The Bottom Line
- If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it.
- Use teaching to expose gaps early — before they cost marks.
- The method is a loop: explain → find gaps → repair → simplify again.
Make it exam-proof (the upgrade)
After you can explain it simply, convert your explanation into 5–10 flashcards: definitions, triggers, first-line actions, and the “common trap.” You’re turning understanding into retrieval strength.
Use this technique for high-yield “confusion magnets”: acid–base, ECG patterns, ABG interpretation, antibiotic selection, anticoag reversal, paeds dosing, and stats/EBM. It front-loads pain so you don’t experience it in the exam hall.