When studying for course exams, many students feel like there is too much information to learn. 

Prior to attending a class or conference be sure to pre-read all of the lecture material (if available) so that during the education session you can work on understanding the content and taking more selective notes; instead of trying to write down everything the presenter says.  The notes taken during lectures should be on concepts and key points, rather than everything.

Instead of trying to learn everything from each lecture, start by reviewing the course objectives. Spend your time and energy learning the objectives, then concentrating on material that the lecturer repeats and/or provides examples.  These will be your highest yield topics.

Even just 2-3 high-yield pearls from each lecture or conference will begin to add up over time. More isn’t always better. Consistency in taking & keeping these notes will be the ultimate driver of success in terms of your ability to review and retain that knowledge.

Learn from your seniors and those who have taken & done well on these exams in the past (the more recent - the better). While the scope & breadth of surgical knowledge may seem endless - only certain topics and learning points are actually testable in terms of a multiple-choice exam. It’s harder to create these exams than you may think. Have others guide you on what materials are actually tested upon & save time in your studying by avoiding the minutia or untestable material.