Chunking vs Cramming during FMGE Preparation?
- FMGE aspirants who are not guided to prepare systematically end up cramming the subjects in the last days before the FMGE.
- We provide the complete insight into the chunking vs Cramming during FMGE Preparation to enlighten the aspirants on how to prepare for FMGE effectively.
Chunking during FMGE Preparation:
Chunking is grouping the connected items/concepts together so that they can be stored or processed as single concepts.
Scientific background:
- Short-term memory can only store between 5 and 9 pieces (Miller’s magic 7) of information at a time & proposed by Harvard professor George Miller in 1956, although, re-analysis of Miller’s results by today’s scientists showed that we need to break information into 4 chunks would be more accurate.
- Short-term memory is extremely limited and arbitrary on the contrary long-term memory which is vast and orderly, therefore, your learning goal is to move information from short-term to long-term memory that can be easily tackled later.
- Deep processing vs shallow processing: deep processing leads to better long-term memory than shallow processing according to levels of processing theory proposed by researchers in Cognitive psychology in the 1970s.
- Chunking→relations between concepts →more meaningful analysis→ Deep processing→ better long-term memory
- Chunking in action: Large piece of information can’t be forced into your long-term memory however your mental energy can be used to etch the whole information into your memory piece-by-piece until the entire concept sticks.
| Bring chunking to your study table: | |
| Start high level |
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| Break up core concepts |
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| Give context to chunks |
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| Link the chunks as you progress |
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| Refine until you get it right |
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Incorporate chunking into your studying:
- A good study routine should be grounded in retrieval practice regardless you’re using chunking or not.
- Distributed/spaced learning: extremely powerful technique for studying by practicing remembering information.
Cramming during FMGE Preparation:
Cramming: study intensively over a short period of time just before the exam.
- You do all the reading, make a pile of notes, and try to memorize like crazy until you have most of it shoehorned into your head.
- In intense cramming, you begin maybe only three days before the big exam to start making some sense of the coursework.
- Tips: We advise to use cramming for those subjects that will be only for the sake of the exams & will never need any of the knowledge again.
- Shortcomings:
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- “Cramming” is ineffective like “drinking from a fire hose”.
- If you’re anxiety-prone: this cramming program probably won’t work even for short-term memory. Intense anxiety can cause large memory gaps during tests. The best remedy is self-confidence, and the surest way to achieve that is to practice prepared to cram.
- Unless you’re really desperate, don’t use intense cramming for any course that contains information you’ll need in a later course or that may have some value in helping you deal with life after college.
Read More about How to Make a Smart study plan ↓
Intensive Cramming vs Chunking with spaced learning during the FMGE preparation:
| Intensive Cramming | Chunking with spaced learning |
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Also watch:
- Chunking Lessons to Increase Retention:
- Revision Tips – Stop Cramming:
