2013 COMLEX Level 2 Thread

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CardioPlus said:
Nice score! Congrats on being done. I had a friend who's COMSAE C, 5 days out of the test, overpredicted their score by 87 pts :-/
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I have a friend who took COMSAE C and underpredicted by 80 pts, lol! So much for "reproducible results" 🙄
 
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I sit for my level 2 in two weeks. Does anyone have a good online resource for cranial?

I memorized it for step 1 and then forgot everything. It's the one OMM thing that I'm still consistently guessing on. Thanks.
 
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I scored within 7 points away from my comsae C for step 2. I also scored with 10 points of my comsae C score for step 1. My guess is that its probably person specific. For step 2 I did combank and comquest100% of them, took all 4 comsaes, read saverese, and read step up to step 2 until the covers fell off. So thankful that I got > 660.
 
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le loup said:
i also had a near 100 point drop. was ~75% on comquest first pass. guess i just had a bad day at pro metric 👎
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That is really disappointing to hear. I haven't gotten my score back yet. On step 1 comsae C scored 634 then scored 707 on real deal. Step 2 comsae C on scored a 752. I am really hoping I score atleast what I did on step 1. I would hate to have to explain why I had a 100 point drop between step 1 and 2..... yuck! 🙁
 
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how long is it taking to get scores back lately? Just took level 2 ... had a 600 comsae A and felt like the questions on the real deal were overall wordier than level I. Also had some very bizarre ethics questions, esoteric law and other instances wherein I was very tempted to punch the monitor!! anyone else take it 8/12 and feel this way?? I just want to be over 500...lucky one time!!
 
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I took it today as well. One big hint is if you've got 1 weird answer and none of the other choices just quite fits... that weird choice is the right one.
 
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Siggy said:
I took it today as well. One big hint is if you've got 1 weird answer and none of the other choices just quite fits... that weird choice is the right one.
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Funny cause this is exactly opposite my strategy of never picking the weird answer and got >650. Not saying You're wrong cause Maybe if I did choose them I'd get >750, Think it's funny How we all have predetermined strategies to tackle the ridiculous comlex questions.
 
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Gither said:
Funny cause this is exactly opposite my strategy of never picking the weird answer and got >650. Not saying You're wrong cause Maybe if I did choose them I'd get >750, Think it's funny How we all have predetermined strategies to tackle the ridiculous comlex questions.
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I didn't automatically jump to the weird answers, but the 2 that I looked up (granted, low N number, but one was a 2 or 3 question set), I ended up choosing wisely. ...but again, I was at the point where I had 4 answers that just didn't fit and a 5th answer that had me thinking, "WTH is this?"
 
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Bones DO said:
how long is it taking to get scores back lately? Just took level 2 ... had a 600 comsae A and felt like the questions on the real deal were overall wordier than level I. Also had some very bizarre ethics questions, esoteric law and other instances wherein I was very tempted to punch the monitor!! anyone else take it 8/12 and feel this way?? I just want to be over 500...lucky one time!!
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I'm in the same boat. Got a 600 on comsae A and also took the test yesterday feeling very similar. I was getting 80's in combank by the end and ended comquest with 74% overall. Taking that test yesterday, I felt like I studied all the wrong stuff. OMM is usually one of my strongest subjects and I thought some of the OMM was insane. I also have trouble with running out of time, so I made an effort to do timed blocks and finish them early. It didn't help at all for yesterday. I still felt like I was rushing through the entire exam. Came out feeling like I completely bombed it, and am just praying for a 500.
 
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Hey guys, I'm taking my exam on Monday. I'm hitting around 78% on comquest. How's this correlate to the real thing for those who've taken it. Is it a good predictor?. Some of comquest is easy but there's def those questions out of nowhere. I hit in the 500s for part 1. I want to at least get 550, hope its possible?!!
 
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RecordedLoop said:
I'm in the same boat. Got a 600 on comsae A and also took the test yesterday feeling very similar. I was getting 80's in combank by the end and ended comquest with 74% overall. Taking that test yesterday, I felt like I studied all the wrong stuff. OMM is usually one of my strongest subjects and I thought some of the OMM was insane. I also have trouble with running out of time, so I made an effort to do timed blocks and finish them early. It didn't help at all for yesterday. I still felt like I was rushing through the entire exam. Came out feeling like I completely bombed it, and am just praying for a 500.
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I took it yesterday as well and feel similarly. I was regularly finishing combank blocks ~10 min early but yesterday I felt really pressed just to keep pace. Some of those OMM questions I couldn't tell if cranial was just a distractor or if they actually wanted me to consider it for my answer. 😱

I didn't do as much studying as you but at this point I would be happy with a 500 because I feel like that test is so variable on any given day I could fail it.

This is gonna be a long 4-5 weeks...
 
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To above...I scored 600 on comsae A, walked out of my exam hoping for a pass because of the randoms stupid mistakes and ob/gyn. Ended up scoring >650. 75% CQ 70%cb. It will take 6 weeks for a result.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using SDN Mobile
 
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Anyone know when the next batch of answers are releasing? I took my exam July 22nd, patiently waiting and hoping for a passing score
 
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So does the going rate seem to be about 6 weeks before scores come back? I will NEVER understand why it takes NBOME SOOOOO long to report scores of a multiple choice test. Maybe if they ever made the process transparent and even tried to explain why it takes 6 weeks (and twice as long as the NBME does to release USMLE scores) it might be bearable and understandable but I personally have never heard a reason for why it takes them so long. Any input?
 
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It takes them a long time I assume because they have to curve the scores for that day with other days with similar questions and the difficulties of the questions etc. I'm just guessing but it does take a long time. They should release week by week haha.
 
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apevo8 said:
Anyone know when the next batch of answers are releasing? I took my exam July 22nd, patiently waiting and hoping for a passing score
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Same I am patiently waiting as well. I think they probably have your scores ready they are just trying to get a month of scores released or something.
 
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Talked to nbome lady. She said the next batch would come out between 21 to 28 of August.
 
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Aang said:
Talked to nbome lady. She said the next batch would come out between 21 to 28 of August.
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So within the next week then. ... at least that is promising. I took step 2 on July 22 so just barely missed the last release date. It's been 4 weeks today and I was really hoping to not have to wait until 6 weeks and if that lady is right then I won't have to!
 
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hawthorne said:
So within the next week then. ... at least that is promising. I took step 2 on July 22 so just barely missed the last release date. It's been 4 weeks today and I was really hoping to not have to wait until 6 weeks and if that lady is right then I won't have to!
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I hope this happens. I took it the same day too.
 
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hawthorne said:
So within the next week then. ... at least that is promising. I took step 2 on July 22 so just barely missed the last release date. It's been 4 weeks today and I was really hoping to not have to wait until 6 weeks and if that lady is right then I won't have to!
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I took Step 2 on 7/18 and heard back for scores on 8/7.

I took Level 2 on 7/23, really hope to hear back this week...........:scared:
 
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Wow, either the NBOME/AOA/AACOM is feeling bad about blowing the whole "unified match" thing or I'm just really lucky today. Took COMLEX Level 2 back on 8/6 and just got the email that my score results are already in... crazy. That's just a shade over 2 weeks and actually FASTER than my USMLE score came back (took that 7/26 and score released 8/21).
As for scores and results all I can say is this... there was talk about the COMSAEs earlier and I specifically took COMSAE C just before the test and actual Level 2 score ended up being about 25 points over my COMSAE score. Not bad I guess and in the grand scheme of how wide the scoring is for COMLEX (the standard deviation on my test was 89) I'd say that's a pretty fair prediction, at least in my case.
 
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Took level 2 on 7/23 and walked out with mixed feelings. The first half of the exam was straightforward and pretty easy for COMLEX standards, but the second half had questions that I promise are in no review book/qbank. Overall, not a bad experience.

Level 1 - 553: At the time I was pleased with this score as I was just planning on IM and didn't put much effort into board prep (spent 1 month on DIT and combank). I changed my mind about IM after a few months of rotations and now will be applying to a more competitive specialty, so I needed to improve upon Level 1.

I started Uworld lightly in February just doing questions specific to the rotation I was on and it was a huge help both for the shelf exams and for general knowledge for the rotations. I skimmed through SUS2 during my second month of IM. I stopped Uworld in July at roughly 70% completion with a 68% average in tutor mode.

COMSAE C 2 weeks before exam was 566. I then completed Comquest over the next 2 weeks with a 72% average in timed mode while also going through SUS2 one more time.

Level 2 - 599: I was really hoping for at least 600 just to stay competitive for my specialty of choice, so I'm extremely happy to have jumped up nicely from Level 1 but it's a little bittersweet to be so close that 600 number.

My overall impression of how my study plan prepared me for the real deal was that the questions were either common sense, or random info that really isn't "study-able" due to the depth of its content. I guess if you study EMTALA, are familiar with hospital administration protocols, and know your biostats at another level (beyond the PPV, NPV, etc.; and more so the indications for specific studies and their subtleties), you could get those random questions. Also, the questions all seemed to be either know them immediately or you won't know them at all. I didn't spend much time at all trying to figure out what they were asking or scanning lab results to determine the diagnosis. Therefore, Uworld was great for building a solid foundation of "board knowledge," but the questions are not indicative of COMLEX questions. Comquest was great for COMLEX style questions and for "buzz-word" and disease pattern recognition that you can expect on COMLEX. I probably could have gone without SUS2 but it didn't hurt.

Happy to have it done and to have improved upon Level 1, and thrilled that I only had to wait 4 weeks for the score. Congrats to all those with the great scores this year and for sharing your great advice with everyone!

God bless!
 
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Level 1: 717
Level 2: 731

Step 1: 255
Step 2: 267

UWorld 1st: 83% on untimed tutor by specialty
UWorld 2nd: 95% timed random
UWSA: 265
COMSAE: 658

I only used UWorld and SUTM to study for both Step 2 and Level 2. I studied during 3rd year using things like Case Files, PreTest, NMS, Kaplan Step 2CK Lecture Notes, Lange Q&A, etc. Studying hard throughout the year was very helpful. I took 4 weeks to study which was too much and I was burned out at the end.

I didn't even touch COMQUEST, COMBANK, or any OMM material. None. I mean I literally did not even study a single day for COMLEX. I only studied for USMLE. Which, by the way, is really the same thing since they both test the same material. Sure they word questions differently and have a slightly different focus (the rare vs. the common) but in the end its all the same. I am here to tell you that you can do well on this test without using any COMLEX-specific study materials.

My school uses the COMAT shelf exams and my scores ranged from 115-130+ (average is 100 with SD of 10). The COMATs were actually pretty similar to Level 2: they sucked and were poorly written.

Study hard throughout the year. Use UWorld and whatever book you want.

Feel free to PM me with any questions.
 
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Took it July 22nd and received score today.

Comsae step 1: 634
COMLEX step 1: 707

Comsae step 2: 752
COMLEX step 2: 754


studied with DIT, Savarese and Combank--competed 50 percent averaging about 80%. I didn't spend nearly as much time studying for step 2 as I did step 1 so was really paranoid about my scoring going down between tests. ending up doing better though so turned out great! For me comsae was predictive but I know I have heard of people scoring quite a bit less so who knows! So glad I'm done with it though! Good luck to everyone about to take it or waiting on scores!
 
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Took step 2 in early July, agree with above that it is very heavily medicine/peds/obgyn based. Some rediculous questions that I had no idea how to prepare for left me walking out feeling like I failed (EMTALA, FMLA, complicated Stats questions etc), but i'm thinking a lot of these may have been experimental.

Have to disagree with Mr. Beauregard. OMM was a HUGE part of my exam, and there was a lot of less obvious, craniosacral, short leg q's, etc. I think focusing more on OMM and doing the combank questions was what helped improve my score this time around.

Studied for about 5 weeks. Went through DIT once, Secrets once, Savarese and Combank x2. Otherwise relied on First Aid for Step 2, which is what I also used for all of my shelfs - I think this book is the best resource available, even for comlex.

Step 1: 546
Step 2: 706

Congrats to everyone & enjoy 4th year :-D !
 
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:scared: How often do batches com out?? I took mine 8/12 and am freaking out over here... felt like I was hit by an OMM truck after that thing...
 
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If anyone took the test today, do you mind giving your 2 cents about how it went? I have my test coming up soon and would appreciate any last minute advice. After skimming through the posts, it seems like biostats are hit hard on Step II. What should I focus on outside from reviewing the basics like sensitivity, specificity, etc?


Thanks in advance!
 
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tulipsss said:
If anyone took the test today, do you mind giving your 2 cents about how it went? I have my test coming up soon and would appreciate any last minute advice. After skimming through the posts, it seems like biostats are hit hard on Step II. What should I focus on outside from reviewing the basics like sensitivity, specificity, etc?


Thanks in advance!
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took mine earlier in the summer but it was really just the basics but requiring a deeper understanding of manipulating the concepts. i would have gotten them wrong even if i reviewed biostats again. came out with a >650 score so even if you get them wrong, oh well. may just be experimental like someone else said earlier.
 
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When do most people take comlex 2 PE? I was thinking of taking it January of my 3rd year but I will not have had IM yet. Do most people take it as 3rd years or early in their 4th yr? Thanks!
 
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You won't need IM for it. It's pretty basic DDx and treatments. I would take it mid/late third year in case you fail you can retake it before the match.
 
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Makati2008 said:
You won't need IM for it. It's pretty basic DDx and treatments. I would take it mid/late third year in case you fail you can retake it before the match.
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Thanks for the advice! Kind of feel like pushing it off till next summer but I know ill hate myself later for it. Only other thing is having to deal with philly weather in January. Could be nasty.
 
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Just took Level 2 yesterday after four weeks of dedicated study time and a week of EM. Prep was as such:

COMLEX Level 1: 518
COMSAE A (pre-test): 426
Savarese cover-to-cover (did this all the first week, specifically for my shelf exam)
First Aid for Step 2 cover-to-cover
COMBANK ~94% completed, overall score ~71% with an upward trend over the month
COMSAE B (post-test): 604

Hoping this translates to a solid improvement over Step 1. The test started out horribly, with a bunch of bizarre, vague, or obscure questions in the first section (there were like three or four different ophthalmology questions, random epidemiology memorization (most common reason for...), advanced management, etc.), so I'm hoping that was the experimental section. Fairly straightforward after that. Lots of OB/GYN, lots of OMM, a lot of vague images that don't help at all, haha.

In the meantime, just waiting for scores...
 
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Does any one have any info on when the next batch of scores will be released?
 
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My exam is in 2 weeks. I'm in a strange batch just having finished level 1 4 mos ago (accelerated 3-yr program, no rest for the wicked). Have done about 400 UWORLD q's thus far with an 82 average (thank you 13 years of practical hands-on PA experience!) Have just started COMBANK mostly for the OMM review but honestly the substandard questions are driving me nuts. Have done well on all shelf exams. Do I have to suffer through more COMBANK or should I just stick with UWORLD and review Savarese again?
Thanks
 
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Boysforlife said:
Does anyone know the best test to diagnose acute cholecystitis? Is it ultrasound or HIDA scan?
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Definitely US for cholelithiasis, cholecystitis...look for gallbladder wall thickening and possibly dilatation/obstruction of CBD. HIDA is a dynamic test for acalculous cholecystitis when the H&P and labs point to acute chole but the US is non-diagnostic.
 
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primadonna22274 said:
My exam is in 2 weeks. I'm in a strange batch just having finished level 1 4 mos ago (accelerated 3-yr program, no rest for the wicked). Have done about 400 UWORLD q's thus far with an 82 average (thank you 13 years of practical hands-on PA experience!) Have just started COMBANK mostly for the OMM review but honestly the substandard questions are driving me nuts. Have done well on all shelf exams. Do I have to suffer through more COMBANK or should I just stick with UWORLD and review Savarese again?
Thanks
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Do COMBANK, better feel for questions on COMLEX. And the same advise I have been given everyone: DO NOT NEGLECT OMM! It's somewhat tricker and more involved this time around!
 
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primadonna22274 said:
My exam is in 2 weeks. I'm in a strange batch just having finished level 1 4 mos ago (accelerated 3-yr program, no rest for the wicked). Have done about 400 UWORLD q's thus far with an 82 average (thank you 13 years of practical hands-on PA experience!) Have just started COMBANK mostly for the OMM review but honestly the substandard questions are driving me nuts. Have done well on all shelf exams. Do I have to suffer through more COMBANK or should I just stick with UWORLD and review Savarese again?
Thanks
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I focused on Uworld and just added on savarese and combank OMM Q's. I ended up blowing this test out of the water.

I think you should stick to the source you are learning the best from. If you are learning from Uworld stick to that no need for combank Q's.DO NOT neglect OMM easy points on the test, focus on cranial, sacral/ pelvic DX and viscerosomatics
 
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