“Without tutoring, we wouldn't get there”: in medicine in Montpellier, solidarity between students leads first-year students to success

Mock exams, a dress rehearsal for students. DR – Montpellier Health Tutoring Association

The Montpellier Health Tutoring Association, made up of 2nd and 3rd year medical students, is organizing mock exams on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 December for 1st year health students.

“Without the support of the Montpellier Health Tutoring Association (ATSM), we wouldn't make it.” The observation of a medical student is clear. It is very difficult to get through the first year of health studies, whether it is PASS or LAS.

Organized in one post-baccalaureate year, the PASS (Specific Health Access Course) is structured around a major (discipline) in health and a minor outside of health. The LAS (Health Access Bachelor's degree) is structured around a major (discipline) outside of health and a minor in health.

“A very intense first year”

“It's a very intense year for first-year students in health studies”, explains Lucie Fakhreddine, vice-president in charge of communication for the Montpellier Health Tutoring Association (ATSM). Based at the new Faculty of Medicine, this non-profit association is made up of 2nd and 3rd year students in medicine, midwifery and dentistry.

“We try to support them throughout the year, both educationally and psychologically, in a spirit of equal opportunities and inclusiveness for students with disabilities. This is why registration for our tutoring is completely free.”

They testify

“Tutoring really helped me during my first year of LAS, says a student. It keeps me motivated and gives me a rhythm to my revisions thanks to the sessions it offers. In addition to helping us better understand the lessons, the tutors also provide us with moral support. They share their experience with us, which is reassuring since they were able to succeed in their year by following the same path as us."

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“From the beginning of the pre-entry training organized by ATSM, I understood that tutoring was not just for exercise sessions, continues a PASS student. They carry us through with their advice, their kindness and their good humor. I was very apprehensive before starting my year in PASS, which is known to be difficult. Tutoring helps me manage classes and overcome the challenges of student life."

"Not only is tutoring free, but it also offers a relevant educational offering, emphasizes Professor Lionel Le Gallic, one of the teachers responsible for tutoring at the Montpellier-Nîmes Faculty of Medicine. Tutors are trained and supported through constant interaction with teachers in each discipline. Thus, the sessions they conduct are perfectly in line with what will be required for the exams. In addition, these second and third year students have just experienced the PASS/LAS first-hand and can provide organizational and methodological advice tailored to each person's personality, which is crucial."

“Our tutors are recruited, trained and evaluated”

ATSM has set up a sponsorship campaign and well-being eventspromoting sharing between students from different classes and courses. The association also has an orientation and reorientation center, as well as a health, social and support center, to support foreign students or those in precarious situations.

“Our association is the only one recognized and supported by the faculty. Our tutors are recruited, trained and evaluated by professor-researchers, and our teaching materials (MCQs, cards, common quiz topics, mock exam topics) are reread and validated by the professors designing the ranking exam tests.”

Mock exams on December 19 and 20

This final week before the school holidays is very important for first-year students. It is indeed on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 December that they take the mock exams organized by the ATSM, as part of its support program.

This full-scale test, which covers the entire semester program, serves as a dress rehearsal before the ranking exams, which will take place from 7 to 9 January. In between, the Christmas holidays will be an intense revision period.

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