COMLEX LEVEL III preparation

[Oslersghost]

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Hi everyone,

I am in a bind. I need to take Comlex III before the 1st yr ends.
I was wondering if you can share your study gems for the exam (hrs of prep, books).

As an intern in a pretty busy program I don't even have time to sit on the toilet! I passed I & II but that was with months of prep.

What should I do? SHould I wing it early and see if it flies? or wait until I am "well prepared" like I and II. All I need to do is pass for this one.

Thanks for reading. Hope to get your 2 pennies worth........

OG

 

[andwhat]

Hi everyone,

I am in a bind. I need to take Comlex III before the 1st yr ends.
I was wondering if you can share your study gems for the exam (hrs of prep, books).

As an intern in a pretty busy program I don't even have time to sit on the toilet! I passed I & II but that was with months of prep.

What should I do? SHould I wing it early and see if it flies? or wait until I am "well prepared" like I and II. All I need to do is pass for this one.

Thanks for reading. Hope to get your 2 pennies worth........

OG

seeing as how first year just started, you should be absolutely fine, attend premier review, practice USMLE World... actually you are lucky, alot of people postpone step 3 or Comlex 3 and the farther you are away from step I and step II, more difficult it is to pass... you have the added incentive, as it is required by your residency program, thats actually a blessing in disguise lol... Premier Review, and USMLE World, this combo is the best.

 

[DOindahouse]

actually you are lucky, alot of people postpone step 3 or Comlex 3 and the farther you are away from step I and step II, more difficult it is to pass....

yeah il say
wish me luck on tuesday

 

[InductionAgent]

Hi everyone,

I am in a bind. I need to take Comlex III before the 1st yr ends.
I was wondering if you can share your study gems for the exam (hrs of prep, books).

As an intern in a pretty busy program I don't even have time to sit on the toilet! I passed I & II but that was with months of prep.

What should I do? SHould I wing it early and see if it flies? or wait until I am "well prepared" like I and II. All I need to do is pass for this one.

Thanks for reading. Hope to get your 2 pennies worth........

OG

I would take it sooner rather than later, although give yourself the opportunity to do some reviewing. In general with these exams, it's not so much learning new material, but refreshing things you may be starting to forget, and bolstering confidence in what you already know, so that you're not second-guessing yourself during the exam. I don't know if you've already scheduled/taken the exam by now...

Anyway, I scheduled the exam my intern year during the end of a month in which I had a relatively less intense rotation, so that I could get in some studying time. I reviewed the OMM basics and OBGYN. The medicine and surgery was relatively fresh (still did some reviewing of those, but required less). I got a 600. Good enough.

Good luck!

 

[DOindahouse]

pray

 

[xXAnksXx]

Any tips for a sure fire way to pass.?.

Thanks,
Dr. DO MBA

 

[jon62781]

The only sure fire way to pass that test is to never take it and get a job haulin' garbage!

 

[moni1999]

I suggest using USMLE World questions and the practice questions on the AAFP website. Both were very helpful!

 

[GQPMR]

Just took it 2 months ago and passed... Actually wasn't as bad as I was planning it to be. VentDependent mentioned 4 items that I believe work wonderfully for the prep for this exam, especially since I passed and did better then the first 2 steps.

High Yeild OB-GYN. This one source helped tremendously for all the OB and GYN stuff on the exam and put me at ease when answering those type of questions. You gotta have it, unless you are a OB/GYN resident.

STRONG MEDICINE. By far the best single source for Step III. Case based and re-emphasizes points throughout each chapter so you feel like you read through the material 2-3 times by the end of each chapter. You have to have some idea of clinical practice when you start reading this book, so maybe good for those of you who started intern year already or just about to finish ther intern year.

NMS step III. A really good question book. Only problem was that some questions did have some wrong/questionable answers, but overall recommended if you do not want to spend the extra money for online question banks or don't have a computer to use while you are studying, plus this book is portable and can take it anywhere.

Blue Savarese Book Just read through it twice and focused on the knowing autonomic charts, anterior/posterior tender points for counterstrain, know Fryette rules, and understanding how to diagnose lumbar/sacral problems and treatments.

One friend recommended that I re-read the Pathology and Microbiology sections of First Aid for Step 1 (yes you read that correctly, Step 1). He was right, there is still alot of basic science type questions on the COMLEX Step III, so knowing those basic things are very helpful. I read through that once and made a quick chart of those things I had forgotten to review once before the exam.

If you have time and want to spend extra time on Peds Stuff: know your pnuemonias, meningitis, immunizations, rashes, and know which antibiotics to give for which problem.

I studied for about 2 months and passed, so I feel this formula works well...

 

[VentdependenT]

Just took it 2 months ago and passed... Actually wasn't as bad as I was planning it to be. VentDependent mentioned 4 items that I believe work wonderfully for the prep for this exam, especially since I passed and did better then the first 2 steps.

High Yeild OB-GYN. This one source helped tremendously for all the OB and GYN stuff on the exam and put me at ease when answering those type of questions. You gotta have it, unless you are a OB/GYN resident.

STRONG MEDICINE. By far the best single source for Step III. Case based and re-emphasizes points throughout each chapter so you feel like you read through the material 2-3 times by the end of each chapter. You have to have some idea of clinical practice when you start reading this book, so maybe good for those of you who started intern year already or just about to finish ther intern year.

NMS step III. A really good question book. Only problem was that some questions did have some wrong/questionable answers, but overall recommended if you do not want to spend the extra money for online question banks or don't have a computer to use while you are studying, plus this book is portable and can take it anywhere.

Blue Savarese Book Just read through it twice and focused on the knowing autonomic charts, anterior/posterior tender points for counterstrain, know Fryette rules, and understanding how to diagnose lumbar/sacral problems and treatments.

One friend recommended that I re-read the Pathology and Microbiology sections of First Aid for Step 1 (yes you read that correctly, Step 1). He was right, there is still alot of basic science type questions on the COMLEX Step III, so knowing those basic things are very helpful. I read through that once and made a quick chart of those things I had forgotten to review once before the exam.

If you have time and want to spend extra time on Peds Stuff: know your pnuemonias, meningitis, immunizations, rashes, and know which antibiotics to give for which problem.

I studied for about 2 months and passed, so I feel this formula works well...

CONGRATS! Glad somebody was listening....err reading. 🙂

 

[lucy2]

I failed COMLEX III twice because I winged it BOTH times - NO STUDYING at all! On the third try I read through First Aid multiple times, JUST ONE BOOK, NOT SEVERAL OR IT DISTRACTS AND DISCOURAGES YOU!!! I improved my score from failing to well above average.

So just pick one book, read it several times and test yourself on the contents. The test is created 2 years in advance, so don't bog yourself down with learning brand new guidlelines! Pick the most up to date version of First Aid and learn that, no matter what you know is different now in the "real world." If you dont study then all you know is what's new NOW but the test isn't there yet. That's how I failed without studying. Also know the autonomic innervation chart, rib inhalation and exhalation dysfuntions, and sacral diagnosis from the big green OMT book. I also worked through a few old COMLEX III in training service exams (and USMLE one's - they are similar), but the key was learning the "buz words" from First Aid. Give them what THEY want, not what YOU know... and you will do great!

GOOD LUCK! l2

 

[JayneCobb]

I really don't think there is anyway to prepare for this piece of crap test. I read boards and wards and did some USMLE123 online q-bank questions, but it was a crap shoot. Savarese is a must. Otherwise is a crap test, with crap questions, and crap pictures that forces you to assume crap assumptions and doesn't allow you time to go crap.

I am so glad to be done with that test and the NBOME.

 

[lucy2]

Dito, man, dito...

 

[GQPMR]

I also worked through a few old COMLEX III in training service exams (and USMLE one's - they are similar)
GOOD LUCK! l2

Actually I forgot to mention the old COMLEX III questions that you can buy from NBOME. They came quite handy for $8 I paid for them. I saw about 10-12 questions that were either identical or very similar wording on my test date. At least you can get a couple of freebies out of it.

 

[GQPMR]

CONGRATS! Glad somebody was listening....err reading. 🙂

Thanks dude, your formula really worked!!!

Actually I really like the format of Strong Medicine more than Crush the Boards, First Aid or really anything else. I did however supplement a little Boards and Wards to fill in those few things that weren't covered as thorough as I wanted.

Anyways, guys/girls do whatever you like and can learn from, but if you find yourself not passing, please consider this formula. Its simple and so far has been shown to get results (by me and others on this board).

Good Luck!!!

 

[novado]

Just got my score back, and did very well. I would suggest sticking with one qbank and looking up what you do not know very well based on what you missed. That strategy worked for me. There actually was a lot of Step I pathology, anatomy on mine as well. It stinks that those "key words" are what gets you the answer, not common sense or the actual story itself. The questions are so poorly worded that you have to know those few key words to reach a diagnosis.

 

[pmblue]

Hi fellow colleagues out there who are struggling to take the comlex 3 like I am, I heard there are review questions for the part 3 board exam. Please email me if you have them or any other advice you can give me. I've followed most of the recommendations posted and most seem to be very helpful. I seem to have problems with the questions that they are asking....I see reference on other posts regarding "key words"....any ideas what these "key words" are?