10,000 questions vs. Taus?

[Radonkulous]

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Hello all. I've been lurking around these forums since 07 as a premed and now as a med student (changed username to de-identify myself). I'm nearly done with MS1 and pretty soon Step I is going to be on my mind. I've read numerous threads concerning everyone and their mother's theory on how to get a 250+ on the exam, but I've come to a reasonable conclusion that there are two camps: 1 who believes in the Taus or modified Taus method (labeling the traditional method of reading books and doing a question bank i.e. FA + Goljan + UWorld) and 1 who believes in FA + 10,000 questions (i.e. USMLERx + Qbank + Robbins + Uworld). There has been a thread not too long ago about how attaining a 270 is more efficiently attainable with the latter method than the former since you develop some sort of reading comprehension as you do more and more questions, along with better retention.

My basic question to you all is what are the merits of the latter approach since it isn't a common path students take. I've thought about it but have yet to come to sound conclusion. This comes as I decide whether to purchase Rx in the next few months to start reviewing all MS1 material (we are on a systems based curriculum)

Thanks!

 

[namethatsmell]

I'll bite.

The 10k approach probably has great appeal/benefit for folks who really learn best from doing questions...and won't get frustrated by having to look things up to confirm/elaborate on a qbank's explanation of a question. If you have trouble sitting down and reading a review books for 2-3 hours at a time, the 10k approach may also be good for you. If you feel like the learning would be too fragmented or you'd get too bummed out only getting 30% on a block of questions...maybe consider Taus.

My biggest concern with the 10k approach would be the quality of the explanations to the questions in whatever bank I'm using. Sure, the actual process of doing practice questions derives benefits on their own, but I'd be wary of spending my time on a qbank without solid descriptions of WHY a given answer is the "best." I've only looked at UWorld and UsmleRX, but from what I've seen/heard, the banks with the best explanations at the moment are: UWorld > UsmleRx = Kaplan.

 

[RySerr21]

i have trouble doing questions w/o feeling like i have a solid knowledge base first. Its just not fun for me to have no idea what the answer is to a question. I think a balance between both is good. My goal is to get a first pass through annotatin my FA and then reviewing each system by looking at the corresponding section and FA and doing all fo the Uworld questions for that organ system or subject (embryo, immuno, biochem, etc).

That being said: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/science/21memory.html

 

[RapplixGmed]

I've always felt like doing all the questions ever made is the most helpful.

I have trouble studying from books/slides for 8 hours straight but I can easily do qbank/ read explanations and annotate all day, every day since there is immediate feedback on what is learned.

I feel like the Step 1 won't be bad at all if you've been doing the same thing every day for months on end. Thats what i did for the MCATs and my results from that were quite good. I did about 10k questions for that too.

 

[245399]

Learning the way you suggested makes a lot of intuitive sense.

 

[dozitgetchahi]

Hello all. I've been lurking around these forums since 07 as a premed and now as a med student (changed username to de-identify myself). I'm nearly done with MS1 and pretty soon Step I is going to be on my mind. I've read numerous threads concerning everyone and their mother's theory on how to get a 250+ on the exam, but I've come to a reasonable conclusion that there are two camps: 1 who believes in the Taus or modified Taus method (labeling the traditional method of reading books and doing a question bank i.e. FA + Goljan + UWorld) and 1 who believes in FA + 10,000 questions (i.e. USMLERx + Qbank + Robbins + Uworld). There has been a thread not too long ago about how attaining a 270 is more efficiently attainable with the latter method than the former since you develop some sort of reading comprehension as you do more and more questions, along with better retention.

My basic question to you all is what are the merits of the latter approach since it isn't a common path students take. I've thought about it but have yet to come to sound conclusion. This comes as I decide whether to purchase Rx in the next few months to start reviewing all MS1 material (we are on a systems based curriculum)

Thanks!

Just curious: doesn't Qbank + UWorld + Robbins +USMLERx bring you to only ~7000 questions or so?

I say this only because I'm considering doing the "10k plan" after getting through about 20% of UWorld and Qbank - but some of the people I've seen posting about their success with the 10k strategy had to add USMLEConsult or other question sources to get up to 10k total questions.

 

[Radonkulous]

It's more like 8k, but I'm counting in practice exams and what not, not to mention maybe doing some qbanks twice (i.e. UWorld).

Jebel, whose learning style are you referring to?

 

[veaselhaufen]

How in the world would someone have enough time to do 10,000 questions? When do you start and how many do you do a day?

 

[indsha008]

How in the world would someone have enough time to do 10,000 questions? When do you start and how many do you do a day?

True !! And that too review all questions (right+wrong).. Crazy !!

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Hey test takers - what would you pick if you had to choose: USMLERx or QBank? Pros and cons?

 

[veaselhaufen]

Hey test takers - what would you pick if you had to choose: USMLERx or QBank? Pros and cons?

Ive done 60% of Rx and the free 200 questions from Kaplan and I like Rx better. It's a better question bank to start with because its a little bit easier, its linked to first aid, and its not as picky/difficult as Kaplan. However, it does kind of seem like Rx tends to test the same kind of things over and over if youre trying to do one subject in particular. Don't know if Kaplan is like that

 

[245399]

Jebel, whose learning style are you referring to?

The 10,000 question method.

 

[leogio]

Hello everyone
I am new in this forum
I am IMG and I have been doing medical research for 7 years after my med school. Now is time for me to go back to the clinics and I am planning to start the USMLE preparation.
My question is if it is highly relevant (bad) the time of the medical graduation or if it is actually good to have research experience.
I have some publications by the way.
thank you all for your help.
leogio

 

[MrBigLips]

Hello everyone
I am new in this forum
I am IMG and I have been doing medical research for 7 years after my med school. Now is time for me to go back to the clinics and I am planning to start the USMLE preparation.
My question is if it is highly relevant (bad) the time of the medical graduation or if it is actually good to have research experience.
I have some publications by the way.
thank you all for your help.
leogio

You've posted in the wrong forum. You should either do a search for a similar question which I'm sure someone has already addressed, or make a new forum. That being said, research is always good. However, 7 years is a long time out of medical school. I don't think most programs like to entertain the idea of reteaching basic clinical methods.


Now that that's been sorted... I think it all depends on the type of learner you are. As mentioned above, if questions are your thing, let the 10K marathon begin. If not, stick to the classic method.

 

[peanut11]

Ive done 60% of Rx and the free 200 questions from Kaplan and I like Rx better. It's a better question bank to start with because its a little bit easier, its linked to first aid, and its not as picky/difficult as Kaplan. However, it does kind of seem like Rx tends to test the same kind of things over and over if youre trying to do one subject in particular. Don't know if Kaplan is like that

Seconding that. Everyone that I've asked around my school suggests Rx because of the links to first aid. I've also been told the Kaplan questions aren't representative of what they saw on their exam.

 

[Redrox]

Me, I was one of those 10,000 question people who got 250+. Used the Robbins review questions in addition to the big three Qbanks. I would argue that the Flash Facts for FA was more important than any of em.

Only really works if you have the solid textbook foundations. If you can pull it off, the test day is super comfortable with all that multiple choice under your belt.

 

[engineeredout]

I love doing questions far more than sitting and reading a book for hours. I can only get through a certain amount of book pages before getting bored and not paying attention, but doing questions is fun to me.

It isn't that hard to make it through 10K questions. I've found it pretty easy to get through 250 questions per day (with review and annotating), which would work out to 40 days of 250 questions, and considering may people do more than 40 days of board review it is definitely doable.

 

[esperanza27]

Questions questions questions, is always a great way to go, if u have the time . You see the topic in so many ways. Good luck in your studies👍

 

[iA-MD2013]

I love doing questions far more than sitting and reading a book for hours. I can only get through a certain amount of book pages before getting bored and not paying attention, but doing questions is fun to me.

It isn't that hard to make it through 10K questions. I've found it pretty easy to get through 250 questions per day (with review and annotating), which would work out to 40 days of 250 questions, and considering may people do more than 40 days of board review it is definitely doable.

Wow...that's impressive! So you went through 250q's each day, read explanations, and annotated every detail into FA.

 

[esperanza27]

Wow...that's impressive! So you went through 250q's each day, read explanations, and annotated every detail into FA.

I agree with you ia-md2013 ....
It is definitely impressive... I think questions are so important to do..... But Ive always had limitations, due to TIME.....Im lucky if I do more than 100 a day. I mean I can do 250----But I would not be able to go through their explanations.... And I probably be very exhausted not able to do it day after day.... But there are those lucky guys with such great gifts....

Good Luck to all in their studies

 

[engineeredout]

Wow...that's impressive! So you went through 250q's each day, read explanations, and annotated every detail into FA.

Not every day since we have mandatory lecture and that usually requires pissing away enormous amounts of time in class. But yeah I can do that on weekends or half days at least.

 

[esperanza27]

Not every day since we have mandatory lecture and that usually requires pissing away enormous amounts of time in class. But yeah I can do that on weekends or half days at least.

engineer with total sincerity, MY HATS OFF TO U... That has always been my gretest dream to read that fast, and absorb everything with that mental agility. Amazing.... I wish I had just half of that brain of URS---(for real)

Thanks, good luck in ur studies....and this med-journey

 

[tundri]

Bump!

Given that lately we have some good writers in the forum, I'd like to see their intake on this topic. Plus, it's still a good question. 🙂

 

[InFactotum]

Not every day since we have mandatory lecture and that usually requires pissing away enormous amounts of time in class. But yeah I can do that on weekends or half days at least.

Sorry to bring up an old thread... but I'm wondering how this is possible to do in a "half day". 250 questions @ USMLE pacing is over 5 hours. You've now killed 1/3rd of a 16 hour day. Annotating them takes as long, or longer than doing the questions, even when done quickly. I take notes pretty quickly, writing only single line of info in a notebook, and it takes me over an hour to do 46 questions. I'm just saying, for any normal med student, doing 250 + annotating is going to take a good 10-14 hours lol.