6 Steps to Creating a Study Group That Actually Works for Board Preparation
Study groups are a great way to stay accountable and motivated as you prepare for boards, but without the right structure, they can quickly become chaotic or unproductive. It’s easy for groups to start with good intentions and then fall off track by becoming social hangouts, getting stuck on one topic or leaving one person to do all the work.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step approach to creating a board prep study group that actually works. With a little planning and organization, you can build a group that’s focused, collaborative and makes studying a little less stressful.
Step 1: Define the Group’s Purpose and Ground Rules
When creating a study group to prepare for boards, it’s important to clearly establish the group’s purpose to make sure everyone is aligned. Start by clarifying the group's goals, whether that’s preparing effectively for board exams, MOC recertification or a skills refresh. Understanding your goals helps shape how you study together, which exam or certification you’re preparing for and what timeline makes sense.
Establish basic ground rules before you begin to keep everyone focused and on topic. Discuss the expectations for attendance, preparation and participation with your group. Agreeing on these simple guidelines ensures everyone is on the same page and feels confident heading into each session.
Step 2: Choose the Right People (and Group Size)<
You may feel inclined to invite all of your peers to join the group, but it’s best to limit study groups to between three and six members. Having too many people in your study sessions can get overwhelming and make it easy to get off track. Try to select members who have similar exam timelines and commitment levels to ensure you’re all working towards the same goals.
It also helps to have a balance of strengths, such as one member who’s strong in cardiology and another who excels in infectious diseases. Having a strong mix of knowledge allows your group to cover more material and learn from each other’s expertise. If you find that someone isn’t the right fit for the group down the line, politely let them know that they might find a different study group more effective.
Step 3: Structure Your Study Sessions for Maximum Impact
Maintaining a structured schedule keeps your study group on track and focused as your exam day approaches. Set a fixed schedule, such as weekly or twice-weekly sessions, to help everyone plan and identify any conflicts ahead of time. Create agendas for each session that outline the topics you’ll cover and how long you’ll spend on each one to keep meetings productive and ensure you don’t overlook anything.
Rotate roles like facilitator, timekeeper, question leader and scribe to help everyone stay involved. Include a mix of study formats, such as rapid-fire questions, case discussions and mini-teaching segments, which can help keep things interesting and make it easier to remember what you’ve learned.
Step 4: Use High-Quality Study Materials
Preparing quality study materials in advance ensures your group focuses on the most relevant and up-to-date content. Explore options such as Qbanks, review books, guidelines, and CME-based courses, and have the group agree on a few primary resources to focus on. Limit your resources to a small number to help avoid confusion or information overload.
Integrate CME activities into your sessions to make your exam prep more efficient and allow your group to earn credits as you study. Encourage members to share summaries, key points and notes in a shared folder so everyone has easy access to the same materials.
Step 5: Build Accountability and Track Progress
Keeping track of your group’s progress helps everyone stay focused as exam day comes closer. Start by tracking the topics and questions you complete in a shared spreadsheet or app that everyone can access. Members can refer back to the spreadsheet to highlight problem areas or missing topics and see where the group’s progress stands.
Lay out clear goals, like finishing topics by a certain week or completing a set of practice questions, to keep your group organized and on track. Regular check-ins on scores, confidence levels and challenging topics can help your group adjust the plan and spend more time where it’s needed most.
Step 6: Keep the Group Productive Over Time
Board prep is a stressful time that can easily become overwhelming. Check in with your group periodically to make sure the schedule is still working for everyone, and make adjustments as needed. Stay flexible and maintain clear communication to help prevent burnout and keep sessions productive.
If conflicts come up or someone isn’t carrying their weight in the group, address them respectfully, and focus on finding a solution that makes everyone feel heard. A supportive, non-competitive environment helps everyone work together and keeps morale high throughout the study process. Don’t forget to highlight milestones, like practice score improvements, and celebrate your exam passes together once the hard work is over.
Oakstone’s CME courses to find helpful study tools and earn credits while you prepare for boards.