Benefit of redoing UW after doing all the questions.

[Knicks]

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So those of you who have completed all of the UW questions and re-did them, do you feel there was any benefit from redoing them?

Did you get the questions right only because you were "already familiar" with the question ("remembered" answering the question before)?

or

Was there any benefit? Please elaborate.


Thanks.

 

[str8flexed]

I am going to re-do it. I redid some previous questions accidentally, or just "reviewed" old tests, and in addition to reaffirming what I know, there are always some things I forgot. Thinking through the mechanisms or reasoning is key.

 

[ucsfstudents]

Redoing the questions you missed is a good use of your time. Studies shows that there is a positive correlation between USMLE score and the number of questions you do.

 

[Captopril]

a friend of mine did UW x 3, and that's it. No FA, no RR, etc. He just took the test a week or so ago, so don't know how it turned out.

 

[doogoshly]

going over missed and marked qs would be beneficial. otherwise, i don't see the point in going over questions with answers you already know.

 

[Captopril]

going over missed and marked qs would be beneficial. otherwise, i don't see the point in going over questions with answers you already know.

I guess it reinforces the point. I don't get how people do UW x 1. Are they able to remember stuff by just seeing it once? That is ludicrous.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

I know it's a thread hijack ... but here it goes ...

For USMLE, would this sound like a good plan? I just took my COMLEX and I think I will take the USMLE now ...

2 months:
1st month: UW timed random, FA and Goljan only to supplement what I dont understand (and what I miss)
2nd month: DIT + UW (hopefully be done and I'll be repeating it), FA, and Goljan only to supp
Take exam

How's this sound? I'll be on rotations as well so hence the 2 months ...

 

[doogoshly]

I guess it reinforces the point. I don't get how people do UW x 1. Are they able to remember stuff by just seeing it once? That is ludicrous.

i figure if i got it right the first time, it's ingrained in my brain so i don't need to worry about it. it's more when i get things wrong that i'd be concerned.

 

[OmegaRed]

I understand why many people would think it is a waste of time doing questions over again, including the ones you got right. Nevertheless, the repetition is invaluable. Those that thinks they'll remember all 2000+ questions a 2nd time through may be overestimating their abilities. Just having to go through the thought process of used questions is a good review IMO. I definitely saw at least 10 questions that were nearly carbon copies of questions I'd just done on UW.

Although I got 14 points lower than my highest score on UW practice test, I'm comfortable with my score and I would definitely recommend doing UW a second time if you have the time.

240/99

 

[KYMedGuy2011]

I thought re-doing questions I had gotten wrong previously was invaluable - especially since UW allows you to tailor the questions to specific fields/areas you may be weakest in. Obviously there are questions you may recall the answer for after reading the first few words of the stem from strict memorization, but even that's okay as long as you're also memorizing the principle. There were also several questions I missed a second time when I went back through them, and those were the ones most worth doing in my opinion since the principles seemed to finally stick in most cases after seeing how/why my reasoning was flawed 2 times instead of 1.

I'd also recommend marking questions from the start. There were a lot of questions for which I got the right answer by guessing or in spite of not using the right principle/concept in my thinking. I felt like seeing those questions a second time was most helpful and I actually made sure I got through all of my marked questions (wrong and right) before I tried to get through all of my wrong questions a 2nd time.

 

[The Dark Knight]

How far before the actual test day did you guys start using UW?

 

[braluk]

How far before the actual test day did you guys start using UW?

I'd start with UW as soon as possible, and use it as a study alongside FA/Kaplan MedEssential review. Otherwise, 1-2 months before the real deal so you have enough spread time to finish it at least once and enough room to redo missed questions and such.

 

[DrMike24]

I thought re-doing questions I had gotten wrong previously was invaluable - especially since UW allows you to tailor the questions to specific fields/areas you may be weakest in. Obviously there are questions you may recall the answer for after reading the first few words of the stem from strict memorization, but even that's okay as long as you're also memorizing the principle. There were also several questions I missed a second time when I went back through them, and those were the ones most worth doing in my opinion since the principles seemed to finally stick in most cases after seeing how/why my reasoning was flawed 2 times instead of 1.

I'd also recommend marking questions from the start. There were a lot of questions for which I got the right answer by guessing or in spite of not using the right principle/concept in my thinking. I felt like seeing those questions a second time was most helpful and I actually made sure I got through all of my marked questions (wrong and right) before I tried to get through all of my wrong questions a 2nd time.

Both recommendations in this post are excellent advice. Definitely make sure to redo all of the questions you got wrong, and keep doing them until 1) you get them right, and most importantly, 2) understand WHY you got them wrong. This means reading the explanation thoroughly, and looking it up in your other resources, etc, until you can understand WHY you got them wrong. I thought some of my best breakthroughs in understanding challenging topics were a result of this.

 

[The Dark Knight]

I'd start with UW as soon as possible, and use it as a study alongside FA/Kaplan MedEssential review. Otherwise, 1-2 months before the real deal so you have enough spread time to finish it at least once and enough room to redo missed questions and such.

Thanks. Would 7 months before the test be too early? OR is a good idea to just start off your 2nd year with it?

 

[braluk]

Thanks. Would 7 months before the test be too early? OR is a good idea to just start off your 2nd year with it?

My only problem with starting so early with it is using up all the questions that you should be saving for the boards. If you intend on using a qbank to help study for classes in lieu of boards I'd go with Kaplan Qbank and save USMLEWorld for the real deal.

 

[Captopril]

a friend of mine did UW x 3, and that's it. No FA, no RR, etc. He just took the test a week or so ago, so don't know how it turned out.

Update on my buddy who did UW x 3 and nothing else: his score report came in this morning.

253/99.

He reiterated to me over and over "(UW x 3) + (Qbank x 1) = 240+"

 

[kryptik]

Update on my buddy who did UW x 3 and nothing else: his score report came in this morning.

253/99.

He reiterated to me over and over "(UW x 3) + (Qbank x 1) = 240+"

nice score, your buddy could have been a genius so only needed to do questions to be ready for step I, I dont think doing UW X 3 and qbank only will be enough for an average student

 

[Captopril]

nice score, your buddy could have been a genius so only needed to do questions to be ready for step I, I dont think doing UW X 3 and qbank only will be enough for an average student

Well he was a classmate, and we went to school overseas (Pakistan)...he was a hard worker, not necessarily a genius, but definitely put the hours in. Don't know how much that factors in though, considering we finished our basic sciences back in 2006 and he gave the test 3 weeks ago.

I agree though, I definitely don't think UW alone would be sufficient for me. Just throwing the idea, and the fact that it's been done, out there.