Am I on the right track (Step 1 prep)? Thanks

[073116]

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I'm currently at 33% on Kaplan Diagnostic (150 questions and did not prepare for it) and 32% UW (200 questions so far). Prepping for exam in late June 2018. School is still 4 months to go (1.5 semesters) to finish Pathology, Micro, Pharm etc. I'm doing around 20 UW questions a day and 3-5 pages of FA. Will incorporate Pathoma/Goljan and maybe some Picmonic videos. I'm thinking approach 6 week dedicated study time in May with around 45-50% on UW and 1st pass of FA. Then up it up to 65-70% UW during 6 weeks dedicated study time and finish 2nd pass of FA - which should yield descent score (all I'm aiming is at 220+ really)
Does this sound about right? Trying to gauge to not fall behind or screw something up

 

[IntheClouds4ever]

Throw Anki in for the classic presentations, lab findings, treatments, and key associations from the back of FA. Extremely high yield and doesn’t take long to master those. It’ll give you a good base to build the mechanics behind “why” for multiple order questions

 

[JohnnyTwoShoes]

You have a lot of time still! I think you are on track. Make sure to finish all the UWorld questions and read the answers! Make a calendar that ensures you can complete them all in time. For other resources, google StudyBuddyMD. This website has student recommended books and other resources to help study for various courses and the step exams, and students rank them based on how helpful. The site is new, but more content is added each day. It might help you find another resource if you're feeling weak in an area, but overall, sounds like you are on track!

 

[Rekt]

Throw Anki in for the classic presentations, lab findings, treatments, and key associations from the back of FA. Extremely high yield and doesn’t take long to master those. It’ll give you a good base to build the mechanics behind “why” for multiple order questions

The part of the book is useless. If you think you're getting typical presentations on your exam you're in for a bad time.

 

[Who Knows!]

I know step studying is a try struggle, keep your head high and stay motivated as much as you can. It seems like you are on the right path. There are a few things I did when I first started that I didn't gain much out of. I was doing first aid but it was taking me to long to read through. Nothing is explained in first aid so I don't think it is a good place to start. I highly recommend running through all of pathoma first. About 40 % of the test is pathology, if you know pathoma (like really know, especially first 5 chapters) you have 40 % of the test down. Next , watch sketchy micro and pharm. Start now if you haven't started. Just do a little bit everyday while reviewing ones you went over previously. After doing a few sketchy videos in the morning and pathoma, add a block of uWorld in. You want to be done with first pass of uworld before dedicated(timed and random). Annotate into first aid (this is your first pass of first aid). At the end of each night draw out and memorize a biochem pathway, it literally takes 15 minutes and scored me tons of points on actual test day. Each day refresh your mind on previous pathways by drawing them out too. Come dedicated spend 2 weeks reading through first aid again (2nd pass), then do uworld again (2nd pass). Make sure to do all nbme exams and UWSA. This is what worked for me but everyone is different. Best of Luck.
step: 244

 

[PracticeAdmin]

Looks like you are on the right path. I would suggest adding Combank and increase the number of questions per day to 100 so you have enough time to complete a second pass on UWorld and Combank.

 

[073116]

Looks like you are on the right path. I would suggest adding Combank and increase the number of questions per day to 100 so you have enough time to complete a second pass on UWorld and Combank.

I would love to increase it up to 100 questions per day, as I also agree with you that 2nd pass would be beneficial to hammer down those questions I got wrong on first pass. However, I have hard time wrapping my head around available time - I still have to pass my current weekly exams and realistically 100 questions will probably require at least 2 hours to answer - even that with only reading correct answer and moving on (not even reading other choices and explanations).
I always wondered if you guys recommend to only read correct answers and move on, because otherwise it will take even more than 2 hours per day (probably more like 3-4 hours to read all answer choices). I'm scratching my head thinking where to find extra time. How did others do it?!

 

[68PGunner]

I would love to increase it up to 100 questions per day, as I also agree with you that 2nd pass would be beneficial to hammer down those questions I got wrong on first pass. However, I have hard time wrapping my head around available time - I still have to pass my current weekly exams and realistically 100 questions will probably require at least 2 hours to answer - even that with only reading correct answer and moving on (not even reading other choices and explanations).
I always wondered if you guys recommend to only read correct answers and move on, because otherwise it will take even more than 2 hours per day (probably more like 3-4 hours to read all answer choices). I'm scratching my head thinking where to find extra time. How did others do it?!

Don’t know about 100 quests a day but 80 quests/day in doable if you primarily focus on board prep 100% of the time. That’s how I’m doing it.

 

[073116]

Don’t know about 100 quests a day but 80 quests/day in doable if you primarily focus on board prep 100% of the time. That’s how I’m doing it.

How much time you dedicate to that and to your current MSII regular exams and study? How much time is ideal for sleep to still retain information? I can sleep 4 hours, but I doubt I will benefit from it in the long run

 

[PracticeAdmin]

I agree that the 100 per day is a challenging goal, however if you coordinate the question bank topic areas with your current MSII modules, it will have a beneficial effect of reinforcing your knowledge of the current module and make best use of your time. This is why it makes sense to start your prep earlier rather than later.

 

[68PGunner]

How much time you dedicate to that and to your current MSII regular exams and study? How much time is ideal for sleep to still retain information? I can sleep 4 hours, but I doubt I will benefit from it in the long run

I punted a few selective lectures that I knew that were straight up bs. I 2.5-3.x speed all physiology lectures bc the Zanki deck covers every pertinent physiology portion and more. I 1.6-1.8 speed pathology and disease diagnosis/management lectures by clinicians. I also don't go to a few mandatory in class bonus pts lectures per block bc I realize that I'm not in risk of failing any classes despite my routines.

Anyway, to kill two birds w/ one stone, I literally study board prep materials for every lectures by suspending all cards for that block and then un-suspending relevant cards by going through the search button on Anki.

Overall, I spend on average maybe 2-3 hrs on regular class lectures and maybe like 7-8 hrs on board prep materials.

In term of lifestyle management, I do get copious amount of exercise, sex, and about 7-9 hrs of sleep everyday.

 

[IslandStyle808]

I agree that the 100 per day is a challenging goal, however if you coordinate the question bank topic areas with your current MSII modules, it will have a beneficial effect of reinforcing your knowledge of the current module and make best use of your time. This is why it makes sense to start your prep earlier rather than later.

This depends on the bank. If it were the likes of USMLErx or Kaplan which have a lot subject oriented questions, then yes you are correct. However, with banks like Uworld where a lot of questions can be multi-system, then it would be more beneficial to push it back as far as you can.

I really wanted to start Uworld at the beginning of year 2. However, after hearing the mutli-system nature of this Qbank, I decided on starting it 6 months out. The most benefit from the bank would be doing it after all the blocks are done. However, you would miss the benefit of doing it twice. So 6 months for me was the happy median.

 

[68PGunner]

This depends on the bank. If it were the likes of USMLErx or Kaplan which have a lot subject oriented questions, then yes you are correct. However, with banks like Uworld where a lot of questions can be multi-system, then it would be more beneficial to push it back as far as you can.

I really wanted to start Uworld at the beginning of year 2. However, after hearing the mutli-system nature of this Qbank, I decided on starting it 6 months out. The most benefit from the bank would be doing it after all the blocks are done. However, you would miss the benefit of doing it twice. So 6 months for me was the happy median.

I have thought about this. However, Uworld is really a great learning tool. I thought it was bs at first until I started doing the quests recently. If you really want to test your progress, I would recommend doing timed, random mode for your 2nd pass along w/ online NBMEs.

BTW, Uworld quests incorporating multiple systems theme is fake news. If you peruse the answers before reading the quest, 8/10 you can already locate the organ issue.

 

[IslandStyle808]

I have thought about this. However, Uworld is really a great learning tool. I thought it was bs at first until I started doing the quests recently. If you really want to test your progress, I would recommend doing timed, random mode for your 2nd pass along w/ online NBMEs.

BTW, Uworld quests incorporating multiple systems theme is fake news. If you peruse the answers before reading the quest, 8/10 you can already locate the organ issue.

Fair point, seems to be hounded on here that it has a multi-system approach. I knew it was a learning tool, but wasn't sure at what starting point I would get the maximum out of it.

 

[NecrotizingFasciitis]

Question to everybody that is involved in this thread: how do you transition from MS-I studying (basically focusing entirely on material presented in class) to MS-II studying (focusing primarily on board prep materials.) It seems like a huge leap to someone like me who has very little exposure to Step study strategies and things like that. With the amount of potential resources there are too, it's very intimidating.

 

[Carbon090]

I have thought about this. However, Uworld is really a great learning tool. I thought it was bs at first until I started doing the quests recently. If you really want to test your progress, I would recommend doing timed, random mode for your 2nd pass along w/ online NBMEs.

BTW, Uworld quests incorporating multiple systems theme is fake news. If you peruse the answers before reading the quest, 8/10 you can already locate the organ issue.

This ^ I'm already 20% deep into UWorld questions (Began late December). I do multiple systems and can almost immediately tell what system the question is indicating.

I'm doing exactly as you said. 2nd pass will be timed and random with the online NBMEs. Right now I'm doing untimed and using it as a mix of assessing myself and learning.

 

[Staphylococcus Aureus]

Can anyone translate the percentiles of Kaplan diagnostic OP took?