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Anyone taken the COMLEX this year and want to comment on it? What are they emphasizing this time around? What was your preparation(UWORLD, COMSAE, Kaplan,USMLERx, etc.) and how did it compare?
I think i had the same test as the others who took it yesterday. Dead on with what was on it. I got screwed on the viscero-somatic stuff, I didn't take the time to look at those beforehand. I swear there were like 10 of those things where you had to choose what dermatome/tenderpoint level. 3 or 4 blood supply things to the brain/spinal chord, a couple lesions/syndromes too. 3 EKGs like above, about 10 micro questions it seemed had the same bug options (Listeria, Staph, Strep, NG), kid meningitis. FA was good for Micro. Rectal prolapse parasite, some Gyn micro. The micro pictures except for 1 or 2where terrible, head CT's with bleeds were pretty good though, and plentiful. A few extremity nerve questions, spinal level nerve injuries, 4 or 5 Calcium/Vit D/PTH Q's, 4 or 5 sacral dysfunction questions. Some weird old counterstrain points like listed above, I still have no clue. Like 2 or 3 murmur questions. A couple platelet factor questions, 2 biochem q's, no REAL math, a couple cranial questions on Dx what you would use it for, contraindications of OMM in a pregnant woman that has certain problems, scoliosis q, low back pain all over the place, regular type 2 dysfunction q's, ovarian cancer stuff & others, ended with plenty of time left. That's all I can remember. I was ticked about the several questions for 1 situation, especially if I didn't know what it was! Every time you get to question 35 or so, there are a few of those.
Basically, if I were to retake the same exam I would have focused on dermatome/chapman's, skim savarese, Micro most commons in young adults & peds, Pharm cards (psych, seizure meds), Musculoskeletal/neuro/anatomy basics. However, that's where I felt I was deficient, and it's possible they could be choosing 1 exam for that day and changing it up. Seems some of the above from days before weren't exactly like ours, but close. Good luck!
that was a miserable exam.
I took the usmle on tuesday and walked out thinking, "not that bad..."
taking the comPlex was like pulling teeth for 8 hours (6 really, I couldn't stand it and blew through it)
at least for me... I felt like I had a lot of really hard to answer questions. It's rare to see answer choices on one of these exams that you've never heard of.
I had at least a handful of those.
OMM physical exam tests that I had never heard of in school or in savarese.
about 10Q on PID, 5 on chlamydia, 5 on neisseria, maybe 3 biochem questions.
MOA on psych drugs that you wouldn't usually study very intensely.
Hi guys,
Thanks for your input so far.
I'm also taking the USMLE, and preparing for the neuro pt using HY neuro since I figure that'll help with the comlex too -- my question is, how long do i need to cram in Saverese/OMM? 2 days? 3 days?
Thanks
it wouldn't hurt to review esoteric anatomy prior to the comlex as well
that was a miserable exam.
I took the usmle on tuesday and walked out thinking, "not that bad..."
taking the comPlex was like pulling teeth for 8 hours (6 really, I couldn't stand it and blew through it)
at least for me... I felt like I had a lot of really hard to answer questions. It's rare to see answer choices on one of these exams that you've never heard of.
I had at least a handful of those.
OMM physical exam tests that I had never heard of in school or in savarese.
about 10Q on PID, 5 on chlamydia, 5 on neisseria, maybe 3 biochem questions.
MOA on psych drugs that you wouldn't usually study very intensely.
I have to agree with all you guys on this. I've spoken to a number of friends, who just took the exam this week and we all felt we had a bunch of things we've never heard of before. Maybe it's that we're just so tired by the end of the day, but it seemed to be for us that most of these questions of things we've never heard of we're focused mostly in the 8th block of the exam. Anyone else feel the same way? I was thinking maybe the 8th block is where they stick the experimental questions?that was a miserable exam.
I took the usmle on tuesday and walked out thinking, "not that bad..."
taking the comPlex was like pulling teeth for 8 hours (6 really, I couldn't stand it and blew through it)
at least for me... I felt like I had a lot of really hard to answer questions. It's rare to see answer choices on one of these exams that you've never heard of.
I had at least a handful of those.
OMM physical exam tests that I had never heard of in school or in savarese.
about 10Q on PID, 5 on chlamydia, 5 on neisseria, maybe 3 biochem questions.
MOA on psych drugs that you wouldn't usually study very intensely.
Hearing other people had similar experiences to me makes me feel a little better I guess. The majority of the people taking this test do pass, right? I had questions on counterstrain tenderpoints I have NEVER heard of before after 2 years of OMM at NYCOM and reading the entire Savarese book. I felt some of the behavioral questions you really needed some clinical experience for - I read the entire HY behavioral and still had questions that I had no clue what to do. The annoying thing was, I felt that no matter how much I would have studied, I still would get these questions wrong. 😕I took this test yesterday and one of my answers was "building related illness" if that dosen't say it all I don't know what does. I don't know how any one did well on this exam yesterday. A bunch of took this pile of crap and we all agreed "what the hell was that." The first two blocks were flat out simple, 3 not so bad than disaster struck. Pt comes with stomach ache what do they have? You can't be serious. Spelling errors, i think incorrect images (a alledged reed sternberg that looked like cmv or something), answers like "athlete's heart" What in the flying f&*() is athlete's heart? This test was hard because it was about the most random crap ever, the answers took absolutely no thinking you either knew every OMM disease and every single anatomy vessel and innervation and origin or you didn't. Hopefully most people did not because I certainly didn't.
I took this test yesterday and one of my answers was "building related illness" if that dosen't say it all I don't know what does. I don't know how any one did well on this exam yesterday. A bunch of took this pile of crap and we all agreed "what the hell was that." The first two blocks were flat out simple, 3 not so bad than disaster struck. Pt comes with stomach ache what do they have? You can't be serious. Spelling errors, i think incorrect images (a alledged reed sternberg that looked like cmv or something), answers like "athlete's heart" What in the flying f&*() is athlete's heart? This test was hard because it was about the most random crap ever, the answers took absolutely no thinking you either knew every OMM disease and every single anatomy vessel and innervation and origin or you didn't. Hopefully most people did not because I certainly didn't.
Sounds like everyone got hammered yesterday.....except mine was lousy from the start.....
I've heard from classmates that some people, depending on exam date, got easy,cheesy exams....others got 'ok, get the name of the bus that just ran over me' type of exams.....is there any way to comment on these exams in a respectful manner to the powers that be?
I took this test yesterday and one of my answers was "building related illness" if that dosen't say it all I don't know what does. I don't know how any one did well on this exam yesterday. A bunch of took this pile of crap and we all agreed "what the hell was that." The first two blocks were flat out simple, 3 not so bad than disaster struck. Pt comes with stomach ache what do they have? You can't be serious. Spelling errors, i think incorrect images (a alledged reed sternberg that looked like cmv or something), answers like "athlete's heart" What in the flying f&*() is athlete's heart? This test was hard because it was about the most random crap ever, the answers took absolutely no thinking you either knew every OMM disease and every single anatomy vessel and innervation and origin or you didn't. Hopefully most people did not because I certainly didn't.
That's it. And I was allowed to wear a digital watch. You stuff all your stuff in a locker.We don't need a permit or anything, do we? I dont think I ever got one. What do we have to bring to the test center besides ID?
Taking it tomorrow. Trying like crazy to relax today and not obsess.![]()
Taking it tomorrow. Trying like crazy to relax today and not obsess.![]()
Took the beast today, just got back. A few notes:
-0 embryo questions - don't even waste your time studying it for COMLEX
-I had ~10% of my questions based on OMM topics (VS reflexes, treatments, etc.) and hardly any of them were easy. No cranial questions either; lots of weird fibular head ones, and 1 or 2 sacrum questions that had no right answer... seriously. And I consider myself well versed in the OMM propaganda too.
-The theme of my test seemed to be renal, thyroid, and pregnant women/neonates with bacterial infex. Hardly any viral ?'s, and those that I had were practically all VZV. A few zoonoses that were worthlessly hard. Know your staining procedures for all bugs! And know your treatment regimens and mechanisms of ABx resistance...
-Neuro made up about 15% of my exam - nothing too hard, a few blood supply to certain parts of the brain questions but they were doable.
-I totally got the "pregnant woman with STD X" what is safest to drug to treat with: Amox or Azithro (among others)? I picked Azithro cause Kaplan said it's safe in Preggers.
-The only heme questions I got were about anemias, maybe one question on Hodgkin's.
-Oh and apparently I didn't study enough cell signaling mechanisms and Gestational Diabetes effects. Some nitpicky BS right there.
I left this test thinking "Man, I really have no clue how I did." Which is weird because I felt good about it during the lunch break. Maybe it has something to do with getting mentally exhausted by the end of the day? I can't figure out if the questions were actually harder at the end or if I was just getting more tired. So anyways, I hope I passed.
I definitely get why people say "You either know the answers to the COMLEX questions right away or you don't." It's so true. I don't think I really could have studied any particular subject any more than I did and done any better. Felt like I was playing the slots.
I used First Aid 2007 for most subjects, Kaplan Pharm was a lifesaver, and I attended all Kaplan lectures at my campus. Did the Kaplan COMLEX Qbank and Qbook. Ended up with 72% on the Qbank, got 60's on the Qbook tests (much harder than the joke questions on the Qbank).
Oh and I took COMSAE and got 602. Wish I would've saved my money, but at least it gave me an idea about the lunacy of the questions
Agreed. I read your post and thought "man my post looks like doom and gloom compared to his!" I agree with you on all the questions you remembered, I had ALL of those answers to those questions too. I considered those questions "gimmies" as well. The easy ones were EASY.dude, I think we had the same test....lol
Agreed. I read your post and thought "man my post looks like doom and gloom compared to his!" I agree with you on all the questions you remembered, I had ALL of those answers to those questions too. I considered those questions "gimmies" as well. The easy ones were EASY.
I also had some ?'s on ME setups for a restricted SC joint, after an inversion ankle sprain (?) too.
Shoot, I missed a few of those ones... but got more right than wrong anyway. I also remember:I remember those as well. I really was disappointed that they didn't have more straightforward sacral or hip diagnoses/treatments. I felt like all of that time I spent in OMM lab was a waste since they really only emphasize the viscerosomatics on the COMLEX. is this helping anyone?![]()
Shoot, I missed a few of those ones... but got more right than wrong anyway. I also remember:
-2 beesting scenarios; what type of Hypersensitivity rxn, what Ig mediates it, how to treat acutely (Epi) and long term (steroids?)
-Contact dermatitis, again what type of Hypersensitivity rxn is it
-Bouts of diarrhea that include inflammation of the rectum = UC (Crohn's spare's the rectum)
-Pneumo/Meningitis (can't remember) in a guy that went to a football game in New York - choices were zebras but I picked Listeria from hot dogs they ate at the game maybe? no clue on that one
-Amniocentesis says baby is 46 XX, U/S shows male parts, how do you resolve this discrepancy?
-RMSFever versus primary Lyme disease - what do the rashes look like and which bugs are involved (Rickettsia vs Borrelia)
-I'm pretty sure I got a W.P.W. EKG too; pretty sure I saw some delta waves in there...
So is the COMSAE even remotely representative of the real deal? I'm simply asking because I did well enough on it to convince me to move up my exam, if it is in fact representative of what I'll ultimately see on the real deal. I just took the usmle, and I sort of dread waiting another week to take the comlex at this point.
Any opinions out there on this? Thanks in advance!
Anybody actually gotten a score back yet? I tested on the 22nd of May and I'm curious how long it's taking to receive scores this year. Getting antsy, I suppose.