Advice please- one week left for exam

[MDbear]

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This is the short summary of what I have done:

Reviews with Kaplan in January- ended around May ...did a few videos
NBME 7 before starting DIT: 212
Finished UW- 60%
DIT 2 weeks- finished and took UWA1
1 week ago UWA1 - 232
NBME 12: <200(demoralized🙁) went over it...questions were indeed tricky more like testing taking skills than concepts- some were silly mistakes I made ofcourse.

I have one week left. I was going to postpone exam but I am starting to get burned out =( not a good feeling so I decided to keep it.
I am not aiming for a 99- Im more like a 91-92 person🙂

I decided to go through FA again- especially working on week areas based on NBME.
As you can imagine NBME 12 brought my energy and confidence down ( I was warned it was hard) now I am torn if I should do another NBME this week before my test? NBME 5 or 6 maybe? or should I just study and focus on FA and do the 150 free questions offered.
Please someone give me advice!
Thank you!

 

[winkleweizen]

This is the short summary of what I have done:

Reviews with Kaplan in January- ended around May ...did a few videos
NBME 7 before starting DIT: 212
Finished UW- 60%
DIT 2 weeks- finished and took UWA1
1 week ago UWA1 - 232
NBME 12: 216 (demoralized🙁) went over it...questions were indeed tricky more like testing taking skills than concepts- some were silly mistakes I made ofcourse.

I have one week left. I was going to postpone exam but I am starting to get burned out =( not a good feeling so I decided to keep it.
I am not aiming for a 99- Im more like a 91-92 person🙂

I decided to go through FA again- especially working on week areas based on NBME.
As you can imagine NBME 12 brought my energy and confidence down ( I was warned it was hard) now I am torn if I should do another NBME this week before my test? NBME 5 or 6 maybe? or should I just study and focus on FA and do the 150 free questions offered.
Please someone give me advice!
Thank you!

I think what most ppl would tell you to do ...if the results of your NBME could possibly cause you to move your test back then take it.....if not, iI think your 5 hours would be better spent doing UW questions and FA

 

[MDbear]

Thank you for the advice. I really appreciate your reply. I hear what you are saying about taking another NBME.
I have been feeling down for the past 2 days going back and forth on what to do since I took NBME 12. Was not expecting such a low...

After considering everything- talking to my family and friends ...I've decided to just focus on FA and do uw questions and take the exam in a week.
Wish me luck! I need to build up confidence again and stay focused.
Thank you again! I will come back after all this is DONE! 🙂

 

[ar2388]

good luck! i took NBME 12 4 days before my exam and that was horrible.. i got the same exact score on that that i got on NBME 11 that i took a week before. dont let it get you down too much! if you had more time, i owuld say do the free 150 for a nice confidence boost 🙂

 

[teacozy88]

where can i find the free 150 qs?

 

[medstar21]

where can i find the free 150 qs?

I haven't checked it out yet, but I believe this is where you can get it. Someone correct me if this isn't it.

http://www.usmle.org/Orientation/2011/Menu.html

 

[teacozy88]

thanks medstar21!

 

[pardonme]

reposted in new thread

 

[MDbear]

good luck! i took NBME 12 4 days before my exam and that was horrible.. i got the same exact score on that that i got on NBME 11 that i took a week before. dont let it get you down too much! if you had more time, i owuld say do the free 150 for a nice confidence boost 🙂

Thank you for suggesting to do the 150 free uw questions instead. I saved myself the anxiety of getting another NBME "grade"

I actually got a repeat question from the free 150 and NBME 7..
After my score on 12 I just read FA again a second time and revised my questions from NBME 7 and 12

I can't change what I have done already, but if I could..I would have probably taken NBME earlier to know what type of questions they ask...
THEY ASK THE SAAAAME concepts..
after a while either you know or you don't haha

I think staying positive and confident is 50% of the battle as well. I could probably have read FA 2 more times and still made the same silly mistakes.

Anyways- will post my experience soon. Just wanted to say thanks for the recommendation on FA and free 150 =)

I'm glad its over!🙂

 

[MDbear]

Score: 226/97 🙂

I cant believe it! At one point I was not going to take the USMLE this year as you can see from above post. I was starting to burn out and freak out after NBME 12 score, but I am glad I stuck with it. I was not shooting for the stars! Interested in IM. However, I did want to score above average-break 220- that was my goal!

Just a side note-story I would like to share...
About 4 years ago when I posted my MCAT score (below avg) someone in a forum told me to give up. Ofcourse I didn't listen hehe-I obviously got in. I did above average in medical school and almost honored at some point! I worked my hiney off- did research- was a bit human at times-lets just say that I tried to be well rounded.

Bottom line is no one can predict what you are going to do in life. NO ONE! Be happy you did the best you could and keep working hard- we have a long road ahead and it doesn't end here.

Thank you guys for all the support!
Congratulations everyone! 😉

Let the fun begin for Step 2😱

 

[raingirl]

Congrats MDBear!! Your post is awesome, very motivating!!