FaMED: Ten Avoidable Mistakes When Practicing

These ten points are a learning aid from FaMED Prep, not a statistically determined ranking. The current tasks of the exam provider are authoritative. FaMED Prep offers independent preparation materials.

1. Not reading the task and role carefully

Check what is required in this situation. A fixed 30-second preparation cannot be derived as a general rule from the currently examined sources. Use the information from the actual assignment.

2. Confusing situation and station

The current practice test specifies a maximum of eleven minutes per oral situation. The doctor-patient block includes anamnesis and explanation, the doctor-doctor block includes two presentations; both blocks last 23 minutes including reading time. The written station lasts 22 minutes including video time.

3. Connecting all cases into one story

The people and cases may differ. Do not transfer findings from the previous conversation. Keep the information separate.

4. Leaving technical terms unexplained

Explain technical terms understandably in the patient conversation. Ask if an answer is unclear. Our glossary provides examples; it is not an official vocabulary list.

5. Treating a mnemonic as a mandatory questionnaire

OPQRST and SAMPLER help with organization. Choose questions appropriate to the complaint and listen to the answers. A long list does not replace conversation management.

6. Answering concerns with a guarantee

“Es kann nichts passieren” (Nothing can happen) is not good risk disclosure. State what is known, explain the provided information, and ask about the specific concern. Do not invent a percentage to sound more convincing.

7. Inventing findings and measures

In the presentation, you distinguish between patient information, documented findings, and the given plan. State openly if information is missing. Medical expertise is not assessed separately.

8. Writing a complete SOAP letter

The anamnesis part from your own patient video is requested. Write complete sentences. Do not add an examination, diagnosis, or therapy just because a general schema provides a field for it. Here you can practice the writing process.

9. Losing negations and time specifications

“Nicht erbrochen” (not vomited) and “Erbrechen nicht erfragt” (vomiting not asked about) mean something different. Compare notes and text with the source. Reproduce patient statements with appropriate distance; Konjunktiv I is a suitable linguistic means for this, if it fits.

10. Practicing without feedback

After each attempt, choose a specific point for improvement. The official C1 checklist helps in checking comprehensibility, structure, and accuracy. Each of the three exam areas needs at least 60%; a strong area does not compensate for a too weak one.

Sources and review

Editorial check: 18 October 2026, human medicine. Prüfungsablauf (Exam Procedure), Aktueller Übungstest (Current Practice Test), Anforderungen (Requirements), Bewertung (Assessment). Practice examples are created by FaMED Prep; they are not predictions of exam questions.