The Unofficial Guide to First Year - University of Oklahoma Health ...

UNOFFICIAL GUIDE
The Class of 2010 list of
Post Test Block Activities
5. Sleep
4. Stare at the wall
3. Eat
2. Spend time with family and friends
1. Attend the post test-block party!
CHAPTER
2
Exams…
U
nfortunately, as much as we hate them, exams are big part of the next couple of
years. And now you not only have to take tests, you have to endure the dreaded
“Test Block”. Having an exam week is not the only thing that will be a change
from undergrad. For example, now you will be taking classes worth something like 145
clock hours (the amount of time you actually spend sitting in the classroom) as opposed to
3 or 4 credit hour classes that you took in college.
Test Block is basically just that – you will spend 4-6 weeks in each class and then take tests
in every subject during one week following that period. Everyone has their own opinion
on test block, however, the majority would probably agree that once you get used to it, the
system actually works. Test block ensures that you really cannot cram for the tests, as there
is just too much to learn and not enough hours to learn it. So you are much better off
staying as caught up as possible. You’ve probably heard this before, and you’ll probably
hear it again, but the story goes that some 1st year med students piled up all their notes,
syllabi, etc, and the stack of just one student’s stuff came to over four feet high. You will
find that medical students do odd things like that for entertainment.
During the fall semester, test block will proceed as follows: Mon – Biochem; Tues –
Embryo; Wed – Gross; Thurs –Human Behavior; Fri – off. During the spring semester,
however, physiology and neuro would switch spots between Monday and Friday each
block. During the Spring, there will be temptation to try to get some tests moved from the
second test block. However, I would say save your energy because it won’t work. We were
told, and I quote, “the school does NOT change curriculum schedule for tests.” But, if you
have some super type AAA personality in your class that thinks they can do it, go for it. So
far, your schedule of tests blocks looks like this:
Fall:
Spring:
Sept. 28 th – Oct. 2 rd Feb 8 th - 12 th
Nov. 2 rd – 6 th April 5 th - 9 th
Dec. 14 th – 18 th May 10 th – 14 th
10