We should learn from our mistakes

Editor—Although I agree with Israar Ul-Haq,¹ I do not believe students taking the initiative to chase up exam papers is entirely feasible or practical.

Firstly, from what I have heard, personal tutors sometimes do not have the complete mark breakdown to offer proper feedback, let alone the corrected exam papers. Secondly, the point I was trying to make in my letter was that feedback is important enough that it should be provided without having to be asked for.² Thirdly, students may be apprehensive about hunting down examination papers and seeking feedback unless they believe it to be the norm.

Ideally, feedback should be provided in sufficient detail as part of the medical curriculum. Where this is not possible, students should be encouraged and advised on how to go about getting suc

Balaji Rangarajan, intercalating medical student, University of Birmingham
Email: Bal1@hotmail.com


studentBMJ 2002;10:131-170 May ISSN 0966-6494

1. Ul-Haq I. We should learn from our mistakes. studentBMJ 2002;10:125. (April.)
2. Rangarajan B. We should learn from our mistakes. studentBMJ 2002;10:38. (February.)