The testing sandwich is a technique I have been using off and on since my A-levels, with fantastic results. I have tried many different techniques for exam preparation, including making mind maps, using MCQ banks, forming study groups, teaching others and making flashcards. Nothing has worked as consistently well as the testing sandwich.
The testing sandwich is built on a foundation of repeatedly proven findings in psychology research, specifically the testing effect, the repetition effect, the spacing effect, feedback loops and metacomprehension. Combine the testing sandwich with effective tracking, and you can effectively manage your time to address your weaknesses.
The testing sandwich describes what you do in a single study block. Choose a topic you want to cover in a single block. For example, a testing sandwich session could involve covering general surgery, urology or vascular surgery.
Set aside 1-2 hours for the entire testing sandwich, depending on how big the topic is. Do not give yourself too much time, for example, 8 hours, or 1 week. Remember Parkinson’s law, which states that “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion”. Push yourself to get through the content quickly, in the knowledge that you will return to that same content at a later date. You will never remember everything you learn in a single run-through, which is why repetition is key. If you have 8 weeks to prepare for an exam and spend a week going through one topic, you will not have time to get back around to covering that topic for a second or third repetition.
A testing sandwich for a single topic involves three things, completed in order:
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- Short answer questions
- Studying the topic
- Multiple choice questions (and extended matching questions)
