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NBME Explanations

How I got a 260 on Step 1

Discussion in 'USMLE Step 1' started by cbokman7, May 6, 2015.

  1. cbokman7

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    #1 cbokman7, May 6, 2015
    Last edited: May 7, 2015
    See attachments - message me with any questions! :):):):):)
     

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    outlier21, futurederm, Nikhi and 3 others like this.
  2. ChillyPepper7

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    Thanks for this resource @cbokman7 - amazing.

    Does anyone know what to do during the last 7-10 days before the test? I have so many resources and am feeling overwhelmed; not to mention, I am more nervous when I'm studying these days and it's difficult for me to work through the entire day. Any advice would be greatly appreciated :(
     
  3. pepino

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    I would suggest you focus on high-yield content, such as micro, immuno, and other pathophys. At this point, you've already learned the chunk of what would be on the test, and you just don't want to miss anything high yield that will definitely show up on your test. Take another practice test in this period, if you have any left, and tweak any weaknesses. Obviously stay focused, but don't forget to relax, as getting nervous could cost you a few points on test day. Review some Derm photos, some neuroanatomy, and maybe heart sounds. Otherwise, it's the home stretch and just get through it!
     
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  4. bradoc

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    Thank you for your step 1 experience!

    You've written that in the beggining you started uworld with tutor and untimed modes, so basically used Uworld as a study source, a book in question format, if you will. I also plan on using UW in that manner, but opposed to that I continuously see people suggesting to "save" uworld for the very end of the preparation, so to have "fresh" questions. I'm not concerned with the "freshness" of questions, but not knowing how to manage time is something that makes me rethink my strategy sometimes... especially now with fewer questions and predictably longer vignettes... in the sense that "used" questions would be easier to solve, thus not giving me a good scenario for time management during the real deal exam day. Maybe I could use NBMEs as a time training tool? What do you guys think?

    Anyways, thanks again. IMG here, funny to see people think 6 months is too much time, haha... I'm 3 months on DIT and completed only 30% of classes, but with a daily drilling of FA with Anki flashcards from Brosencephalon's deck, pretty much memorizing and trying to correlate concepts as much as I can. Planning on speeding up, but even then wouldn't finish my preparation in less than 8 months, I guess
     
  5. cbokman7

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    Great question! Thank you for posting it because it is a popular point of contention: to uworld or not to uworld (early and repetitively), that is the question...

    The first time I ever heard about uworld, the doctrine was, do NOT start it until you have fully studied and are ready to test yourself and prepare for test day. It makes sense - it is the qbank that is most like the real test. And there are a lot of benefits to using it solely to test yourself and also learn as you go along. But then I started to talking to more people who had taken the test, and consistently noticed a trend: the more uworld you do, and the earlier you start it, and the more times you repeat it, the higher your score is. And for me, I found this to be completely true - I felt uber comfortable test day largely in part because I knew uworld so well. Don't underestimate FA, pathoma, other sources you find valuable to learning - these of course also helped me a great deal and establish a foundation of knowlegde. But knowing uworld well, like you stated above, using it as a book in question format, helped me most to ace the exam.

    So, the short answer is, I did use other sources to test myself and make good on timing - like you predicted, the NBME practice tests and the two uworld practice tests. For my first NBME test I was super short on time - and I am a slow reader too! So on each subsequent test, I worked on my timing and soon was finishing blocks with time to spare and check questions I wasn't sure about. Sometimes I would also do blocks of uworld just made up of my 'wrongs,' and these questions were also less familiar to me and difficult, so this was a nice way to test myself as well.

    Finally, the people I saw that were studying with me, and saved uworld for the last 6 weeks of studying, experienced a rude wakeup call. A block would take them 6 hours to do and review at the beginning. And that is a stressful thing to experience 6 weeks out, knowing you have some 2,000 questions to get through. So my theory is that, the better you know uworld, the better you do; however striking that balance is individually-based. Maybe a person can know uworld well by just doing it once, saving it near the end of their studying, and taking copious notes. But for several people, starting it earlier and repeating it is key.

    Good luck and feel free to keep the questions and posts coming!!
     
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  6. Anu

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    Cbokman 7
    Can u plz send me your 50 page uworld notes if you have it. My exam is coming soon

    Thanks in advance
     
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  7. Anu

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    Can you upload your uworld step1notes
    ( 50page document) please if you have it ? Your charts were too good. Thanks for that. Great effort
     
  8. Anthony89430293

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    Does anyone still have that 50pg document of uworld step 1 notes they would like to share?
     
  9. takingstepsooon

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  10. Nikhi

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    Hey Cbokman, im a new member of this group. WIll ypu please share the 50 page document for the review, thanks
     
  11. Nikhi

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    Hey did you got that 50 page document? please forward to nchilakuri@gmail.com if you have it. thanks
     
  12. ChinaPaw

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    hey here is another question how do you put cards from the field to the bottom of the deck... you know like whean you use cards like zapped giant and cards of such??for the OCTGN game
     

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