Introduction
Medical school isn’t just about learning content — it’s about staying organised, managing admin, and looking after yourself over several years.
You can use Notes to create a long-running, personal system that helps you survive and thrive throughout medical school, not just cram for exams.
This template uses 20 notes:
4 notes per year
2 notes per semester
Each note is labelled by Year, Semester, and Type (Study goals or Admin)
Together, these notes give you a clear, structured overview of what matters each year, while staying flexible enough to adapt as things change.
How this template works
For each note:
Create one sticky note in Notes
Name it clearly (e.g. Year 2 – Semester 1: Study Goals)
Add the relevant labels:
Year (Year 1–5)
Semester (Semester 1 or Semester 2)
Type (Study goals or Admin)
You can then use labels to:
Focus on one semester at a time
Separate study goals from admin
Quickly resurface what matters right now
Year 1
Year 1 – Semester 1: Study Goals
Labels: Year 1, Semester 1, Study goals
Review 2–3 core lectures actively → summarise + make 50 flashcards/week
Use 25-min Pomodoro sprints for study blocks
Practice 10–20 Early Years Qbank questions/week (low-stakes, formative)
Active recall: anatomy structures covered that week
End-of-week mini self-test using flashcard deck (15–20 mins)
Year 1 – Semester 1: Admin
Labels: Year 1, Semester 1, Admin
Register with GP + sort student finance
Join 1–2 societies (include one aligned to a career interest, e.g. Surgery Society)
Set up a simple evidence/portfolio log using Notes
Year 1 – Semester 2: Study Goals
Labels: Year 1, Semester 2, Study goals
Continue spaced repetition (30–40 mins/day flashcard review)
Ramp up to 150 Qbank questions/month
Identify weak topics from Qbank → create a 1-page summary sheet each week
Group study or quiz session
End-of-year prep: by April, shift to 50 Qbank questions/week
Year 1 – Semester 2: Admin
Labels: Year 1, Semester 2, Admin
Apply for summer volunteering/research
Meet tutor to review study skills + career interests
Year 2
Year 2 – Semester 1: Study Goals
Labels: Year 2, Semester 1, Study goals
150 new flashcards (pathology/pharm focus)
30 Qbank questions/week (timed)
Active recall: write out key points from 2 lecture topics/week without notes
1-page summary sheet on weak areas biweekly
End-of-week mini self-test using flashcard deck (15–20 mins)
Year 2 – Semester 1: Admin
Labels: Year 2, Semester 1, Admin
Update portfolio with new evidence
Explore/join specialty society related to interests (paediatrics, cardiology, etc.)
Year 2 – Semester 2: Study Goals
Labels: Year 2, Semester 2, Study goals
Create/review 150 flashcards/week
50 Qbank questions/week
Mock OSCE group session monthly
Pomodoro sprint routine: aim for 3–4/day in revision blocks
End-of-year prep: build revision plan (April–June: 100 Qbank/week)
Year 2 – Semester 2: Admin
Labels: Year 2, Semester 2, Admin
Apply for summer research/electives
Build first proper draft of CV
Year 3
Year 3 – Semester 1: Study Goals
Labels: Year 3, Semester 1, Study goals
Clerk 2–3 patients & log feedback
30–40 Qbank questions/week
Daily flashcard review (~20 mins spaced repetition)
1-page summary sheet on weak areas biweekly
End-of-week mini self-test using flashcard deck (15–20 mins)
Year 3 – Semester 1: Admin
Labels: Year 3, Semester 1, Admin
Placement logistics (badge, travel, etc.)
Get feedback for portfolio at clinical placement
Year 3 – Semester 2: Study Goals
Labels: Year 3, Semester 2, Study goals
Clerk 3–4 patients/week
50 Qbank questions/week
OSCE peer practice weekly (timed)
Create 1-page summary sheet on weak clinical topic weekly
End-of-year prep: increase to 100 Qbank questions/week (UKMLA AKT format)
Year 3 – Semester 2: Admin
Labels: Year 3, Semester 2, Admin
Identify mentors (ask reg/consultant for supervision opportunities)
Attend specialty society events
Year 4
Year 4 – Semester 1: Study Goals
Labels: Year 4, Semester 1, Study goals
75 Qbank questions/week
Group OSCE practice weekly
Active recall: revise 5 specialties/week
Year 4 – Semester 1: Admin
Labels: Year 4, Semester 1, Admin
Elective planning + funding
Join national specialty societies
Year 4 – Semester 2: Study Goals
Labels: Year 4, Semester 2, Study goals
100 Qbank questions/week (UKMLA SBA-style)
Mock OSCE fortnightly (timed circuits)
Build “high-yield finals doc” from active recall
End-of-year prep: ramp to 150 Qbank questions/week by revision period + OSCE circuits 2–3x/week
Year 4 – Semester 2: Admin
Labels: Year 4, Semester 2, Admin
Apply for leadership/audit projects
Update CV with portfolio mentor
Year 5
Year 5 – Semester 1: Study Goals
Labels: Year 5, Semester 1, Study goals
150 Qbank questions/week (timed, mixed systems)
OSCE circuits 2x/week
Weekly active recall of one emergency system/topic
Review 200 flashcards/week
End-of-week reflection: weak areas → 1-page summary
Year 5 – Semester 1: Admin
Labels: Year 5, Semester 1, Admin
Elective reflections + portfolio sign-off
Start UKFP application
Year 5 – Semester 2: Study Goals
Labels: Year 5, Semester 2, Study goals
200 Qbank questions/week (simulate finals + UKMLA AKT)
OSCE circuits 3x/week (mix: comms, acute, exam skills)
Sit PSA exam
UKMLA prep: final push with full-length AKT mocks + OSCE simulation weeks
Year 5 – Semester 2: Admin
Labels: Year 5, Semester 2, Admin
Submit FPAS preferences
DBS, occupational health, vaccinations
Summary
Using Notes in this way helps you:
Stay organised across multiple years
Balance study goals with admin and logistics
Reduce cognitive load by capturing everything in one place
Create a living system you can return to and adapt
This isn’t about perfection — it’s about giving yourself a clear, calm structure so you can focus on learning, not remembering what you’ve forgotten.