400-500 on COMLEX level 1

[Darkskies]

Hi everyone,

I would really appreciate some replies as I definitely need some help.

I am scheduled to take my COMLEX level 1 exam in early August. I had actually been slacking off on my studying during May/June so I had to push back my exam to August. I know the 'slacking off' part sounds horrible but I've basically been going through some confidence issues that have/were really distracting me from my studies. I've always done well on standardized exams(high SATs, 32 MCAT) and I know the only thing that's keeping me from focusing as well as I should for the COMLEX are these recent psychological/confidence/life issues that I've been dealing with. Regardless, I don't have time to address these with a therapist or anyone since that would distract me from studying for the COMLEX and making sure I pass. I might look into seeking counseling after my exam when I have more free time. In the meantime I'm planning on just tuning it out and REALLY focusing on the COMLEX.

Since I have a limited time before my exam and since I'm not 100% sure I can mind block my confidence issues to the extent I need to in order to aim for a super high score, I'm just shooting to get in the 500s range and possibly even lower as long as I pass the exam(I still plan on taking the USMLE in early January as a 3rd year). My track record for med school has been high passes and honors all last year and even during 2nd year I was on track for honors/high passes in everything up until my confidence issues that hit towards the end of the semester and I ended up passing some classes I should have high passed.

Anyway, I've heard the highest yield subjects for the COMLEX are Micro, OMM, Pharm, and Path. Apparently, Neuro, Psych, and Reproductive are also very high yield in recent years. My best subject is Micro and right now, I'm studying all of the pharm drugs on First Aid for the next few days. I used to be good at the Pathology but since I haven't looked at some of it in a while, I'm beginning to forget some of the details. If I know, Micro(First Aid + Firecracker) , Pharm(all the drugs on First Aid), and OMM(Savarese + Kaplan OMM book) cold, am I pretty much guaranteed a pass? My scores on Comquest are usually in the 70%+ range but it really depends on what questions I get. How predictive is Comquest and how predictive is COMSAE? My second COMSAE score(25th of June) actually went down from my first COMSAE score back in May due to my issues with studying and that's what prompted me to switch my COMLEX exam to August.

I know that my issue with this test is all psychological but like I said, I don't have time to address that before I have to take my exam so I'm just shooting for a 500 and would be happy with just a PASS so if you would direct me to what subjects I need to know cold in the limited time I have to achieve this, I would IMMENSELY appreciate it. Also, for Neuro the First Aid chapter is rather disorganized so if someone could tell me what the high yield material I should focus on( is it just lesions and tracts?) for that subject, that would be great. Many thanks in advance!

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[ManBroDude]

I read savarese in the few days leading up to it yesterday and I felt it really helped a lot. 20% of the test is viscerosomatic stuff, so I would say that's definitely the highest yield subject. I had a lot of micro, but it wasn't obscure stuff like on the USMLE. Lots of head injuries. Pharm also straight forward.

Pound first aid and savarese into the ground between now and then, it's all in there.

 

[Darkskies]

I read savarese in the few days leading up to it yesterday and I felt it really helped a lot. 20% of the test is viscerosomatic stuff, so I would say that's definitely the highest yield subject. I had a lot of micro, but it wasn't obscure stuff like on the USMLE. Lots of head injuries. Pharm also straight forward.

Pound first aid and savarese into the ground between now and then, it's all in there.

Thanks for the reply! Would you say the exam is mostly heavy on Micro, OMM, Pharm, and Path? I know I should just know EVERYTHING but if I had to focus on high yield subjects to make sure I get a passing to average score, would knowing OMM, Pharm, and Micro cold be a good strategy? Other than that I was going to focus on Path and also thinking about being well versed in Neuro/Psych. Fortunately I'm solid on Micro. Is Neuro a high yield topic? First Aid Neuro, I don't think does a good job detailing the pathways and lesions(hemianopsias, medial lemniscus, dorsal columns, corticospinal tracts,etc.). What should I focus on for it?

Also does anyone know how to get rid of negative thoughts/pessimism and focus on positive outcomes like 'I'm going to do well since I enjoy this material and I've always done well on standardized exams based on my track record' instead of thinking 'I'm going to do poorly because of....(self-esteem issues I don't want to list here)'?

 

[Darkskies]

Anyone else? I would really appreciate more advice and answers to my questions particularly what the high yield COMLEX subjects are that if I know cold, I'm guaranteed to pass/do average on the COMLEX.

 

[NeuroLAX]

Anyone else? I would really appreciate more advice and answers to my questions particularly what the high yield COMLEX subjects are that if I know cold, I'm guaranteed to pass/do average on the COMLEX.

Read through some of the reviews on the COMLEX thread. I think someone mentioned OPP, Micro, Pharm, Neuro, and Repro being the highest yield topics.

 

[Darkskies]

Read through some of the reviews on the COMLEX thread. I think someone mentioned OPP, Micro, Pharm, Neuro, and Repro being the highest yield topics.

Thanks for the reply! Does anyone know a good source for studying Neuro? The First Aid Neuro chapter is disorganized.