE. Your body needs to be functioning at its optimal level for your
brain to work properly. You’re a doctor. You know better. I shouldn’t even be
telling you this.
4 – Just start. Please. Just start anywhere but start. Oh,
actually, just don’t start with MCQ’s books like Jahangir because they would
leave you overwhelmed and depressed over the fact that you know nothing and
would give you anxiety for nothing. So when I say start anywhere, I mean to say
that start anywhere with the course. And nowhere in the course outline is there
a mention of any MCQ’s book. If you feel like you’re getting bored, change the
topic or the subject. Spice things up.
5 – DO NOT SKIP ANYT HING.
EVERYTHING IS IMPORTANT. You never know which topic you decide to skip and that
would be that one question that keeps you from crossing over to the passing
line. I experienced it with my first exam by skipping all the minor subjects.
So please. Give every topic equal importance, be it Circle of Willis or Muscles
of Facial expression. Be it Liver or Skin diseases. EVERYTHING IS IMPORTANT.
Expect the unexpected.
6 – Do the MCQ’s only after having properly understood the theory.
Ratta can only take you so far.
7 – VISUAL REPRESENTATION: We all know Pellagra is caused by
the deficiency of vitamin B3 (Niacin), but have you googled the disease’s image
to see how it looks like? If you did, it would make it easy for you to remember
the clinical manifestations.
As dentists, we are not exposed to the general hospital environment like MBBS doctors are. But the thing is, we are being asked the same questions as them in the exam anyway. So instead of complaining about it, just make an extra effort and study more. You’re studying anyway right now. Might as well make it worth it, no? So google clinical conditions, lab tests and anything you don’t have the image of, or you’ve not seen in real life. Its easy to remember dry socket (alveolar osteitis) because we see it clinically on a daily basis. But the images of Erythema Multiforme and Pemphigus will help you envision the differences between them better, and will make it easy to remember them, even if you’ve never seen them clinically in real life.
As dentists, we are not exposed to the general hospital environment like MBBS doctors are. But the thing is, we are being asked the same questions as them in the exam anyway. So instead of complaining about it, just make an extra effort and study more. You’re studying anyway right now. Might as well make it worth it, no? So google clinical conditions, lab tests and anything you don’t have the image of, or you’ve not seen in real life. Its easy to remember dry socket (alveolar osteitis) because we see it clinically on a daily basis. But the images of Erythema Multiforme and Pemphigus will help you envision the differences between them better, and will make it easy to remember them, even if you’ve never seen them clinically in real life.
8 – This is not your annual prof so please don’t study for
it like you would study for prof. This is an exam that tests the intermingling
of all the things you have studied throughout the years and tests your ability
to add it together in one equation. Imagine being in the OPD and facing a
patient with a plethora of symptoms. How will you reach that diagnosis?
9 – It’s ok to be scared. So please be honest to yourself
and your feelings throughout this journey. Take days off if you feel like you’re
doing too much. Make sure to take breaks.
10- Make sure your physical, spiritual and mental health are
not suffering because of this. If you’re already going through such health
issues, please attend to them before taking on this journey because there’s a
high chance it might get worse. I was sick throughout this whole process and my
health has really suffered because I pushed my body and mind really hard.
Please don’t be me.
11- DO NOT GIVE UP. Keep trying. I know it sounds tough when
all our peers seem to be passing and not us, but one thing that kept me going
was my motivation to keep learning. Like, after the exam and getting the
percentage result, I was able to analyze where I stood in all of this and
knowing that really helped me keep going.
12 – Make sure to have a hobby throughout all of this. For
me it was skincare/grooming and watching Gilmore Girls’ re-runs on meal times.
I also didn’t miss any new episodes of the TV shows I watch (OMG AHS Apocalypse
is AHMAZING!). So I cut myself some slack as well. You should try cutting
yourself slack as well, its fun. And refreshing!
13 – Make a plan. I gave a TED talk on the importance of
making lists in my life, and I feel like that is something that really helped
me navigate through this phase as well. Set daily goals. DO NOT OVERSHOOT AND
SET YOURSELF UP FOR DISAPPOINTMENT. Start small, so that you don’t hurt yourself
in the process of it. When a baby takes its first steps, how happy the whole
family is, right? Think of the prep journey as a baby taking its steps, and
finally reaching the point to running a lot and then…RUNNING A MARATHON .
So don’t exhaust yourself in the start.
14 – Have a support system to cheer you on. Friends, family,
intagram followers, whatever rocks your boat. For me it’s all of them. And
having people to talk to and buck me up has been really helpful.
SUMMARY
BOOKS I STUDIED FROM
1 – Embryology: BRS Embryology
1 – Embryology: BRS Embryology
2 – Gross Anatomy: K L Moore’s + NBDE 1
3 – Neuroanatomy: Kaplan Lecture Notes + NBDE 1
4 – Histology: Kaplan Notes + NBDE 1 + Rabia Ali Notes
5 – General Anatomy: SK Pearls + Rabia Ali Notes
6 – Physiology: Kaplan Lecture Notes + BRS + Rabia Ali Notes
7 – Biochem: Faiq’s + First Aid USMLE + NBDE 1
8 – Pathology (General + Special): BRS
9 – Pharmacology: Kaplan Notes
10 – Microbiology: BRS Microbiology
11- Dental Materials: McCabe’s + Notes
12 – Oral Pathology: NBDE 2 + Notes
13 – Oral Biology: NBDE 1
14 – Tooth Morphology: Notes + NBDE 1
15 – SK Pears
16 – First Aid USMLE
16 – First Aid USMLE
VIDEO LECTURES I USED
Kaplan USMLE Lecture Series
Kaplan USMLE Lecture Series
Pathoma Lectures for Pathology
USMLE First AID Express Series
MCQ’s BOOKS I USED
1 – Rabia Ali’s
2 – Kaplan + BRS chapters’ end MCQ’s
3 – Asim and Shoaib’s pool of questions
4 – Vijay Pratab Singh’s MCQ’s pool (the full big books of
all subjects, not just dental materials)
5 – Dentogist (that includes MCQ’s + the fill in the blanks
at the end of the subjects)
6 – In free time when not home, AnkiDroid, a flash cards
app.
7 – Jahangir’s Past Papers (save it for the last)
8 – Chandkin’s pool of questions.
TIME TAKEN FOR PREP
Varies from person to person depending on their own personal capacity. But yeah, give it four months at least.
Varies from person to person depending on their own personal capacity. But yeah, give it four months at least.
You can follow me on my socials at
Instagram @haseebsultan_ here
Twitter @haseebsutan_ here.
If you wanna know more about me, you can check out my bio here
So yeah. Good luck on your journey and I wish you the best
for all that you want, no matter what it is. I leave you here with this Oscars Acceptance
speech Lady Gaga gave that is inspo for life!