Gauging interest in a new, hyper-focused MCQ format for deep learning
Hey r/indianmedschool
First Time making such a post, but a long-time student and lurker here, now in 3rd year and postgraduate exam prep (aim 2029). I have been long automating my Study process using apps like Obsidian and ANKI. (Screenshots attached)
We all use AMBOSS, UWorld, Marrow, and AnKing - they are the giants. They offer millions of questions. I am not trying to compete with them. They are comprehensive and vital.
But here are my observation: QBanks often feel distinct from the process of learning and understanding. They are great for assessment, but when I get something wrong, the feedback is usually a mass-explanation block that I have to read/parse/verify. I then have to manually find the relevant section in my notes to correct my understanding. It takes time, a lot of time.
I have been experimenting with merging my structured study notes directly with my quiz generation (currently using an LLM pipeline to add Markdown syntax to my notes for the past few years), creating a different kind of "serious study tool". Over the past 2 years i and 3 of my friends have been making these new kinds of MCQ's to learn.
My core hypothesis: Medical education needs a new MCQ standard where every Single Option is inextricably linked to its specific, detailed reasoning—essentially turning the explanation into the note, immediately accessible within the question interface and baked in as a part of the option.
Forget standard MCQs where you just get a general breakdown. Imagine a system where you are presented with a complex clinical vignette (like the image I've attached), and next to every option is a dedicated, explanation of why it is the correct choice. If you select Option B (e.g., phase-contrast), you don't just see "Incorrect/red mark/cross" along with the correct/incorrect status you see why B is incorrect and precisely what phase-contrast microscopy is best used for, derived directly from my study notes.
I am working on a "zero-setup" app experience focused on:
- Textbook-focused data and UI
- High-Yield "Theory Papers & Vivas" focus (this is far away in future)
- This novel Option-Reasoning Link format.
- And a REEL like question scroll (based on FSRS to suggest questions)
This app is about minimizing the mental energy required to understand your mistakes.
It's a high-fidelity tool for targeted, active recall on the specific concepts you just tested yourself on, along with curated, high-yield notes.
The Question: Is this format appealing to you? If I were to make this, and offer it for a low subscription (₹100 INR/5$ monthly for server costs, equipment, hosting and ios app store fees etc) would you guys be willing to use it?
BTW: if i get significant number of users and it scales the server costs will drop for sure.
Note: Coming from a modest background i realize the struggle and frustration i have faced in paying monthly subscriptions etc, but like i said i come from a modest background and i cannot afford to make this free for everyone. i have finished making questions in it for subjects like Pharmacology(5000+) and Microbiology(1500+ and growing) and since i have gap before and after my third year exams i will finish anat, physio and biochem soon.
I've attached an image showcasing my work as i do it. Your brutal honesty is essential and welcome.
The following Image is from Microbiology (microscopes section).
Above is the same note for this Topic from my notes in Obsidian. the formatting(markdown linters and warnings/diagram alerts) were done with gemini 2.5 flash and
These are my other Obsidian Notes.
This is to show that this Post is not AI-slop fraudster and a screen recording of what i have finished so far is also attached
https://reddit.com/link/1ugdaqw/video/oapqazv0ln9h1/player
And here are photos of the App i have been working on for this. Right now this app only has quizzes, but i will soon be migrating my notes from Obsidian to this app.
Note:
If you guys suggest ideas then i might plan to make all these open source so we all can collaborate somewhere and maintain a digital databank of information free and accessible to everyone. It will probably still require money management though for the same reasons stated above.
Also this app has a mode that is similar to Instagram where you select your topics and scroll through questions and the app using modified FSRS and a new parameter to use time taken flags the questions and shows you the difficult/mistake questions more frequently than the others. this is so that instead of scrolling reels like most do in clinical postings/Bus rides we can use this. you can even select a specific Chapter from which you want the reels to appear. I am still working on correcting the logic for this feature so its not ready yet and will finish it post launch depending on the responses from here.
Please Suggest Ideas and Suggestions so i can effectively decide whether to seriously pursue this or should i just use this for myself? Criticism is welcome.
P.S. I am a student and i have no idea how well this is going to workout for me in the future, my average university exam scores range between 60-70% for the past 2 years (yeah i have very poor memory) and that is how i ended up making all this content. i need to add so people realize that i am no top ranker and i do not claim that these will help everyone.
> Also this is a very ambitious goal and i don't know when i will finish this but i hope to do it soon enough.