No abstract

Examinations are a significant source of academic stress, particularly in the demanding environment of medical education. In order to reduce the burden of anxiety, burnout and depression among students, medical schools aim at reducing academic stress by exploring alternatives to frequent, high-stakes assessment schedules. The bundling of examinations into integrated block assessments has emerged as a successful strategy to reach this goal, as the resulting reduction in examination days can provide uninterrupted periods of study time that allows for a deeper understanding of material as well as an opportunity for students to take wellness breaks between exams. The present study examines the outcomes of a natural experiment on back-to-back exam scheduling in two related medical school courses post hoc. The outcomes of the scheduling change on the academic performance and satisfaction of examinees were analyzed with a mixed-methods approach. The data show that the transition from a spaced-out to a back-to-back exam schedule was accompanied by a drop in academic performance and student satisfaction with the curricular schedule. The data presented suggest that without proper curricular integration, the block scheduling of exams has negative effects on learning outcomes and student satisfaction.

I would like to thank the teacher and students that participated in this study. I appreciate the many hours of time over the course of this study that you welcomed me into your classroom. Specifically to the teacher of this study, I appreciate your allowing me insight into your development through this approach which was undoubtedly a difficult process. Your willing participation in this study and the time we spent together are truly gifts that I will always remember with gratitude. I would also like to thank my friends and colleagues whose hours of conversation while working through this study have shaped my thinking. A special thanks to those colleagues that assisted in scoring and editing. I hope our interactions continue to flourish as friends and colleagues. This study is both more thorough and more interesting as a result of your participation. Lastly, I would like to thank all my friends and family who continuously encouraged me through this study and helped me stay focused on the goals at hand.