If I had to recommend one book to all doctors to read before, during, and after their training, this is the book. Several years ago, I began exploring Stoic philosophy as a means of finding guidance and principles to navigate a busy phase in my life.

I was midway through the grueling FCICM training program, preparing for exams, balancing work and life, and getting ready to start a family.

I then stumbled upon Ryan Holiday, a New York Times Bestselling Author who has written numerous books on Stoic philosophy by incorporating ancient wisdom into small, digestible chapters, blending them with modern world problems to offer a renewed perspective.

• This book renewed my spirits when I was burnt out and on the verge of quitting medicine.
• This book helped rebuild my inner strength after I failed my ICU Primary Exam.
• This book helped me bounce back after failing my ICU Fellowship Exam.

This book served as a silent Stoic mentor and wise guiding hand, helping me pass the EDIC and FCICM exams within 12 months

This is easily my most re-read book, the one I reach for every time I’m faced with a problem, and the most gifted book to my friends and family, whether they’re facing a crisis or as a launchpad for their next adventure.

What is Stoicism?

Stoicism was a school of philosophy founded in Athens by Zeno of Citium in the early third century BC. Its name is derived from the Greek stoa, meaning “porch,” because that is where Zeno first taught his students. The philosophy asserts that virtue (chiefly, the four cardinal virtues: self-control, courage, justice, and wisdom) is happiness, and it is our perceptions of things – rather than the things themselves – that cause most of our trouble. [excerpt from The Daily Stoic – 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living, Ryan Holiday]

Stoicism in ICU: 3 Key Proposition

This 200-odd-page book is divided into 3-key parts:

1. Perception

The skill to perceive the problem in front of you with calmness and discipline. Not being triggered or reactive, but assessing the situation and responding with an alternative perspective. Small bite-sized wisdom that offers you multiple actionable steps to become a more resilient person.

2. Action

This section highlights the importance of action in achieving our objectives. To put it simply, this is where we falter due to information overload and a lack of action. Action is the solution to all our problems. This part offers the key essence of how deliberate, bold, and perseverant action is the ultimate ingredient for success.

3. Will

In this section, Ryan explores the art of acquiescence, demonstrating how sometimes we must build our inner strength, face the challenges the world presents, and keep moving forward.

Start your training with this book!

Become a new-age leader who meets adversity with resilience. 

Are you ready?

Buy Now

Key Stoic Quotes and Highlights

The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way – Marcus Aurelius

Whatever the challenge in front of you, whether it’s getting into training, passing your exams, or becoming a better presenter, the challenge forces you to take the necessary actions to overcome it. The obstacle becomes the way forward. Embrace them.

Don’t let the force of an impression when it first hit you knock you off your feet; just say to it: Hold on a moment; let me see who you are and what your represent. Let me put you to the test – Epictetus

Building a separation between trigger and response will help you reclaim your power, making you look and feel more in control, poised and ready to respond with a mature and calculated decision.

Under the comb, the tangle and the straight path are the same – Heraclitus

Trust the process. Read, revise, watch YouTube videos, listen to podcasts, build Anki card decks, write out your strategy, and do your exam questions. Ask questions. Look stupid. Stumble. Fall. Learn. Next.

What is defeat? Nothing but education; nothing but the first steps to something better. – Wendell Phillips

It’s OK to fail. The most important aspect of failure is to learn from it and incorporate it into your next attempt. Personally, my failures have taught me more than my successes. Fail forward.

Final Thoughts on Stoicism in ICU

This isn’t a self-help cliché. It’s ancient wisdom, reimagined for those of us who stand at the edge — in ICU, in exams, in life. The obstacles facing us are inevitable, but I cannot emphasize enough how much the fundamentals in this book will help strengthen your inner citadel and make you formidable against the challenges that come your way.

Obstacles will come.

The question is: Will you freeze, or will you grow?

Combine the ancient Stoic philosophy in this book with my Ultimate FCICM Resource guide and Preparation for the FCICM Exam for a knockout combination to propel you towards exam success!

Bonus

Watch the above video for a rapid summary of The Obstacle is the Way by the author himself, Ryan Holiday.

Bulletproof your Exam prep & ICU journey!

Utilize the ancient wisdom of the Stoic philosophers to refine your perspective,  accelerate your actions, and cultivate a formidable will!

Buy Now

It will require commitment, dedication, and sacrifice, along with other demands like clinical mastery, mental resilience, and a battle-tested strategy. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or are a few months away from taking the written or viva exam, this guide offers a comprehensive roadmap to help you pass with confidence. You got this!

For those seeking guidance, this FCICM Fellowship Exam Resources should prove invaluable and rapidly get you on track to streamlining your workflow and saving you immense amount of time!

Why Write This Guide?

This guide is curated from firsthand experience, peer wisdom, and the latest resources to give you an edge. I know how hard it was when I was preparing, and I want to share all the knowledge, resources, and strategies that helped me pass this exam. There are no shortcuts. However, having the correct map and the best tools will help you get there. There are so many resources out there that beg the question: Where do I start?

What Are the FCICM Fellowship Exams?

Utilizing this FCICM Fellowship Exam Resources can significantly enhance your preparation.

The Fellowship of the College of Intensive Care Medicine (FCICM) exams are the final hurdle to becoming a consultant intensivist in Australia and New Zealand. The process includes:

• Written Exam – Short Answer Questions (SAQs)
• Clinicals (Hot Cases) – Bedside assessments with real ICU patients
• Viva – A series of oral exams covering various ICU domains

What You Don’t Need To Do

• Read a book cover to cover.
• Read a whole textbook.
• Read Oh’s Manual (because examiners use it to create questions)
• Write out notes. The internet has done this for you.
• Work part-time to study.

What You Need To Do

• Use the FCICM Fellowship Syllabus.
• Do at least 8-10 years of past year questions to time.
• Commit to attending your unit teaching program (written weekly questions and hot cases)
• Use the comprehensive FCICM Fellowship Exam Resources provided below to save you time and money.

Ultimate FCICM Exam Resources

Books You Must Read

None. Yes, I said it.

There are no books that you must read, cover to cover. Instead, have one book that can serve as your central reference, pulling all the information in. The reality is that there are candidates who have read books that failed, and those who skimmed books that passed.

The truth:

Passing the written exam involves answering the question in 10 minutes in a structured manner with a clinically matured approach using the acquired knowledge.

You don’t need to read a whole book to do that. You have been forewarned.

Below are the best options to make them your ‘ONE’ book:

The ‘ONE’ book

• Questions for the Final FFICM Structured Oral Examination
• Oxford Textbook of Critical Care (2nd Edition)
• Textbook of Critical Care (8th Edition) by Jean Louis Vincent
• Irwin and Rippe (Latest Edition)
• The Final FFICM Structured Oral Examination Study Guide by Eryl Davies

Clinical Examination Books

• Examination in Intensive Care Medicine by Carole Foot (Kindle)
• Clinical Examination (7th Edition) by Talley O’ Connor

Other Books

• Data Interpretation by Bala Venkatesh
• Critical Care Secrets (Latest edition)
• OSCEs for the Final FFICM

Tip: Annotate them with key concepts and references to past questions.

YouTube Channels Worth Subscribing To

• Prague ICU by Michal Pazdernik
• Houston Methodist DeBakey CV Education
• Radiology Tutorials by Dr. Michael Nel
• The Alfred Intensive Care Academic Centre
• Dr.Pradeep Rangappa
• NeuroOpthalmology with Dr. Andrew G. Lee

Videos on Written SAQ Technique by CICM published on the Sydney Short Course in Intensive Care Medicine (SSICM).

Hot-Case related channels/videos:

• First CICM Fellowship Hot Case Guide by Ken Hoffman
• CICM Fellowship Exam Hot Case: Hot Tips To Ace Your Case by Oliver Walsh
• SAFE Course: How to Examine and Present a Hot Case by Arvind Rajamani
• Fellowship – Hot Case Approach by Arvind Rajamani

Podcasts to Build ICU Thinking

• tasty morsels of Critical Care by Dr Andy Neill
• EMCRIT Podcast by Scott Weingart
• IBCC Podcast – Seth Trueger and Josh Farkas’s insights
• ICU Fellowship PrepCast by Dr Swapnil Pawar and Madhuri (Maddie) Anupindi
• ICU Ed and Todd-Cast
• Critical Care Time
• Mastering Intensive Care by Andrew Davies
• ESICM Talk Podcast by ESICM

High-Yield ICU Websites

• CICM Professional Documents – highly examinable SAQ content
• DerangedPhysiology.com – SAQ goldmine
• TheBottomLine.org.uk – Trial summaries at your fingertips
• Lifeinthefastlane.com – ECGs, tox, clinical pearls
• ibcc – Resus-centric with real-world tips
• NeuroResus – Complete neuro-resuscitation content
• Radiopaedia CICM playlist – CICM Radiology focused practise
• ICU OnePager – key concepts on one page
• CICM Exam paper – download and print in bulk for practise

Courses That Helped Me

• South Australia CICM Fellowship Preparation Courses by the South Australian Intensive Care Association (SAICA)
• Sydney Short Course in Intensive Care Workshop

Bonus

If you want to be equipped with tested ancient wisdom and strategies to overcome the obstacles in your path as you embark on your exam journey, check out The ICU Life Manual: The Obstacle is The Way – the very same wisdom I used that helped me pass the EDIC and FCICM exams within 12 months!

Also…here is a key concept on how to use all the resources above to develop your core knowledge and utilise them as part of your onward practise.

Reinforce your learning with practise questions, then incorporate them into your hot case and viva practise. This cycle of learning-writing-applying will ingrain your core concepts and content for the examinations ahead.

A Love Letter to the Top End

Nestled at the top of Australia, better known as the Northern Territory, lies Darwin — a land bursting with so much vibrancy it could explode and paint you in the colours of love, adventure, nature, music, history, and fashion. If you ask me, that would be green, mixed with a hue of blue, a tinge of white, and a sweep of maroon — a spectacular kaleidoscope of emotion and nothing short of a rainbow.

The Beginning of a New Chapter

Six months ago, I made a bold decision. I asked my wife what she wanted for 2020. She said something expensive. So I brought her to Darwin. The tickets were expensive. We wanted change — a new chapter in our lives. And Darwin gave us adventure, growth, and wonder.

A City Forged Through Fire

To paint you this masterpiece, imagine an onion — starting from its core and slowly peeling back layers.

At Darwin’s core lies a dark history. In 1942, just ten weeks after Pearl Harbour, Darwin endured relentless Japanese airstrikes. It was bombed more heavily than Pearl Harbour itself — a brutal act in Japan’s campaign for Southeast Asia.

But from this pain, Darwin was reborn — stronger, more tolerant, and more beautiful. A city once ravaged by war now welcomes people from all over the world, a vibrant melting pot of culture and resilience.

The Spirit of the Land and Its People

Darwin’s soul lies with its Indigenous community — custodians of the land, with over 200 language dialects and a sacred connection to nature and ancestors.

Being among descendants of the oldest living civilisation was a humbling and spiritual reminder:

The world is always speaking — if only we learn to listen.

Nature’s Emerald Embrace

What enraptured me daily was the Nature. Darwin is a canopy of 50 shades of green — trees dancing over highways, sunlight piercing through mosaic leaves, shade offering mercy and calm. A city where nature doesn’t retreat — it reigns.

Just a short drive away lies Litchfield National Park, with secret gems like Florence Falls, and the majestic Kakadu, holding nature in its purest form.

The Daily Masterpiece: Darwin Sunsets

Every day ended with a performance: the Darwin Sunset.

Fiery oranges, moody purples, the soft kiss of white and black on the horizon — an interplay of colours no artist can match.

You don’t just see a Darwin sunset —

You feel it in your chest. It fills your soul’s cup to the brim

Fierce Love: Crocodiles of the North

Of course, not all love is kind and warm. Some… bite.

I’m talking about crocodiles.

The saltwater beasts of the Adelaide River, 5 meters long, launching skyward with primal power. Watching the jumping crocs left me awestruck. And yes — I swam with one. At Crocosaurus Cove, I locked eyes with a dinosaur-era predator.

It was terrifying. It was exhilarating. It was unforgettable.

The Symphony of Daily Life

Darwin gave me so much more than work. From sunlit markets to tropical downpours,

from crackling crickets to quiet nights, from spiced seafood to smoky coffee…

This place imprinted itself on every one of my senses.

May the embers of this journey keep us warm through the wintery nights and long lonely days.

To This I Say…

Oh Darwin, Glory to Thee!

Thank you for the lessons. The beauty. The humility.

And the sunset remind us that no matter how hard the day is, nature will offer you grace.

Top 3 Reasons Why Darwin is Your Next Training Haven

Darwin wasn’t just a romantic escape. For any trainee or doctor considering the Top End, here’s why its one of the best kept secrets of Australian medicine:

1. The Medicine is Phenomenal! (and examinable – Meliodosis was a SAQ question in 2024)
2. The Culture – Vibrant markets, warm weather, weekend beach outings!
3. The opportunity to interact and serve the oldest surviving Indigenous population in the world!

Bonus

Read the first case report I wrote on Neurosyphilis which I saw at the Royal Darwin Hospital that inspired me and ignited my interest in research which led close to a dozen publications, with original works ranging from the European Heart Journal to the New England Journal of Medicine!

If you’re planning to embark on your CICM Fellowship Exams, start with my Resource page for all the essential tools to equip yourself before you launch into Preparing for the FCICM Exam.

In the intensive care unit — where pressure runs high, lives hang in the balance, and the pager never sleeps — it’s easy to lose yourself.

Yet in my most burnt-out moments, it wasn’t a medical textbook or journal that helped me breathe again. It was a slim, free PDF titled The Almanack of Naval Ravikant.

This isn’t just a book on money or startups. It’s a philosophical guide to building a life of clarity, purpose, and peace. And yes — it has deeply influenced how I approach ICU medicine.

Who is Naval Ravikant?

Naval is a tech entrepreneur, angel investor, and modern-day philosopher. Known for turning dense wisdom into tweet-sized truths, he’s become a leading voice on wealth, happiness, decision-making, and personal growth.

His book, The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, curated by Eric Jorgenson, is available completely free here:

Download the free PDF

ICU Life, Through Naval’s Lens

1. Leverage Your Work

“You will get rich by giving society what it wants but does not yet know how to get, at scale.”

In the ICU, “rich” isn’t about money. It’s about impact.

Application:

• Build protocols that others use
• Automate daily pain points (rostering, checklists, templates)
• Teach juniors; create educational content
• Contribute to ICU digital transformation

Ask yourself: how can I scale my knowledge beyond the bedside?

2. Happiness = Peace in Chaos

“A calm mind, a fit body, and a house full of love. These things cannot be bought. They must be earned.”

ICU professionals burn out because we give everything — often leaving nothing for ourselves. Naval’s reminder is profound: peace must be cultivated.

Application:

• Morning journaling before handover
• Evening silence or slow walks post-shift
• Gratitude before family discussions
• Micro-meditation (2 minutes between codes)

3. Clear Thinking Saves Lives

“Clear thinkers appeal to their own logic, not the crowd.”

Every shift is a chessboard of triage, uncertainty, and ethical dilemmas. You can’t think clearly when running on fumes or ego.

Application:

• Pause before action. Even 10 seconds help.
• Use structured thinking (e.g. FASTHUGS-BID)
• Reflect: “Am I solving the right problem?”
• Debrief openly — without ego or blame

4. Reject the Status Game

“Escape competition through authenticity.”

ICU medicine often gets caught up in politics, CV chasing, and performance optics. Naval reminds us: authenticity > performativity.

Application:

• Be kind even when unseen
• Ask dumb questions — they’re often smart
• Show vulnerability with your team
• Let your work speak over your words

5. Play the Long Game

“Play long-term games with long-term people.”

Whether you’re building your career, your wellbeing, or your team culture — ICU isn’t a sprint. It’s a series of deliberate marathons.

Application:

• Invest in people, not prestige
• Build sustainable habits, not heroics
• Learn systems thinking, not just facts
• Focus on compounding growth, in life and knowledge

Prefer a paperback?

You can support the author and this blog by purchasing via this link:

Buy on Amazon Australia

Final Words: The ICU as a Mirror

Naval’s ideas have helped me survive and thrive in one of the most intense work environments imaginable. His framework isn’t a life hack — it’s a lens.

The ICU doesn’t just test our knowledge. It tests our philosophy.

And if we can master both, we might save ourselves in the process.

Use his advice and philosophy to help you prepare for the FCICM Fellowship exams!

Bonus

Watch this interview between Naval Ravikant and Chris Williamson on The 2 Paths to Happiness.

Use them or not, it reminds us all that part of the clinical journey is to reflect and develop our own inner barometer, which is a combination of our hard work, clinical experience and maturity, with our personal philosophies and daily reflections.

Top ICU Secrets

1. Use short-acting titratable drugs during the critical care phase.
2. Procedural working space organised in order of required interventions improves movement economy and translates to improved success, day or night.
3. Successful procedures = 80% position and 20% skill.
4. Beta-lactam infusions are a pharmacokinetically sound strategy in the treatment of sepsis.
5. Minimize paralysis to mitigate ICU-acquired weakness.
6. Early transesophageal (TOE) in undifferentiated post-cardiothoracic surgical patients is critical to rule out loculated tamponade.
7. For massive transfusions = aim for balanced ratio of transfusions (1:1:1 RBC:FFP:Platelets)
8. Brain death is a clinical diagnosis.
9. Two therapies proven to reduce mortality in ARDS patients
   • Protective lung ventilation (6ml/kg of ideal body weight)
   • Prone positioning
10. Right heart failure requires multimodal optimization of:
    • pCO₂
    • pO₂
    • pH
    • volume status (volume overload)
    • pressure overload (reduce PVR)

1. Delirium is a strong risk factor for increased length of hospital and ICU stay, as well as mortality.
2. The passive leg raise is the most sensitive bedside test for fluid responsiveness. Assess for dynamic response, such as a change in LVOT-Vti, rather than MAP.
3. The validity of pulse pressure variation as a surrogate of intravascular volume status is preconditioned by the following:
   • Sinus rhythm
   • Paralysed patient
   • Vt 8ml/kg
   • Normal lung compliance
4. Regional citrate anticoagulation is considered the standard dialysis modality in the modern era.
5. Blood flow rate of > 120ml/min in citrate HD may increase risk of citrate toxicity.
6. In profoundly shocked patients, Hemosol dialysis may be better suited in lieu of the lagging biochemical evidence of liver injury.
7. Identifying medical staff by name significantly improves communication in resuscitation.
8. Balanced crystalloid resuscitation is preferred in DKA resuscitation.
9. Effective and succinct clinical handovers are a vital communication skill that must be continuously honed through deliberate practice.
10. Clinical handover is not a clinical round.

1. Protective lung ventilation is not exclusive to patients with ARDS.
2. HSV encephalitis can present with a false-negative CSF PCR. always consider repeating LP before ceasing Acyclovir if risk factors are high.
3. Listeria meningitis typically presents with lymphocytosis with an aseptic meningitis CSF picture.
4. All forms of ICU palliation require clinical consensus, regardless of the time of day.
5. Pressure support ventilation (PSV) and pressure control ventilation (PCV) are not synonymous.
6. PSV = pressure delivered to support a spontaneously triggered breath. PCV = a targeted pressure set that will generate a Vt depending on lung compliance.
7. Augmented BP targets in post-aSAH for management of cerebral vasospasm should be a joint clinical decision between neurosurgical and ICU teams.
8. The team leader of a resuscitation must be clear and succinct, practising situational awareness and closed-loop communication.
9. Mental health challenges amongst ICU medical professionals are common and should be supported by peers empathetically to seek medical help.
10. Pressure-controlled ventilation during bronchoscopy can help mitigate loss of tidal volume.

1. Early mobilization in critically ill patients can improve short-term ICU outcomes.
2. Multimodal neuroprognostication after 72 hours of cardiac arrest without clinical confounders is an established standard clinical practice worldwide.
3. Fluid therapy should be equally viewed as administering medication therapy. Its role should be sought, and responsiveness assessed.
4. Offering decompressive craniectomy should be a multidisciplinary decision involving the Neurosurgical and ICU teams.
5. Excellent ICU ward round notes are concise, succinct, and reflect recent synthesized information, with categorized and prioritized plans. Copying and pasting, or blindly transcribing results, is robotic and has minimal impact.
6. High intelligence is no excuse for a low emotional quotient. Both are equally important in the people’s business of ICU.
7. Identify an area of interest during the ICU training pathway. The post-ICU exam sphere is vague and heavily influenced by the pursuit of your interests, which should be a combination of in-demand value-added skills and specializations.
8. In cases of influenza pneumonia, avoid steroid therapy to mitigate mortality risk, and consider early empirical antibiotics (such as ceftriaxone and vancomycin) to treat secondary, superadded bacterial pneumonia.
9. N-acetylcysteine infusions are harmless, and should be considered early in acute liver injuries concurrently during diagnostic workup.
10. Understanding the small radiation risk during pregnancy, life-saving radiological investigations should never be delayed in pregnant patients.

1. All critically ill pregnant patients have a difficult airway.
2. Extreme caution is required with early beta-blockers in tachycardic acute heart failure patients. It may be the only compensatory mechanism maintaining an adequate cardiac output and can lead to complete cardiovascular collapse if reduced disproportionately.
3. CVVHDF is expensive. Always evaluate if IHD is an option.
4. Pain management in the ICU is complex; a multimodal approach can minimize opioid side effects. Non-pharmacologic modalities should not be underestimated and may have a role in a comprehensive pain management strategy.
5. A trial of NIV in hypoxaemic respiratory failure = reassessing clinical response in 60 minutes. Failure to appreciate this nuance can delay intubation with serious adverse respiratory complications.
6. Post-intubation hypotension in severe exacerbations of acute asthma is multifactorial: tension pneumothorax, dynamic hyperairway inflation, and hypovolemia.
7. The pathophysiological process of a large central pulmonary embolism involves an increase in dead space, resulting in a V/Q mismatch. The resultant effect increases minute ventilation, which subsequently causes hypocapnia and secondary bronchoconstriction, leading to alveolar hypoxia.
8. For acute liver failure patients with high-grade encephalopathy, the initiation of CRRT is neuroprotective and should not be delayed until overt renal failure is apparent.
9. In severe acute pancreatitis, early enteral feeding and avoidance of empirical antibiotics are established evidence based therapies.
10. Use the VALUE tool to enhance communication in the ICU: Value family statements, Acknowledge family emotions, Listen to the family, Understand the patient as a person and Elicit family questions.

If you found this post valuable, head over to my website for more similar content at nileshanand.com to help guide you through your ICU and exam life.

Subscribe to my newsletter at nileshanand.com if you want more impactful insight like this and get my ‘Top 10 Critical Care Podcast’ recommendations to save you time and maximize your learning.

Check out my most-read post:

The ICU Life Manual: The Obstacle is the Way

The Ultimate Resource Guide for the FCICM Fellowship Exam

Mastering the FCICM Hot Case – Part 1: Outside the Door and into the Dance

Mastering the FCICM Hot Case – Part 2: Presentation, Phrases, and Final Impressions

Mastering the FCICM Hot Case – Part 3: Handling Examiner Questions and Staying Composed Under Pressure

As always, you got this!

You are sitting in the ICU at 2 am between patients, twenty minutes of quiet in front of you, FCICM exam six months away, and you open your phone. What do you actually do with it?

Most trainees still scroll Instagram or, at best, open a PDF they have read three times already. But the clinicians passing the FCICM in 2026 are doing something different. They are using AI — not as a novelty or to cheat, but as a precision study tool. The question is not whether to use it. The question is which tool to reach for, and when.

This post is not a generic AI tutorial. It is a practical playbook built specifically for FCICM candidates, drawing on how these tools perform under the actual demands of the exam’s written and viva components.

The Four Tools Worth Your Time

There are dozens of AI assistants available. Most is noise. For FCICM preparation, three tools stand out — and they are not interchangeable.

Think of them like this: Perplexity is your literature scout. ChatGPT is your tutor. NotebookLM is your librarian. You would not send your librarian to a journal club or your tutor to pull references. The same logic applies here.

1. Perplexity: Your Literature Scout

Perplexity is a search-native AI. Every answer it provides includes inline citations to primary sources — guidelines, NEJM papers, and UpToDate summaries. This is its defining feature and superpower for exam preparation.

Best use cases:

• Rapidly summarising evidence for a topic (e.g. “What does current evidence say about balanced crystalloids vs saline in ICU patients? Cite the primary RCTs”)
• Confirming guideline thresholds and clinical cut-offs before writing an SAQ
• Fact-checking your own notes against current literature
• Finding recent papers on emerging topics such as awake prone positioning or AI-assisted monitoring
• Building a reading list on a weak topic — Perplexity can surface the five most relevant papers in sixty seconds

The honest limitation:

Perplexity does not reason deeply. It retrieves and synthesises, but if you ask it to explain the pathophysiology of ARDS or walk you through a viva on vasopressor choice, it will underperform. It is a scout, not a tutor. Use it to find the evidence, then take that evidence into ChatGPT to learn it.

2. ChatGPT: Your Personal Tutor

ChatGPT is the most versatile of the three tools. It has the strongest reasoning, the best instruction-following, and — critically for FCICM — the ability to simulate the interactive, high-pressure environment of a viva.

Best use cases:

• Viva simulation: “You are an FCICM examiner. I am a candidate. Conduct a viva on ventilator management in ARDS. Be demanding. Do not give me the answer until I have attempted it.”
• SAQ answer drafting and critique: Write a practice SAQ answer, then paste it and ask ChatGPT to mark it against typical examiner criteria — clinical accuracy, structure, completeness
• Pathophysiology deep-dives: ChatGPT can explain multi-system pathophysiology in a layered, dialogue-based way that a textbook cannot
• Topic mapping: “Give me a comprehensive list of FCICM exam topics grouped by organ system, ranked by frequency of appearance in past papers”
• Generating custom SAQ questions on your weak areas
• Creating infographics and concept maps: Paste a complex concept and ask for a structured diagram or flowchart — ChatGPT with image generation can produce useful visual summaries of pathophysiology
• Timed practice: “Give me an SAQ. I have eight minutes. Tell me when to stop.”

The honest limitation:

ChatGPT hallucinates. It can confidently cite a trial that does not exist or give you a drug dose that is slightly wrong. Never use a ChatGPT answer as your sole source for a clinical fact. Always cross-reference with Perplexity (which will give you a real citation) or a primary guideline. The two tools are strongest when paired.

3. NotebookLM: Your Personal Librarian

NotebookLM differs from the other two in a fundamental way: it works only with sources you upload. It cannot access the internet. It will not invent facts. Everything it tells you is traceable, sentence by sentence, to a document you provided. For an evidence-driven exam like the FCICM, that is a significant advantage.

Best use cases:

• Upload your ICU textbooks, LITFL summaries, deidentified personal notes, or downloaded guidelines — NotebookLM will answer questions grounded only in those sources
• Generating a comprehensive study guide from uploaded material — ask it to create a structured overview of mechanical ventilation from your uploaded Marino and Tobin chapters
• Creating flashcards and quizzes from your own notes — it can generate hundreds of question-answer pairs from your uploaded documents
• Audio overviews: NotebookLM can generate a ten-minute podcast-style audio summary of your uploaded sources — ideal for driving or commuting between FMC and home
• Source-grounded Q&A: “Based only on the ANZICS guidelines I have uploaded, what is the recommended approach to ICU family communication?”
• Cross-document synthesis: Upload five papers on a topic and ask NotebookLM to compare and contrast their conclusions — it will cite exactly which paper each point comes from

The honest limitation:

NotebookLM is only as good as what you upload. If you upload mediocre sources, you will get a mediocre synthesis. Curate carefully. Start with ten to fifteen high-quality sources per topic rather than dumping everything you have. And it cannot help you practice for the viva — that is ChatGPT’s territory.

4. Claude: Your Study Partner

Claude is different from ChatGPT in ways that matter for exam preparation. Where ChatGPT is an agent optimised for task execution, Claude is optimised for reasoning, nuance, and long-form document analysis. The 200,000-token context window in Claude Projects means you can upload an entire textbook chapter, a set of guidelines, and your own notes — and have a genuine, sustained dialogue about all of it in one sitting.

More usefully for FCICM candidates: you can build a persistent Claude Project configured specifically as an FCICM study partner. Set it up once with a detailed system prompt outlining your exam structure, your weak areas, and your preferred teaching style. Every subsequent session picks up with that context intact.

Best use cases:

• Building a dedicated FCICM Project: upload your curriculum, weak-topic notes, and past SAQ answers — Claude retains this context across sessions and uses it to personalise responses
• Deep document reasoning: paste a complex guideline or paper and ask Claude to explain its clinical implications, challenge its methodology, or connect it to a related SAQ topic
• SAQ answer critique with genuine depth: Claude will not just tell you the answer is incomplete — it will explain the reasoning behind examiner expectations and suggest how to restructure your argument
• Pathophysiology as dialogue: unlike a textbook, Claude can meet you at your level, slow down on the parts you find confusing, and use analogies drawn from your clinical experience
• Comparing your reasoning to expert reasoning: describe your clinical decision-making on a case and ask Claude where your logic holds and where it breaks down
• Writing and structuring SAQ answers: Claude is particularly strong on prose quality and argument structure — useful for candidates whose content knowledge is solid but whose written expression under time pressure is not

The honest limitation:

Claude does not have real-time web access in the standard interface, so it cannot pull current guideline updates or recent trial results the way Perplexity can. For anything time-sensitive, verify with Perplexity first. Claude is also not a viva simulator in the same instinctive way ChatGPT is — it tends toward thoughtful explanation rather than rapid-fire examiner pressure. Use both.

Which Tool for Which Task?

Use this as your quick-reference guide when you sit down to study:

★★★ = Best tool for this task  ★★☆ = Good  ★☆☆ = Limited or not designed for this

A Practical Study Workflow

The tools are most powerful when used in sequence, not in isolation. Here is a workflow that works:

Step 1: Identify your gaps.  Ask ChatGPT to generate a comprehensive FCICM topic list and tick off what you already feel confident about. The gaps become your study priority list.

Step 2: Build your evidence base.  For each priority topic, run a Perplexity query to surface the key trials, guidelines, and landmark papers. Download the most important ones.

Step 3: Load your librarian.  Upload those papers into a NotebookLM notebook titled by topic. Generate a study guide and flashcards. Listen to the audio overview on your commute.

Step 4: Test yourself.  Open ChatGPT and run a Viva on that topic. Then write a timed SAQ answer and have ChatGPT critique it.

Step 5: Iterate.  The topics where your viva answers are weakest become the next session’s Perplexity searches. The loop closes.

One Thing AI Cannot Do

None of these tools can replace deliberate, effortful thinking. The research on medical exam preparation is consistent: active recall and spaced repetition are the highest-yield study methods. AI amplifies both—ChatGPT enables active recall through Viva simulation, and NotebookLM enables spaced repetition through custom flashcards. But you still have to do the thinking.

AI also hallucinates. Every clinical fact you intend to use in an SAQ should be verified against a primary source. These tools will accelerate your learning — they will not make it effortless, and they should not.

The FCICM is a test of clinical judgment under pressure. Use AI to sharpen your knowledge base. The judgment is still yours.

The Bottom Line

FCICM candidates who use AI well are not cheating. They are studying smarter. The trainees who will struggle are those who either ignore these tools entirely or use them passively — reading ChatGPT summaries rather than testing themselves against it.

Perplexity for evidence. ChatGPT for simulation. NotebookLM for synthesis. Run them in sequence, not isolation. And remember: the exam is not asking whether you have read the papers. It is asking whether you can think with them.

Start there.

If you need references, check out The Ultimate Resource Guide for the FCICM Fellowship Exam

If you need to prepare with the Fellowship Written Preparation, start with How to Prepare for the FCICM Fellowship Exam: The Setup Most People Skip

For more insightful advice to give you an unfair advantage, cutting through all the noise and offering you crystal clear clarity on your exam journey, join my newsletter below and get the best podcast resources in your inbox, stat.

I have also started the FCICM Exam Accelerator Academy – a personalised 1-on-1 coaching programme that applies everything I teach in an organised, strategic manner to take you from where you are to exam-ready in 3 weeks!

DM me on LinkedIn for a 45-min coaching call to see if you qualify for the Academy. See you on the inside!

As always, you got this!

Setting up for the FCICM Fellowship Exam

Preparing for the FCICM Fellowship exam requires a solid plan and the right mindset.

You don’t rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems – James Clear

• I think a key part of starting the exam build up is the setup phase — what most people never talk about, but what makes all the difference.
• This is not about content. It’s about structure, life setup, and tools to win.
• It’s about ensuring you have maximal focus as you start building momentum to get into the thick of your preparation

Life Logistics Before Studying for the FCICM exam

Declutter Your Schedule

• Say no to extra shifts, side projects, and optional duties
• Be focused and learn how to get Deep Work done
• Create predictable, protected time blocks (2–4 study blocks/week)

Plan With Your Family

Consider all aspects of your life while studying for the FCICM Fellowship exam to ensure you can focus effectively.

Setting priorities is crucial when preparing for the FCICM Fellowship exam.

• Sit down with your partner and children to plan
• Set expectations for quiet times and support
• Build shared calendars or visual planners

Organise a Nanny or Childcare

• Outsource where possible — especially during high-yield periods
• Don’t feel guilty. You’re investing in a short-term intensity for long-term gain
• Nanny FB groups to help out with kids

Effective planning with your family can significantly impact your FCICM Fellowship exam performance.

Work Arrangements and Time Commitment

Take Time Off Work Strategically

• Minimum 1 week pre-exam, ideal = 2 full weeks
• I’ve taken 3 weeks pre-exam and felt I peaked earlier and was becoming more fatigued closer to the exam
• Use annual leave, study leave, or unpaid leave if needed
• Plan around mock exams, study groups, and revision blocks

Organizing childcare is a key step to free up time for your FCICM Fellowship exam studies.

How Much Time Do You Really Need?

• 10–15 hours per week in core months
• Increase to 25–30 hrs/week in last 4–6 weeks
• Track hours like you’d track a patient’s inputs/outputs
• My advice is that if you’re working full-time and plan to sit the exam in one year, you have one year; you have six months to prepare.
• You must factor in life, night shifts, family, kids, exercise, ect!

Download the FCICM Syllabus and Make It Yours

Print & Bind the Syllabus

• Visual ownership of the curriculum
• Highlight known/unknown topics (use Green/Yellow/Red tag system)
• Use it as a progress map

Effective work arrangements help create the ideal conditions for success in the FCICM Fellowship exam.

Test Your Exam Tools in Advance

Pen Testing

• Buy a 10-pack of the exact pen you’ll use
• Practice all your SAQs, vivas, and notes with that pen

Timer Options

• Use an analogue exam-style timer
• Or your Omega Seamaster if that’s your thing
• I suggest using the exact timing tool for practice as for complete mastery on the exam day
• Remember, the FCICM Written exam does not allow digital timers

Mock exams are an essential part of your preparation for the FCICM Fellowship exam.

Pro Tip: Practice multiple full paper under exam conditions — same time, same pen, same pressure.

Tracking your study hours is crucial for success in the FCICM Fellowship exam preparation.

Create a Study Space and Mental Container

• Dedicate a quiet corner (or even a café with headphones)
• Use whiteboards, post-its, or Notion boards for visual reminders
• Light a candle, play a playlist, or start every session the same way = habit cue

Prepare Your Mindset for a Hard Climb

• Define your “Why” and keep it visible
• Expect emotional dips → journal them, talk them out
• Find a study buddy or mentor — for support, not just answers

Understanding the FCICM Fellowship exam syllabus is fundamental to effective exam preparation.

What helped me most: writing affirmations and pinning them near my desk

Tip: Visualizing your success can motivate you throughout your FCICM Fellowship exam journey. Try this ‘mini-visualisation’ meditation practice by Headspace.

The Challenge: 15 Questions. 2.5 Hours. No Room for Error.

The FCICM written paper is not a test of intelligence, nor is it an English Literature exam— it’s a test of structure, clarity, and clinical maturity. You’ll face 15 SAQs in 2.5 hours, with 10 minutes reading time and no margin for delay.

You’re not writing essays. You’re showing examiners that you think like a consultant: fast, focused, and clear under pressure.

Know the FCICM SAQ Game

Understanding the FCICM Written Exam

CICM questions are precise. Each word in the question matters. Examiners have painstakingly reviewed each word to ensure clarity and purposeful content. Each word carries its weight and holds meaning. Understanding the terminology is half the battle. The other half is answering the question specifically, without being vague or misinterpreting it, which is a common pitfall for past trainees.

Tip: Use past examiner reports to calibrate your answers. RADES: Rationale-Adv-Disadv-Evidence-Statement Summary

Structure: Bullet Points Are the Currency of Marks

Imagine this: you’re an examiner reviewing 45 papers at 10 p.m.

Do you want to read a page-long paragraph, or scan well-labelled bullet points with headings?

The bullet point is the basic expression of the written exam – Arvind Rajamani, Examiner and Intensivist

Correct approach:

Management of septic shock:

• IV fluid resuscitation with 30 mL/kg crystalloids
• Early vasopressor (norepinephrine) if MAP <65 mmHg
• Empirical antibiotics within 60 minutes

Structure = focused and organised approach. Use:

• Headings
• Bullet points
• Prioritised lists
• Frameworks (e.g., VINDICATE)

The 10-Minute Rule for the FCICM exam: Time is Everything

• One FCICM SAQ = 10 minutes. No exceptions.
• If you go over, you rob yourself of marks from the next one.
• Set a watch or analog timer. Time every question during practice.
• Train weekly: Do 15 SAQs in 2.5 hours. No breaks.

Statistically, you cannot pass the exam if you leave ONE question unanswered.

Strategy:

• I recommend starting from question 1 to 15 to ensure you don’t miss any questions under time pressure.
• I highly recommend using the 10 minutes reading time to:
  • First skim the questions to have a general overview.
  • Then plan Question 1 out in you mind.
  • This will help you start on a solid and confident ground which will translate to the rest of the exam paper.
• Some use the reading time to analyse data interpretation question and answer them immediately to save time overall.
• However the data interpretation questions are becoming more complex and actually do take time.
• The pragmatic goal = get your 6/10 and then move on.

Handwriting: Practise Like It’s 1995

Yes, it matters.

Good ideas get zero marks if they’re unreadable. Examiners won’t decipher scribbles.

Tips:

• Use non-smudging, black or blue ballpoint pens
• Write clearly, upright, with space between points
• Practise daily by hand — even one SAQ a day helps

Write With Maturity: Think Like a Consultant

Examiners are looking for signs of seniority in your answers. This doesn’t mean more knowledge — it means better judgment.

Compare:

Immature: “I might consider maybe giving some antibiotics…”

Mature: “Administer empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics within 60 minutes (e.g. piperacillin-tazobactam)”

Show prioritisation, decisiveness, and intent.

This is a consultant exam. So you must think like a consultant, not a registrar. Reframe your mindset daily with the following affirmation from the day you start preparing – ‘I AM AN ICU CONSULTANT’.

The Tools That Make You Sharp

Tip: Don’t forget your calculator!

Common Mistakes That Kill Marks

• Writing a brilliant answer… to the wrong question
• Spending 20 minutes on one question = two blanks. Suicide!
• Paragraphs instead of dot points
• Illegible writing
• No headings, structure or targets
• Not understanding the command word

Exam Day Mindset

• You’ve trained for this. Stay calm.
• Have a plan:
  • First pass: All questions chronologically
  • Second pass: Revisit flagged ones
• Don’t get emotionally attached to any one answer
• Hydrate, take deep breaths to recalibrate, and stretch briefly at the halfway mark
• Stay in the zone during lunch break. For example, go for a walk, eat alone, or listen to music. This is not the time to discuss questions or engage in conversations that could trigger or emotionally distract you.

Summary Checklist: How to Conquer the Written Exam

Use bullet points and headings

Stick to 10 minutes per SAQ

Practise with past papers and timed runs

Learn the command terms

Make your handwriting exam-ready

Use mature clinical tone

Don’t stop — keep moving

Bonus

Check out my FCICM Resources page for all the prep material and resources you need!

Also, if you need some ancient wisdom about overcoming mental and emotional barriers in approaching this exam, you can just read more here.

You’re on the spot, watched closely, and every move matters. The first few minutes — from when you’re handed the stem outside the door to the “dance” of orienting yourself at the bedside — are crucial. Get this right, and the rest of the case flows. Get it wrong, and you’re scrambling to catch up.

This article focuses on that opening act.

The FCICM Hot Case Stem

Every word in the stem has a purpose. Use it.

Outside the Door – The Two Minutes of Gold

When the examiner gives you the stem, you don’t have much time — just two golden minutes. (Time starts when you receive the stem paper in your hand)

The goal is not to conjure up every possible diagnosis but to create a mental framework:

• Decode the stem: note the patient’s NAME, age, diagnosis, key interventions, and trajectory (improving, deteriorating, post-op, etc.).
• Identify the question behind the stem: is this about ventilation, sepsis, cardiogenic shock, neuro, or something else?
• Ensure your plan of attack answers the question: Pertinent systems, in which order to acquire all the information required to answer the question
• Pick up all clues from outside: Wash hands sign (? C.difficile enterocolitis), Double strength Norad sticker, Delirium poster, Airborne or ERP precaution

Ask yourself: “What are they really asking me to show them?”

Two minutes can feel like forever if you’re calm and structured — or like two seconds if you panic.

⎆ Entering the Room – First Impressions

When you step in, you’re setting the tone. Walk in calm, confident, and deliberate. Don’t rush.

The first 30 seconds to 1.5 minutes matter. Before touching the patient:

• Introduce yourself. You are a consultant.
• Scan the room.
• Infusions: what’s running, what’s supporting the patient?
• Monitors: don’t just glance at numbers — look at the trends, alarms, and waveforms.
• Ventilator: mode, settings, FiO₂, pressures.
• Environment: is there a dialysis machine, ECMO circuit, intra-aortic balloon pump?

This is the non-verbal part of the FCICM hot case: the examiner is watching whether you see what an intensivist should see.

You could do this either as an end-of-bedogram (if the room is complex with multiple machines) or proceed with…

The Dance Around the Bed

Now begins the “dance” — a structured, flowing sweep around the bedside that gives you a 360° view.

A simple clockwise approach works well:

1. Relevant Infusions: Why Milrinone? or Defibrotide?
2. Lines, tubes, drains: identify them and infer why they’re there.
3. Equipment: ventilator, dialysis, pumps.
4. Bedside clues: relatives, documentation, emergency equipment.
5. The patient: posture, sedation, respiratory effort, haemodynamic support.

Always ask for ‘TUBS’: Temp – Urine & Bowel outputs – Secretions

Don’t rush to lay hands immediately. Narrate your thinking as you move:

“This patient has high-dose noradrenaline with ventilatory support with high FiO₂ — I’m expecting severe septic shock physiology.”

Verbalising shows the examiner your thought process and reassures them you’re systematic.

Common Pitfalls

Tunnel vision – diving straight into monitors or lines without seeing the patient.

Forgetting the framework – losing sight of what the stem asked you.

No structure – appearing flustered or random in your approach.

Missing the obvious – not noticing that the patient is peri-arrest before you even start examining.

Looking but not internalizing – going through the motions without actually registering the context or meaning of what you are observing.

Sloppy examination – Rushing and disorganized without calculated and refined steps

Poor time management – which will lead to a sloppy examination. The dance should be a maximum of 1.5 minutes.

History taking – don’t do this! It’s a clinical examination exam.

Forgetting the patient’s name – Tip: Use their name as soon as you enter the room.

Conclusion & What’s Next

The opening act of the hot case is all about setting yourself up. Those first few minutes are not about showing off knowledge — they’re about demonstrating calm, structure, and situational awareness.

Get the outside-the-door thinking and the dance right, and you’ll own the rest of the FCICM hot case.

In Part 2: The Examination and Presentation, we’ll dive into how to structure the physical exam and present findings to the examiners with authority.

Hot Case Part 1 Checklist

• Use the Talley O’Connor Examination book to practise finessing Neurology, Cardiology, Respiratory, and GIT examinations
• Decode the stem quickly
• Build a mental framework
• Stay calm and deliberate
• Scan the room before the patient
• Structured “dance” around the bed
• Think out loud for the examiner
• Practise with your stethoscope – each unit’s may differ and is of inferior quality

Remember: the examiners are not trying to trick you. They’re asking, “Would I trust this doctor with my ICU?” These first minutes are your chance to show them the answer is yes.

Bonus

Common approaches to practise:

• COPD patient
• Post-cardiac surgical patient
• Post-cardiac arrest survivor
• The patient with an intra-abdominal catastrophe
• The patient who has an abdominal aortic aneurysm
• The patient who has had a SAH
• The patient with a head injury
• The patient with a spinal injury
• The patient with burns
• The transplant patient
• The obstetric patient
• Long stay ICU patient

Key Videos

If you need additional resources to help you prepare, you can check out my Ultimate Resources page or try Learning about Stoicism with my book recommendation, and let it help you overcome mental barriers to push through this temporary hurdle.

You got this!

Why Presentation Matters

• Examiners already know the patient—they are testing your synthesis, prioritisation, and clarity.
• A scattered or rushed presentation can undermine a solid examination.
• Clear, confident phrasing shows maturity and consultant-level readiness.

The Structure: A Simple Framework

Think of your presentation as a three-act structure:

1. Opening line (the elevator pitch)
   • Sets the tone.
   • Example: “This is a 65-year-old gentleman on Day 3 post-CABG who remains ventilated with ongoing haemodynamic instability and new renal dysfunction.”
   • Answer the question within the first 30 seconds of your opening line. Example: ” This is a moribund patient in multiorgan failure with the following key issues: 1. Respiratory Failure 2. Cardiac failure and 3. Critical illness weakness
   • DO NOT START BY PARROTING THE QUESTION AGAIN
   • Avoid phrases like: I was asked to see….I had the pleasure to see…..It was wonderful to see, or worst (Repeat the whole stem and question). This is painfully repetitive for the examiners who are examining multiple candidates, and also robs you time to demonstrate your clinical findings and acumen.
   • Remember, your first impressions will impact your likelihood of success significantly.
2. Core summary (the key findings)
   • Group by systems, but prioritise what is critical and abnormal.
   • Use crisp phrases:
     • Respiratory: “He is intubated on volume control with FiO₂ 0.5 and PEEP 8, with good oxygenation but limited compliance.”
     • Cardiovascular: “He is vasopressor-dependent on noradrenaline 0.12 µg/kg/min with cool peripheries, elevated JVP, and bibasal crackles.”
     • Other systems: Keep concise but don’t neglect neuro, renal, GI, lines, wounds.
3. Closing line (your synthesis + impression)
   • Tie it together in one or two sentences.
   • Example: “In summary, this is a critically unwell post-cardiac surgery patient with cardiogenic shock and evolving multi-organ dysfunction. My main concerns are haemodynamic instability, fluid balance, and potential graft dysfunction.”

A Suggested FCICM Hot Case Structure

I shamelessly stole this from the Sydney Short Course in Intensive Care Medicine website for you to take a look at. Check out their website for other essential resources like the CICM Written SAQs Examples using the CICM College glossary.

I personally drilled these phrases into my presentation and found it immensely useful, allowing my presentation to flow fluently with confidence. I recommend rote learning and practising the opening lines, and then filling in the information you acquired from the examination.

Also, their course is excellent (I attended it in 2024) and I would recommend it.

Phrases That Convey Maturity

Examiners listen for phrases that sound consultant-ready:

• For uncertainty:
  • “This could represent either sepsis or cardiogenic shock—further data will clarify.”
  • “I am concerned about this finding and would escalate monitoring.”
• For prioritisation:
  • “The most urgent problem is…”
  • “The primary…The pertinent…”
• For balance:
  • “On the one hand… however, on the other hand…”
  • “My impression is cautiously optimistic given current stability.”
  • ‘This case is challenging due to the competing clinical interest…”
• For final impressions:
  • “If stable, I would aim for a trial of extubation in the next 24 hours.”
  • “If deterioration continues, I would escalate to mechanical circulatory support.”

Common Pitfalls in Presentation

• Overloading detail: Listing every lab or ventilator parameter instead of synthesising.
• Failure to prioritise: Spending too long on non-critical systems.
• Vague closing: Ending with “that’s all” instead of a strong impression.
• Lack of confidence: This is often demonstrated by concise language that synthesizes the question with the ability to justify your decision-making. Say more by saying less.

Final Impressions: The Consultant’s Seal

This is your chance to leave the room on the front foot. Think of it as your consultant sign-off:

• Short, clear, confident.
• Focused on trajectory and plan.
• Avoid speculation—be measured.

Example:

“This patient remains critically unwell with probable septic shock on a background of multi-organ dysfunction. The immediate priorities are haemodynamic resuscitation, source control, and reassessment of organ support. I would review progress closely over the next few hours, anticipating the need for escalation if instability persists.”

Take-Home Messages

• Start strong immediately: a one-line summary hooks the examiners.
• Stay structured: abnormal, critical, synthesised.
• Sound like a consultant: prioritise, be balanced, end decisively.
• Final impressions matter: they are your lasting footprint.

Next in the series: Part 3 – Handling Examiner Questions and Staying Composed Under Pressure.

A Note on Public Speaking

I understand this can be very scary. Speaking in public, let alone speaking in front of an audience that is scoring you for being able to convey confidence, information, and recollect examination findings and tying them all up in nice headings, sub-headings, and conclusions. It’s a lot.

But…

You want to pass. You need to pass. And so…

Practise is the only way you are going to harness the mettle to become a poised, confident, eloquent, concise, and experienced speaker.

Practise daily. In the shower. In the mirror. In front of your family, spouse, and dog.

For inspiration and learning technical skills to improve your vocal image and build presentation mastery, I highly recommend visiting Public Speaking and Communication Expert Vinh Giang’s YouTube page for excellent content.

I used one of his many techniques, which I recorded myself on my iPhone, presenting a hot case and listened back thrice:

1. First with video and audio
2. Then, with video only (on mute): To observe hand and face visuals
3. Then, with voice only (no video): To learn my voice intonation, rate, pronunciation and enunciation.

This one technique itself gave me more insight into my presentation than any other tool. Safe to say my mastery progressed from there forth.

If I can do it, so can you.

You got this!

Resources

If you haven’t done so, check out my:

Ultimate Resources Page for all of the best resources to equip your studying journey, or Mastering The FCICM Hot Case – Part 1: Outside The Door and Into The Dance for starting your hot case plan of attack on the right foot.