Family Medicine Shelf Exam

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You have to register first as a student member which is free. I forgot how you do this, but once it's done, you will get a confirmation email in a few days with your super special password that will give you access to all the hidden goodies.

Just for fair warning, the AAFP will spam the **** out of you after you apply. Their board review questions are definitely the best shelf prep, but be ready to delete 2 emails a day from them unless you flag them as spam.

Last minute question for MilkmanAl (or anyone, really)......when you guys are talking about FA Micro, I assume you're talking about FA for Step I.....any particular pages you thought were/would be high yield? I mean, are they asking you for "which antibiotic should be used in this situation?" or are they asking crazy **** like "which kind of agar would the bacteria most likely responsible for this clinical situation grow on?"

Got my score back, 93 raw (no clue what the percentile is for that). Basically read through about 2/3 of Blueprints before ditching it and doing all the AAFP and all the PreTest questions.

Originally Posted by GuyWhoDoesStuff

Last minute question for MilkmanAl (or anyone, really)......when you guys are talking about FA Micro, I assume you're talking about FA for Step I.....any particular pages you thought were/would be high yield? I mean, are they asking you for "which antibiotic should be used in this situation?" or are they asking crazy **** like "which kind of agar would the bacteria most likely responsible for this clinical situation grow on?"

Obviously this doesn't do you too much good, but for future family med shelf takers, I had both of those types of questions on mine. Yes, I do mean FA for Step 1. I guess I'd focus on the antibiotics pages and the bacteria. I don't recall the viruses, parasites, or HIV stuff being on there.

Thanks for the input guys. I only have a few days left: finish PreTest (gone through half) or do the AAFP questions (have only gotten through about 15%)? Time is of the essence.

Originally Posted by PistolPete

Thanks for the input guys. I only have a few days left: finish PreTest (gone through half) or do the AAFP questions (have only gotten through about 15%)? Time is of the essence.

Finish Pre-Test. 250 questions is very doable in 2 days. Pre-Test was my #1 resource for FM

Thanks 2012mdc!

So this is my study plan for FM:

- Read the Ambulatory Medicine chapter in Step Up
- Go through all of Case Files
- Finish PreTest
- AAFP questions

Am I set? I really really want to do well on this test (as with all my Shelf exams) so I'm hoping this is enough

Originally Posted by ArcGurren

So this is my study plan for FM:

- Read the Ambulatory Medicine chapter in Step Up
- Go through all of Case Files
- Finish PreTest
- AAFP questions

Am I set? I really really want to do well on this test (as with all my Shelf exams) so I'm hoping this is enough

That's more than enough.

I did PreTest, the amb med chapter, the peds and OB cases in Case Files

What % of the FP shelf is OB and Peds, roughly?

Originally Posted by PistolPete

What % of the FP shelf is OB and Peds, roughly?

Don't remember but the official NBME pdf that outlines the content breakdown says up to 5% OB and 15% Peds

.

Originally Posted by 2012mdc

Don't remember but the official NBME pdf that outlines the content breakdown says up to 5% OB and 15% Peds

Thanks a bunch. I was at a complete loss to how to approach the OB and Peds... it doesn't really help that my preceptor is basically just a medicine doc who practices "family medicine" but rarely sees OB or Peds (he has two partners, one who's female who does the OB, and a younger guy who does the Peds).

Originally Posted by ArcGurren

Thanks a bunch. I was at a complete loss to how to approach the OB and Peds... it doesn't really help that my preceptor is basically just a medicine doc who practices "family medicine" but rarely sees OB or Peds (he has two partners, one who's female who does the OB, and a younger guy who does the Peds).

Yeah I rarely saw OB either. The OB questions were basic stuff but Case Files did help with Peds

Took the test yesterday. Did pretest and AAFP questions (not the mixed review, but all the topic specific questions). I didn't think it was that bad; probably one of the easiest shelf exams I took all year. Quite a few "gimmies", with the occasional "what the hell?". It was my last shelf of the year, so I think that factors into this. Good luck everyone!

Took it a few days ago also. Pretty fair, a decent amount of Step 1 material, if you can call it that. Quite a bit of peds and ObGyn, actually. Pretty broad in it's spectrum of questions. Overall, pretty fair. Wouldn't call it "easy" or "heard" per se. PreTest questions helped. Only did a few of the AAFP questions, so can't really say much other than they were much harder than the shelf exam. For those starting 3rd year with this shelf, I'd just glance through Step Up to Meidicine (Ambulatory section was OK but too shallow), especially the Endocrine/Cardio/ID sections, and do PreTest.

What would you think about doing just usmle world IM questions -- like 300 or so of those -- with maybe 50 of peds and 50 of ob? I only have 3 days left -- any thoughts would be appreciated (i read step up to step 2 for my text)

thanks!

I registered with the AAFP website but I can't access the damn questions... does anyone know how this works? Shelf is in 2 weeks... please help

Originally Posted by jon2727

You don't just register with the website. You have to register with the AAFP. It takes 1-2 days to get this done.

Here's the website:
http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/m...mber/join.html

click: "student membership" and you are on your way.

Good luck!

Thanks a bunch! Hopefully it'll come in by tomorrow or the day after!

So I'm starting on this rotation, and after reading this thread I've decided start with case files use pretest and AAFP questions. My question/concern is step up to medicine and UW. I'm thinking about reading about the diseases I see as they come up and using UW subject specific. I know it's probably overkill but this rotation is pretty relaxed, is this way too much? Thanks

Originally Posted by Day man

So I'm starting on this rotation, and after reading this thread I've decided start with case files use pretest and AAFP questions. My question/concern is step up to medicine and UW. I'm thinking about reading about the diseases I see as they come up and using UW subject specific. I know it's probably overkill but this rotation is pretty relaxed, is this way too much? Thanks

There is no UW section for Family Medicine, and you definitely do not need to know all of Step Up to Medicine for the shelf exam.

For the record there's something like 1000+ AAFP questions.... those are sufficient enough practice for me along with 500 PreTest questions.

Took the shelf recently. It's a tough shelf, especially for your first clerkship, but if you cover all of Case Files and practice lots and lots of questions you should be okay. There were a few questions here and there out of left field (histoplasmosis? real high yield there for FM) but for the most part it was a lot of physical diagnosis and treatment.

For treatment I would make sure to know some of the common second line treatments for people allergic to penicillin, etc.

Originally Posted by Green Grass

Took the test yesterday. Did pretest and AAFP questions (not the mixed review, but all the topic specific questions). I didn't think it was that bad; probably one of the easiest shelf exams I took all year. Quite a few "gimmies", with the occasional "what the hell?". It was my last shelf of the year, so I think that factors into this. Good luck everyone!

Got my score back today - 92! Good luck everyone!

I have a little more than 2 weeks left on the rotation and basically just started reading Case Files (stupid procrastination), hope to get through that at least once and hopefully and then go through as many AAFP and/or Pretest ?s (done 0 so far) as possible after that... Knowing myself, I have a feeling I won't be able to get through everything so how should I prioritize these 3 things? I'm thinking definitely finish Case files first, but then are pretest or AAFP questions better preparation for those people who have done both?

I'm in the same boat as above. One difference is our school makes us do 12 FM cases, which are online tutorials of common complaints/guidelines. I ditched case files, I don't see any yield in it. Pretest questions are good. Aafp are hard but good, my plan is to use them after pretest. I've made a high yield notes from all the answers (wish they would just move to online subscription) and reference step up or uptodate/dynamed with any questions. Shelf is 2 weeks from Friday.

hallo all, i take the exam on wednesday. besides case files and pre-test, are thre any other sources? I read case files 2x and pre-test 2x. I looked at a few AAFP questions, but they didnt look like they applied to my level.

should i do anything else? and what kinds of questions are there if anybody remembers any?

Any information will be appreciated. TY.

Penn State delivers an exam based off of 30 cases found on MedU under fmCASES. I am on my FM rotation now and have simply been reading up on these different cases. I also try to read up on every patient I have seen to grasp their pathology.

Just took the shelf. Pretest questions were the most useful, the AAFP were beyond the scope of what was needed. Overall, I'd say it is similar to step 1 in the breadth of material, but now instead of 1-2 obviously wrong answers (assuming you know the material) most answer choices seem pretty reasonable. I thought this was the most difficult test I've taken thus far in medical school...having it first is probably a pretty big detriment. Oh well, I'll post my score/curved score when I get them, best of luck to everyone else.

92 curved score. Pretty good, still didn't make honors. Nothing I can do. Oh well, here's hoping to rock this current rotation!

Printed off all the AAFP questions except OB (2 pg/pg w/ duplexer) and then wrote explanations of right and wrong answers. Did this over 7 weeks then did pretest the last week.

I only used questions.

93 Raw, 97 Percentile.

I admire all of you for your incredible dedication but...

it doesn't matter! all you have to do is pass! even if you go into FM, we don't care if you got honors in your FM rotation or not! we don't care about your shelf exam score!

so allow yourselves an opportunity to really focus on learning instead of the exam, relax, have fun, and enjoy the one rotation where your grade really doesn't matter (as long as you pass)

Originally Posted by MeowMix

I admire all of you for your incredible dedication but...

it doesn't matter! all you have to do is pass! even if you go into FM, we don't care if you got honors in your FM rotation or not! we don't care about your shelf exam score!

so allow yourselves an opportunity to really focus on learning instead of the exam, relax, have fun, and enjoy the one rotation where your grade really doesn't matter (as long as you pass)

not all specialties feel the same way. It would be interesting to see how different 3rd year would be if it was just pass/fail

I did about half of Case Files and about 350 of the AAFP questions.

I thought it was a really hard test. I wished at the time that I had done more prep. However my score was much better than I expected (~80th percentile). This was my first shelf.

nm

I have family next...had OB first and just finishing Peds, so I'm not too worried about having to review for those subjects. Should I just dedicate my 4 weeks to doing questions? Maybe get step up to medicine and start readin that? I have medicine after family btw, so will be getting it soon anyway.

Originally Posted by 2012mdc

not all specialties feel the same way. It would be interesting to see how different 3rd year would be if it was just pass/fail

It'd probably be a whole lot like it was for me since I treated it as such.

Originally Posted by RySerr21

I have family next...had OB first and just finishing Peds, so I'm not too worried about having to review for those subjects. Should I just dedicate my 4 weeks to doing questions? Maybe get step up to medicine and start readin that? I have medicine after family btw, so will be getting it soon anyway.

id start with the ambulatory section of step up. do questions (pretest >aafp imo). review the questions, then you could probably hit 2-3 sections in step up (cardio, GI, pulm maybe). because there's no good text source, i would just focus on questions, goodluck man.

Got score today - 83 raw. Don't know percentile yet. Did 1x AAFP questions, 1/2 Pretest (started too late), 1x case files. Pretest + AAFP definitely the best combo imo. I thought it was really tough, but it was also my first clerkship. Probably easier later in the year.

Anyone who has taken exam and used AAFP think the OB and psych questions in AAFP are worth doing? 140 OB and 70 psych seem a bit outrageous for a family shelf

just took today. overall a very fair exam. Night and day compared to peds. The questions were shorter, less lab values, and in general just a lot easier. Plenty of buzz words and 'most common cause' or 'most likely diagnosis' questions. Know your antibiotics. Not just first line, but second line in cases like allergies.

I feel like for this shelf the questions are very doable, the more you study the better you will do (compared to peds where i feel like nothing you study will matter cuz the qeustions were so out there). I read the ambulatory section of step up, did about 300 AAFP questions, and used case files as a reference to look up stuff in clinic. All were good sources. The more aafp quesitons you do and the more you read the better you will do.

Quick question, what constitutes the ambulatory section of step up? I don't see it isolated in my book. Thanks!

Chapter 12, page 408 of the step-up to medicine book

Thank you for clarifying that for me, I was looking at step up to USMLE step 2 haha

I was so confused!

I have already read step-up, so what should I add- case files or blue prints?

are the board review questions on AAFP website any good? test in couple of days so if they are not high yield, then someone please tell me.

does anyone know what a raw score of 78 translates to in terms of percentile?

What the hell does that have to do with anything in this?

Originally Posted by MossPoh

What the hell does that have to do with anything in this?

lulz

Hi there, I'm sorry if this is a repeated question. I am trying to access the board review questions on the aafp website. I have found where the board review questions are supposed to be, but all it says is: you can return to complete more assessments at any time" Can someone please help me figure out how to access these questions? I have my shelf exam in two weeks. Thank you!