8-Week FaMed Study Plan: Pass on Your First Try

This realistic, day-by-day study plan covers a wide range of simulated FaMed OSCE cases and prepares you for all exam components: Anamnese, Aufklärung, Arzt-Arzt-Gespräch, and Brief writing.

Week 1-2: Foundation Building (Common Scenarios)

Focus: Anamnese Mastery

During the first two weeks, you'll build a solid foundation by mastering the Anamnese (patient history) component. This is crucial because it's the starting point of every case.

Daily Schedule:

• Day 1-3: Cardiovascular Scenarios (e.g., Chest Pain, Hypertension)
  • Learn standard Anamnese questions
  • Practice OPQRST method for pain assessment
  • Master cardiovascular-specific vocabulary
• Day 4-6: Respiratory Scenarios (e.g., Dyspnea, Cough)
  • Focus on dyspnea and cough assessment
  • Learn chest pain differentiation
  • Practice systematic questioning
• Day 7: Review and practice
  • Review first week's topics
  • Record yourself doing Anamnese
  • Identify weak points
• Day 8-10: Gastrointestinal Scenarios (e.g., Abdominal Pain)
  • Master GI-specific questions
  • Learn pain localization techniques
  • Practice dietary and bowel habit questions
• Day 11-13: Neurological Scenarios (e.g., Headache, Dizziness)
  • Focus on headache and dizziness assessment
  • Learn stroke symptom questioning
  • Master neurological review of systems
• Day 14: Week 1-2 review
  • Practice detailed cases
  • Time yourself (8-10 minutes per Anamnese)
  • Get feedback from study partner if possible

Week 3-4: Expanding Skills (Specialties)

Focus: Adding Aufklärung (Patient Education)

Now you'll add the Aufklärung component while continuing to practice Anamnese. This involves explaining diagnoses, procedures, and treatment plans to patients in clear German.

Daily Schedule:

• Day 15-17: Endocrine/Diabetes Cases
  • Practice Anamnese for each case
  • Learn Aufklärung for diabetes diagnosis
  • Master explanation of blood sugar monitoring
• Day 18-20: Orthopedic Cases (e.g., Back Pain, Trauma)
  • Focus on pain and mobility assessment
  • Practice explaining X-rays and imaging
  • Learn to explain physical therapy recommendations
• Day 21: Mid-point review
  • Review all topics so far
  • Full simulation: Anamnese + Aufklärung
  • Identify patterns and common phrases
• Day 22-24: Infectious Diseases
  • Learn infection-specific questioning
  • Practice explaining antibiotic therapy
  • Master hygiene and prevention counseling
• Day 25-27: Psychiatric Basics
  • Sensitive questioning techniques
  • Practice explaining mental health concepts
  • Learn empathetic communication patterns
• Day 28: Week 3-4 review
  • Complete simulation of 5 random scenarios
  • Focus on weak areas
  • Build confidence in flow and timing

Week 5-6: Advanced Practice (Complex Cases)

Focus: Adding Arzt-Arzt-Gespräch (Doctor Communication)

You'll now incorporate the Arzt-Arzt component, where you present cases to colleagues and discuss management plans. This requires more formal medical terminology.

Daily Schedule:

• Day 29-31: Oncology Concepts
  • Full case practice: Anamnese + Aufklärung
  • Learn Arzt-Arzt presentation structure
  • Master cancer-related terminology
• Day 32-34: Nephrology/Urology
  • Practice complete case flow
  • Learn to discuss lab values with colleagues
  • Master medication discussions
• Day 35: Skills integration review
  • Practice 3 complete simulated cases
  • Time management practice
  • Smooth transitions between components
• Day 36-38: Dermatology
  • Visual description techniques
  • Practice describing lesions and rashes
  • Learn treatment explanations
• Day 39-41: Hematology
  • Complex lab value discussions
  • Practice explaining blood disorders
  • Master transfusion Aufklärung
• Day 42: Week 5-6 comprehensive review
  • Random case selection and practice
  • Full exam simulation
  • Identify remaining weak points

Week 7: Completion and Brief Writing

Focus: Adding Brief (Medical Letter) Component

The final component is writing a brief medical letter (Arztbrief, Überweisungsschreiben, or Entlassbrief). You'll finish the remaining topics and master this written component.

Daily Schedule:

• Day 43-44: Rheumatology
  • Complete case practice
  • Learn Brief writing structure
  • Practice writing letters in 10 minutes
• Day 45-46: Emergency/Trauma
  • Rapid assessment practice
  • Urgent communication skills
  • Emergency Brief writing
• Day 47-48: Mixed Specialties
  • Complete final practice cases
  • Practice all Brief types
  • Master common abbreviations
• Day 49: Full case review
  • Review all major clinical patterns
  • Quick run-through of each specialty
  • Note common patterns and phrases

Week 8: Intensive Practice and Exam Simulation

Focus: Exam Day Readiness

The final week is dedicated to intensive practice, full exam simulations, and building confidence. You should feel comfortable with any case thrown at you.

Daily Schedule:

• Day 50-52: Full exam simulations
  • Complete 3 full cases per day (all components)
  • Time yourself strictly (e.g., 20 min Anamnese)
  • Practice under pressure
• Day 53-54: Weak area focus
  • Identify your weakest topics
  • Intensive practice on these areas
  • Perfect your Aufklärung and Brief writing
• Day 55: Random case practice
  • Have someone randomly select topics for you
  • Practice thinking on your feet
  • Build confidence in handling unknown clinical pictures
• Day 56: Final review day
  • Review key vocabulary lists
  • Practice Brief templates
  • Review Arzt-Arzt presentation structure
  • Rest and relax in the evening

Exam Day Tips (OSCE Format)

• Arrive early: Get to the exam center 30 minutes before your scheduled time.
• Understand the Stations: FaMed uses stations. Know what is expected at each (Anamnese vs Aufklärung).
• Time Management: The bell rings and you must move/stop. Be strict with your internal clock.
• Structured Communication: Use standard SBAR or subject-verb-object structures for presentations.
• Professionalism: Treat the "patient" (actor) with full professional respect.

Additional Resources

• Common Medical Compendium (internal medicine, surgery, neurology)
• Medical German dictionary (Pons or Langenscheidt)
• Practice partner (ideally another doctor or native German speaker)
• Recording device (to review your practice sessions)