Category Archive

This page is the home of CanadiEM Flashcards including both the CRACKCast and “Boring Cards” series. The CRACKCast set parallels the CRACKCast podcast, adding flashcards shortly after each new episode is released so that you can review the key concepts and memorize the relevant information that they presented. The “Boring Cards” series builds on the many ‘Tiny Tips’ presented on CanadiEM and was the study deck used by Dr. Brent Thoma to prepare …

The Canadian Royal College licensing exam in emergency medicine has a certain mystique. While the pass rate for Canadian graduates is spectacular [1], exam survivors speak of the test in hushed whispers that have an air of PTSD. Having recently survived the exam myself, I have some understanding of where these whispers come from. Prior to my exam year I had planned to write a blog post to reassure the residents following me that it was …

CALLING ALL STAFF EMERGENCY PHYSICIANSWe need your help! Remember not so long ago when you wrote that little quiz known as the Emergency Medicine Board Exam? No? Have you gone through CBT to forget it? Think back to those days when your life revolved around that little quiz because BoringEM needs your help. What we’re up to: Introducing #EMexams We’re compiling a database of practice exam questions to help residents prepare for their …

Name: Chris Hicks, MD, MEd, FRCPC, Survivor of the 2009 Royal College EM exam Where are you now? Emergency physician, trauma team leader at St. Mike’s in Toronto.  Associate program director, FRCP-EM training program, University of Toronto.   My Tips: ​Learn to think like an examiner.  It may surprise you to learn this, but the people who concoct the FR exam are actual humans, just like you and me.  You should read chapters with an …

Survivor of the 1997 exam (wow… does the exam really go that far back?) There is not much to add to the excellent tips already posted. But here I go with my tips. Incidentally they are the same things that I frequently tell my children! Answer practice questions – over and over again. There is a whole pile of evidence which supports what you already know: highlighting an article or a textbook is …

So, I ran into my friend Meghan McConnell the other day and we got chatting about how to make examinations less of a horrible experience. Dr. McConnell is a PhD researcher in the world renowned Program for Education Research & Development at McMaster University. Her research interests are in the area of how emotions influence training, assessment and performance of healthcare professions. Considering her interests and expertise, I thought it would be great to …