Preparing for DNB Examination Tips for DNB candidates

Preparing for DNB Examination Tips for DNB candidates National Board Of Examinations Ansari Nagar New Delhi-110029 NBE Preparing for theory exxamination 1

Tips for practical examination Ø Please form DNB club in your department with fellow DNB candidates in your speciality. Ø Plan atleast 1 case presentation per day in the DNB club. Ø Please remember that in adult learning situation, experiential and self efforts are most crucial. Your consultants can help you more if you have done preliminary efforts yourself. Ø Have discussions with your consultants after you have discussed the cases in you DNB clubs. NBE Preparing for theory exxamination 2

Ø In the present system of DNB examination you have to clear the practical examination with atleast 50% marks in clinical and 50% in viva component Ø There are long cases, short cases, instruments, ward rounds, viva etc. Ø In some specialities Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSCE) has been introduced by converting part of short cases and viva components, (ENT, Ophthalmology and Pediatrics). Ø In principal OSCE would be introduced in other specialities as well in near future and this would be notified in Bulletin. NBE Preparing for theory exxamination 3

Ø Examiners expect from you basic clinical competencies and basic steps in clinical history, examination, investigations, differential diagnosis and management. Ø The examiners looks for basic points in your answers and if you have covered these you will get good marks. Ø You will have limited time in your examination for preparation of cases and unless you are well prepared you may not be able collect all the information in the specified time. to NBE Preparing for theory exxamination 4

Ø You should practice the skills of case presentation by covering key points in history, clinical examination, investigations, differential diagnosis, management for common types of cases. Ø You should refer to the list of sample cases for clinical examination and practice in you DNB clubs. Ø You should write these important key points for various types of cases in a diary. Ø Remember good presentation in the examination is a skill and this differentiate a topper from a mediocre student. NBE Preparing for theory exxamination 5

Tips for Theory Examination Ø Please form DNB club in your department with fellow DNB candidates in your speciality. Ø Plan atleast 1 hour per day of regular self in the DNB club. learning Ø Please remember that in adult learning situation, experiential and self efforts are most crucial. Your consultants can help you more if you have done preliminary efforts yourself. Ø Have discussions with your consultants after you have discussed the topics in you DNB clubs. NBE Preparing for theory exxamination 6

Ø In the present system of DNB examination you have to clear theory examination first with atleast 50% marks before you get a chance to appear in practical. Ø There are ten short structured questions in each theory paper. Ø You will get 15 -18 minutes to attempt each question. Ø Usually candidates spend more time in initial questions and are left with less time for attempting the rest of the questions. Ø you are expected to plan your question and write what is asked from you. For that you must read the question carefully and focus on the specific aspects asked. NBE Preparing for theory exxamination 7

Ø Many a times our handwriting is not good and we are not able to convey effectively to the examiner. Ø Many of us feel that writing more will fetch more marks but this is not true. The examiner looks for key points in your answer and if you have covered these you will get marks irrespective to the number of pages you have attempted. Ø When you do not have much time in examination for some questions it is better to highlight key points, or draw flow diagrams or writing key points in bullet form or putting key points in boxes or underlining these. NBE Preparing for theory exxamination 8

Ø You can also improve you handwriting by practicing writing alphabets. Ø Your letter size should be medium, not slanting too much to right or left, and round shaped. Ø Remember good presentation in the examination is a skill and this differentiate a topper from a mediocre student. NBE Preparing for theory exxamination 9

Tips for Theory papers Better preparation Ø Refer to previous short questions and write important questions topic wise (sample Questions and curriculum on website) Ø Plan for attempting the questions (Important key points, flow diagrams, illustrations etc) on a diary Ø Discuss with your colleagues ( Have DNB clubs) NBE Preparing for theory exxamination 10

Tips for Theory papers Better presentation Easy readability Ø Margins- Upper, Lower, Right, Left Question number and question Ø Letter size and shape( Too small/ big; round / slanting out wards/ inwards etc) Ø Spacing between words, underlying important key points/ sentences etc. NBE Preparing for theory exxamination 11

Tips for Theory papers Better presentation Easy readability Ø Using bullets, flow diagrams, diagrams Boxes/ squares etc. for highlighting key issues Ø Logic organization of the contents or the key issues Ø Avoiding writing controversial points Ø One or two issues in one paragraph NBE Preparing for theory exxamination 12

Practice by planning for questions Ø In your examination you will be having 10 short structured questions in each theory paper. You are expected to attempt each question in 15 -18 minutes. Ø It is therefore important that you read the question carefully and plan on one page of answer sheet what would be key points and how will you illustrate your points by flow diagrams, diagrams etc. NBE Preparing for theory exxamination 13

Practice by planning for questions Ø By referring to the sample questions you develop a plan for attempting these questions Ø You should have a diary where you should write your plan for these questions. You should discuss this plan with your colleagues in “ DNB Club” and later with your consultants. NBE Preparing for theory exxamination 14