Big Frank, Idio, anyone(911)

[mjl1717]

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I just got back my score -180/74
What should I do?

This is how I prepared :
Took Kaplan
Did Goljans audio and pathology review book
Did Path and Pathophysio Pre test
Pharm Recall
Read thru First Aid Did HY Neuro,Gross ,Molecular, BEhavioral, Micro
Qbank.

What do you recommend?
Should I go and ask for a recount?
My weakest (with the asterisk) were B.S.,General Principles, (thought I was good at this) genetics,musculoskeletal,Pharm(that was a surprise) Physio,
renal(not surprised)

On the day of the exam I had gotten a lot of sleep and I immediately did 250 qs straight no breaks , then ate a small sandwich, half a bannana and some juice then did the last 100 qs!

Help!

 

[IlianaSedai]

I didn't do nearly as well on Step 1 as bigfrank (haha, go me), but I think it's hard to tell what you should do without more information. Have you looked at the inside of your score report? What does it say you did well in, and what does it say you were weak in?

And, was there anything about your testing experience (the day of the test) that you would change?

 

[mjl1717]

Anybody else want to chime in?

 

[barone ROCKS]

what were your qbank numbers and nbme?...maybe they can shed some light on your situation

 

[lindyloohoo]

One of the things I found most helpful was the BSS books. The questions are not like what's on the real thing, but the answers are great. They give you the explanation behind why. It gets you to think through the questions. This will help you with other questions on the same topic.

I thought qbank sucked. If I had to do it all over again, I'd ditch it. I'm already not planning on getting it for step 2.

Another thing I did was use Step Up because it wasn't so fragmented, like FA. Do questions, bunches of them! Learn why you get them wrong and why you get them right!! Good luck.

 

[mjl1717]

I may not be a good test taker:
Eventually got in the 70's on the Q bank.
And on test 1 and test 2 got the same a scary 380 on the NBME self assesment.

 

[barone ROCKS]

sorry

 

[14022]

isnt a 182 passing???

If you did fail, I would not request a recount. If they recount and find out you actually got a 185, that means you passed, but it will not make you very competitive for residency. I think it would be in your best interest to study your ass off and try to get mean on the exam. I think a residency program would look more favorably upon you with a 220 on your second time rather than a 185 your second time.

My advice, learn BRS path and phys, first aid, and step up the best you can. Do as many questions as possible. Good luck.

 

[mjl1717]

Unless their is some New earth shattering news or thats in jest-All I know is that 182 is passing with or without "the standard error of the measurement"

 

[daisygirl]

http://www.usmle.org/news/newsstep1pass.htm

182 is the passing score. Does anyone else hate the usmle website as much as me? It took me like 10 minutes to find that damn link.

To the OP- I'm really sorry to hear about your situation. That f'n sucks. I really cannot give any advice since I have not taken step one yet. What I have seen over and over again though in threads where advice was given b/c of failing step one is that there seems to be a consensus about working your arse off studying your weak spots (according to the score report). Makes sense when you think about it. Devote plenty of time to your weak spots and then as your test date looms closer, start going over what you did do well in.

I wish you much luck and try not to be too hard on yourself- a certain percentage of people fail this beast every year. Another thing to keep in mind is that you failed by a 'thread', which (although that really f'n sucks) is still better than failing by a substantial amount.

 

[14022]

I think a residency program would look more favorably upon you with a 220 on your second time rather than a 185 your second time.

Excuse me. I meant 220 the second time is better than 185 the first time.

 

[mjl1717]

Barone that was helpful PM-Thx

 

[bigfrank]

I just got back my score -180/74
What should I do?

This is how I prepared :
Took Kaplan
Did Goljans audio and pathology review book
Did Path and Pathophysio Pre test
Pharm Recall
Read thru First Aid Did HY Neuro,Gross ,Molecular, BEhavioral, Micro
Qbank.

What do you recommend?
Should I go and ask for a recount?
My weakest (with the asterisk) were B.S.,General Principles, (thought I was good at this) genetics,musculoskeletal,Pharm(that was a surprise) Physio,
renal(not surprised)

On the day of the exam I had gotten a lot of sleep and I immediately did 250 qs straight no breaks , then ate a small sandwich, half a bannana and some juice then did the last 100 qs!

Help!

1. Take your breaks during the exam!!!! I took one after EVERY block, and I loved that. No one can have that kind of stamina and still do their BEST.
2. Focus more on First Aid -- try and memorize it. Make notes in it, make learning ACTIVE. Especially know its Biochem, Pharm, and Micro sections.
3. Know BRS Path well.
4. Know BRS Physiology -- and integrate it pathophysiologically w/ BRS Path.

I think this approach ("less is more") is probably the best thing to do for you, as it will certainly throw you well over into the comfortably passing range.

I wouldn't focus too much on the breakdown of your score. It's hard to know what they call what, you know.

I am sorry for your score, but this is a good chance to really get it back up there!!!

Best wishes,

 

[Idiopathic]

Having worked with you on other sites, I am absolutely blown away and have no comment. I assume that English may be your second language? Perhaps, as I have suspected for a long time, students of non-English descent have a harder time with the test? Maybe I am wrong. Ultimately, whatever the reason, I think you probably just tested poorly on that day. I am fairly confident that all the material is there, just perhaps not as ordered as you would like? I honestly feel sick to my stomach thinking about how close you were. I think you should just continue to review your books, they are all quality, and try to work up the strength to go through FA, Qbank, etc. again. Really a bummer. I am very sorry.

 

[jakstat33]

i remember a friend telling me about studies that have done comparing student performance on standardized exams with english as 1st language v. 2nd language; there does seem to be something there... does anyone know more about this?

Having worked with you on other sites, I am absolutely blown away and have no comment. I assume that English may be your second language? Perhaps, as I have suspected for a long time, students of non-English descent have a harder time with the test? Maybe I am wrong. Ultimately, whatever the reason, I think you probably just tested poorly on that day. I am fairly confident that all the material is there, just perhaps not as ordered as you would like? I honestly feel sick to my stomach thinking about how close you were. I think you should just continue to review your books, they are all quality, and try to work up the strength to go through FA, Qbank, etc. again. Really a bummer. I am very sorry.

 

[mjl1717]

Having worked with you on other sites, I am absolutely blown away and have no comment. I assume that English may be your second language? Perhaps, as I have suspected for a long time, students of non-English descent have a harder time with the test? Maybe I am wrong. Ultimately, whatever the reason, I think you probably just tested poorly on that day. I am fairly confident that all the material is there, just perhaps not as ordered as you would like? I honestly feel sick to my stomach thinking about how close you were. I think you should just continue to review your books, they are all quality, and try to work up the strength to go through FA, Qbank, etc. again. Really a bummer. I am very sorry.

English is not my second language. Im out of Brooklyn.
As you said I probably tested poorly on that day, also having the info very
orderly is helpful.
Also jakstat- I do not know of studies comparing those who have English as
a second language to those who do not have English as a second language.
[USMLE or ECFMG would know more about that]

 

[Cristagali]

That score really sucks, but I agree, that maybe a 74 is much better than a 75, because at least you get a second chance now that you've actually seen the real deal and go back and add 10 or 15 points to that first score. But i strongly suggest you pay very close attention to that NBME score. I'm not sure you can retake it again with the same effect, but a score of 380 should have sent Red flags up big time!! I'm a few weeks away from my step 1, and I'm more scared of taking the NBME practice than the real thing, because it can really sh#@ all over my strategy and plans! Good luck in round 2! 😎

 

[mjl1717]

Is their and more good advice during this perilous time??
But I would say this.-Seems like one probably needs a 400 on the NBME
self assement to pass. Even though thats 1 S.D. on the self assesment and
on the actual exam they give you approximately 1.5 S.D. to pass.

 

[roady]

I am so sorry about the news. I am in virtually the same situation, NBME wise...Hrrmmphh!!! 😡

What to do? Start again, go hard and long.

Goljan's also from Brooklyn. Have you given him a try? After listening to his stuff, when I go back to Qbank it's like I hear his voice in my head giving me all the answers--because he goes over so much hi-yield stuff...

Feel free to PM me about Goljan, who's stuff I have, and getting my Qbank after early August (I still have a month & a week left on it thereafter) if you wish. This reply is not, though, about trying to sell you something when you're down and out. I just feel bad for what's happened, and I think it's worse because it was so incredibly close. I mean, what's 2 points anyway!? A bad burrito or something between passing and this...!? 😱

Hang in--in the long, long, long run, this will be just another chapter in medical education you will look back upon and sigh (someday, not now obviously). Easy for me to say, and I know you probably don't feel that way now.

I think you're incredibly brave if you can pick it all up and start over again. I am behind you 100%.
😍 😍 😍

 

[vinoyp]

English is not my second language. Im out of Brooklyn.

 

[mjl1717]

Update:
Will possibly go to Philly and recheck that score. Mistakes and miracles can happen.
Went to Barnes/Noble at 5th ave and 18th (the main one in Manhattan)-and
saw that Pathophysiology for the Boards and ward was Sold Out![Didnt realize it was in such high demand] but I did add those Robbins qs to my arsenal. I also added Microcards, Appleton &Lange Psyche q book, and Cecils IM q book for Step2. Harrisons IM q book was sold out. I hear a new one is comming out this summer. I also bought a easy reading book which I may not have time to read "Sexual Healing" and a Barnes and Noble t-shirt to keep my sanity and to attempt to be normotensive.

Any last thoughts??

 

[kinetic]

English is not my second language. Im out of Brooklyn.

That really doesn't settle anything. 😀

P.S. Way to make him feel good, guys. You're telling him that the only people who don't pass AND pass 50 points above the mean are people who can't speak English.

 

[mjl1717]

Just got back from Philly. They do not allow you to see your test or check the answers or scoring .
But for $55.00 dollars they [NBME] will do their own score recheck.
Ill just start studying again. [Anyone in the Nasau County area who wants to go over HiYield info send me an email or P.M. Thx guys and gals.

 

[roady]

Hi mjl1717,

Have you heard anything about this "Michigan program"? When people flunk the USMLE at my school, that's where they go. Except I can't remember the name exactly... It's a 4 week course though, and supposed to be extra good for those who missed by about 12 points or less.

I bet this program will charge a lot--but it might help you put your foot through this test's a$$--which would be priceless, I think.

OK. Since I heard the program was really good, I thought I would tell you.

GOOD LUCK mjl1717! 😍