The Bottom Line
- Write fewer notes—make them sharper.
- One miss becomes one decision rule + one discriminator.
- Every rule becomes a retest prompt on a schedule.
The template (copy-paste)
<strong>Scenario:</strong> …
<strong>My wrong move:</strong> …
<strong>Correct rule:</strong> If X, then Y.
<strong>Discriminator:</strong> Z is the feature that flips it.
<strong>Retest:</strong> 72h + 7d.
Most ‘notes’ fail because they are too large to retrieve and too vague to guide decisions. The decision-rule template forces precision: what do you do, when, and why?
1
Write the scenario in 1 line
Just enough to trigger recall. Not a full vignette. You’re building a cue, not a textbook.
2
Name your wrong move
This is underrated. Your error pattern is the thing you must correct, not the topic label.
3
Write the rule as an action
‘If X, then do Y’ is operational. ‘Remember that…’ is not.
4
Add one discriminator
The single feature that separates the correct answer from the tempting distractor.
5
Schedule retests
Put it in your system immediately: 72 hours + 7 days. No scheduling = no learning.
Decision-rule standard
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Practice
Test your knowledge
Apply this concept immediately with a high-yield question block from the iatroX Q-Bank.