OKAP Exam Pearls for the Third Year Resident

By Aaron Miller, MBA, MD

For many people, the month of April brings memories of warmer weather and Spring Break. However, if you are an ophthalmology resident, your mind is probably saturated with thoughts and a few fears of the upcoming OKAP examination.

Preparation is the key to success with this yearly examination. It serves to provide you with a measure of your progress in your training and allows residency programs to assess their success in preparing you for your future as an ophthalmologist. Here are a few helpful pearls that may assist you in your review:

1. Start your review early! I recommend at least a one month of comprehensive review prior to the examination. The final days prior to the test should be reserved for review of high-yield material.
2. Make a “game plan” for your review and set target schedules and completion dates. Stay on your schedule and move to the next topic even if you run out of time. A little review of all topics is better than a lot of review of one topic. Do not forget to take into account your call schedule and an occasional break from studying.
3. Try to review your study material that you have been working with during your residency training. While review books are helpful, the visual appearance of photos, high-lighted sentences, and personal notes work better for memory retention. If you choose to use a review book, try to use it over the entire year with your regular study material.
4. Flash cards and mnemonics can be extremely helpful for quick review of high yield material. I had never thought more about Marilyn Monroe until the OKAP exam came!
5. Save optics review for the last week prior to the examination. Practice working problems from review books and the back of the BCSC Optics section. I have found Dr. David Hunter’s book, Last Minute Optics, to be particularly useful.
6. Know the phacomatoses like the back of your hand. The photos in the BCSC Pediatrics and Retina sections are good starting points. Review of these topics is particularly high yield.
7. During your month of review, try to take a practice test once a week. The test should simulate the actual OKAP exam and help you set a pace for the examination. Wait to review the answers until the very end of the entire practice examination.
8. The night prior to the examination, consider taking a break and going to a movie. Get a good night of sleep and have a small breakfast the morning of the test. Wear comfortable clothes and have confidence in your preparation for OKAP success!