Comsae C + others, opinons anyone?

[preDoGuy24]

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Hey just took the COMSAE C, through our school and now realize how awful the Comlex questions are.

Few questions for those that have taken it and Comlex, is this an accurate representation of the real deal? Any correlation with your score? Anyone else have a CRAZY amount of time left at the end, not being douchey but I had like an hour left at the end with going over marked questions, ridiculous. They are all just so short and awfully written I felt like I was blowing it off but scored a 554, which is I guess decent but with how random and terrible the questions were I don't really feel any better about the real deal.

 

[cliquesh]

Hey just took the COMSAE C, through our school and now realize how awful the Comlex questions are.

Few questions for those that have taken it and Comlex, is this an accurate representation of the real deal? Any correlation with your score? Anyone else have a CRAZY amount of time left at the end, not being douchey but I had like an hour left at the end with going over marked questions, ridiculous. They are all just so short and awfully written I felt like I was blowing it off but scored a 554, which is I guess decent but with how random and terrible the questions were I don't really feel any better about the real deal.

Yea, i didn't take Comsae C, but b and A are a fair representation. They actually reuse some of the Comsae questions. My score on Comsae B was identical to my actual score.

I finished comlex level 2 three hours early and I got above a 700. I wouldn't worry about finishing early. It's kind of, " you know or you don't" type test. Not really critical thinking.

Hope you're planning on taking the usmle too.

 

[primadonna22274]

Just took it. 583, with more than 2 hr to spare. Not displeased by any means but with 2.5 wk to go until my actual exam I would really like to see a 650+.
I have identified my weak spots and am going to focus my intense board review on those and do at least 2000 more questions before the real deal. I've only really started serious board study in the past week (we just finished our last course, sheesh!) and have done about 700 questions so far.
Also, did anybody think the COMSAE C q's were ridiculously easy compared to COMQUEST and especially UWORLD?! Even easier than most of the COMBANK questions I've done.

 

[Textbookversion]

COMLEX doesn't matter as long you pass. Just take the USMLE.

 

[bleeker10]

I would be more worried if I took the full time to finish the COMSAE/COMLEX. Most people I know finished early. One of my buddies finished level 2 CE in less than 4 hours. My COMSAE (I think B) predicted my score within 4 points.

Hit OMM hard, especially sacrum and viscerosomatic reflexes. Know chapmans points as well. Those covered most of my OMM questions on level 1.

 

[koojo]

COMLEX doesn't matter as long you pass. Just take the USMLE.

Don't listen to this person....you will set yourself up for failure.

I also had over an hour on my COMSAE's at the end, but on my actual COMLEX 1 & 2, the question stems were much longer and I only had 5-10 minutes at the end.

 

[SLC]

Hey just took the COMSAE C, through our school and now realize how awful the Comlex questions are.

Few questions for those that have taken it and Comlex, is this an accurate representation of the real deal? Any correlation with your score? Anyone else have a CRAZY amount of time left at the end, not being douchey but I had like an hour left at the end with going over marked questions, ridiculous. They are all just so short and awfully written I felt like I was blowing it off but scored a 554, which is I guess decent but with how random and terrible the questions were I don't really feel any better about the real deal.

I just took it today, definitely didn't feel like I was "blowing it off" though. I got an identical score to you (554).

I swear this test is a lot harder than USMLE. My UWorld percentages are way up there in the 90th percentile, but I struggle with the COMBANK questions for some reason...

 

[preDoGuy24]

I just took it today, definitely didn't feel like I was "blowing it off" though. I got an identical score to you (554).

I swear this test is a lot harder than USMLE. My UWorld percentages are way up there in the 90th percentile, but I struggle with the COMBANK questions for some reason...

Yeah dude poor word choice, I just felt like I was cruising way too fast and there were way more wtf questions than I have experienced before. I am starting uworld tomorrow, but from what I've seen on the nbme subjects and other qbanks, the comlex is gonna be frustrating.

Thanks for the responses, I don't think I will be expecting to blast thorough the usmle like apparently some do with the comlex. I have heard plenty of times how poor the questions are,this has just been my first real experience with them and I wad pretty shocked I did as well as I did with the vagueness of the whole thing.

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[SLC]

Yeah dude poor word choice, I just felt like I was cruising way too fast and there were way more wtf questions than I have experienced before. I am starting uworld tomorrow, but from what I've seen on the nbme subjects and other qbanks, the comlex is gonna be frustrating.

Thanks for the responses, I don't think I will be expecting to blast thorough the usmle like apparently some do with the comlex. I have heard plenty of times how poor the questions are,this has just been my first real experience with them and I wad pretty shocked I did as well as I did with the vagueness of the whole thing.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

No don't worry, I didn't think you had poor word choice at all. I was just saying that it was harder than I expected and I took all but about 50 mins when normally I can bust through that many questions in 2.5 hours tops.

I was scratching my head wondering what the question was trying to ask me more times than I was comfortable with.

 

[primadonna22274]

We took the NBME basic science shelf this afternoon. IMO that was much harder. I do realize though that a lot of the management questions that throw people are cake for me because I've worked as a PA for 13 yr now. The basic sciences are by far the most difficult for me.

 

[Textbookversion]

We took the NBME basic science shelf this afternoon. IMO that was much harder. I do realize though that a lot of the management questions that throw people are cake for me because I've worked as a PA for 13 yr now. The basic sciences are by far the most difficult for me.

With that background though, you'll destroy rotations / step 2. So as long as you get a reasonable step 1 you'll be set up for success.

 

[primadonna22274]

Thanks Textbookversion 🙂 I'm hoping!

 

[preDoGuy24]

We took the NBME basic science shelf this afternoon. IMO that was much harder. I do realize though that a lot of the management questions that throw people are cake for me because I've worked as a PA for 13 yr now. The basic sciences are by far the most difficult for me.

That was definetly a better written but harder exam. You will be golden if you are at 585 now, with 2.5 weeks and a good study plan I think you'll kill it.

 

[primadonna22274]

^^thanks so much!!

 

[Makati2008]

With that background though, you'll destroy rotations / step 2. So as long as you get a reasonable step 1 you'll be set up for success.

I am hoping this is true. I made a 759 on Comsae A for level 2 and it seemed "easy" but as with all nbome material it's a crap shoot. As usual OMM has been my crappy part.....

 

[sylvanthus]

I didnt find the COMSAEs to be predictive whatsoever. NBMEs are pretty good for USMLE though.

 

[SLC]

I didnt find the COMSAEs to be predictive whatsoever. NBMEs are pretty good for USMLE though.

In what way did the COMSAE's fail to be predictive for you?

Was your score higher or lower than they predicted?

 

[Makati2008]

I didnt find the COMSAEs to be predictive whatsoever. NBMEs are pretty good for USMLE though.

That is my big worry and the reason why I will keep studying until June to take level 2 as well as using the osteopathic q banks

 

[sylvanthus]

In what way did the COMSAE's fail to be predictive for you?

Was your score higher or lower than they predicted?

Comsae was low 500s. Real thing 732. So a good 200 points off.

 

[SLC]

Comsae was low 500s. Real thing 732. So a good 200 points off.

Did you take them close together, or did you do the COMSAE early on in your prep?

I still have 4 weeks to go, and am just getting into full on prep this week. I just wanted to get the COMSAE out of the way since it's a requirement at my school before sitting for the real thing.

 

[painmd87]

I managed to lose ~20 points between COMSAE A 6 weeks ago and C today.... probably that last set of questions about Chapman points. < 2 weeks to the real thing!

At least with the NBME exams I know what to study afterwards. I know I did poorly on respiratory/biochem/whatever. COMSAE? I need to improve on "healthcare delivery issues." Huh?

 

[primadonna22274]

Comsae was low 500s. Real thing 732. So a good 200 points off.

Whoa....

 

[primadonna22274]

I managed to lose ~20 points between COMSAE A 6 weeks ago and C today.... probably that last set of questions about Chapman points. < 2 weeks to the real thing!

At least with the NBME exams I know what to study afterwards. I know I did poorly on respiratory/biochem/whatever. COMSAE? I need to improve on "healthcare delivery issues." Huh?

OMG me too which is funny since as a PA I've done A LOT of healthcare delivery and prevention in my career 🙂

 

[bleeker10]

Whoa....

This was even more prevalent on level 2 CE. I have a buddy who did the opposite (low-mid 700s on COMSAEs then mid 500's on the CE). A lot of people I know had wild swings from level 1 to level 2. I was the only person I know who was within 10-20 points and I dropped 6.

OMG me too which is funny since as a PA I've done A LOT of healthcare delivery and prevention in my career 🙂

One thing you will have to do is distance yourself from the way medicine is practiced in books and how it's practiced in real life, especially on level 2 CE.



You have to get used to how little information the COMLEX provides to answer questions. UW/USMLE likes to give as much extraneous information as possible to which you have to deduce the important stuff, while everything in the COMLEX question is important to answer correctly. This is where doing lots of COMLEX qbank questions will help.

 

[BigSib]

Few questions for those that have taken it and Comlex, is this an accurate representation of the real deal? Any correlation with your score?

Don't take people's word for it, take a look at the numbers: http://www.osteopathic.org/inside-aoa/events/Documents/ome-2013-gimpel-nbome-update.pdf

COMSAE A has the best correlation of 0.70
COMSAE B has a correlation of 0.68
COMSAE C has the worst correlation at 0.64

Obviously this data is confounded by those who don't take it under similar testing conditions (i.e., just taking it to check out the questions). There are other studies out there in the JAOA which describe correlations to class rank, course grades, etc. if you are interested.

 

[DrLeon]

Don't take people's word for it, take a look at the numbers: http://www.osteopathic.org/inside-aoa/events/Documents/ome-2013-gimpel-nbome-update.pdf

COMSAE A has the best correlation of 0.70
COMSAE B has a correlation of 0.68
COMSAE C has the worst correlation at 0.64

Obviously this data is confounded by those who don't take it under similar testing conditions (i.e., just taking it to check out the questions). There are other studies out there in the JAOA which describe correlations to class rank, course grades, etc. if you are interested.

Actually this isn't true. The numbers correlate to Phase 1,2, and 3 (Level 1,2, and 3) not forms A, B, and C. The slide you are referring to states that there is a .70 correlation between COMSAE scores and COMLEX level 1 scores. Data from the specific versions of the COMSAE (A,B, and C) are not provided.

 

[Didierdrogba]

bump

 

[BigSib]

The numbers correlate to Phase 1,2, and 3 (Level 1,2, and 3) not forms A, B, and C. The slide you are referring to states that there is a .70 correlation between COMSAE scores and COMLEX level 1 scores. Data from the specific versions of the COMSAE (A,B, and C) are not provided.

Good find there, woops!

Also, I believe the NBOME is now providing a new form D to schools for purchase. Students cannot purchase this individually and not all schools are participating at this point in time.

 

[gp04]

Hey everyone I just took COMSAE Form D last week and scored a 496.. I was hoping to break 500 and so I am a little bummed. Advice? My exam is beginning July and I could really use all the advice I can get about boosting my score! I am a little more than half way for both combank and uworld.. right now im going through my 3rd pass of FA with savarese and pathoma.. for some odd reason I am scoring better on uworld than on combank ..... help

 

[SLC]

Hey everyone I just took COMSAE Form D last week and scored a 496.. I was hoping to break 500 and so I am a little bummed. Advice? My exam is beginning July and I could really use all the advice I can get about boosting my score! I am a little more than half way for both combank and uworld.. right now im going through my 3rd pass of FA with savarese and pathoma.. for some odd reason I am scoring better on uworld than on combank ..... help

I was the same way. USMLE is just a better test. UWorld is just better than COMBANK. If you know your stuff, I think you've got an excellent chance to do better on USMLE than on COMLEX.

As an example, I've had NBOME questions that talk about getting a high TSH from a CBC that was collected. WTF?

Then to top it all off, the TSH quoted is totally normal to boot!

NBOME is a crapshoot, it's just the way it is.

 

[gp04]

🙁 thats frustrating if that is how it is...bah, I would just like to do well on BOTH exams despite the flaws....any ideas on what I can be doing to improve my scores on nbome?!? thank you in advance!

 

[MRSAful Fate]

I'm pretty sure I took Form D last year at school. I scored ~80 points higher on the COMLEX a week later. I'll echo the above advice, do UWorld and hit FA hard. The COMSAE's are crap-shoots but unfortunately so is the COMLEX. Good luck.

 

[SLC]

🙁 thats frustrating if that is how it is...bah, I would just like to do well on BOTH exams despite the flaws....any ideas on what I can be doing to improve my scores on nbome?!? thank you in advance!

My main advice would be to focus on trying to understand how things are tested on the COMSAE's; because that's the tough part about them. Despite the glaring errors in the question stem's I pointed out in my previous post, I was still able to understand what the question was asking.

Once you get a feel for the type of questions, you can begin to rely more on your medical knowledge. And I'd use USMLE resources to sharpen that.

 

[MirrorTodd]

Lol I just took the level 1 Comsae at the end of my first year and scored a 290 and I had 2 hours left on the timer. Basically, felt like I hadn't learned anything this past year.

 

[gp04]

Thank you!!

 

[NeuroLAX]

Lol I just took the level 1 Comsae at the end of my first year and scored a 290 and I had 2 hours left on the timer. Basically, felt like I hadn't learned anything this past year.

That was smart.

 

[MirrorTodd]

That was smart.

What was?

 

[dntke1518]

What was?

Taking a comsae at the end of your 1st year. Save them for closer to boards time, you still have a years worth of education to finish before they are even relevant.

 

[MirrorTodd]

Taking a comsae at the end of your 1st year. Save them for closer to boards time, you still have a years worth of education to finish before they are even relevant.

Oh, the school put them on for us. We have to do one at the end of semester...and when I say have to, I literally mean, HAVE TO. It's nice of them to put them on for us, but maybe a little early. lol

 

[dntke1518]

Oh, the school put them on for us. We have to do one at the end of semester...and when I say have to, I literally mean, HAVE TO. It's nice of them to put them on for us, but maybe a little early. lol

Your school made you take it after OMS-I? Oh man. My school provided A,B, and C for us and mandated that we take them, but not right after first year, we had to take them at certain intervals in our last semester of second year. I feel for you. Then again, I don't think the COMSAEs give you a very good idea of where your weaknesses are (compared to an NBME or UWSA) so its not a huge loss for you.

 

[gp04]

Just took COMSAE C and scored a 508, I got a 496 last time on Form D.. I got a little more than 3 weeks till my exam.. shooting for above a 550. should I be concerned? I was hoping I'd see a bigger improvement in my score.. and idk if its just me but I found form C to be a lot more difficult!

 

[ToKingdomCome]

Which COMSAE for level 2 are good to take? Any of them easier compared to others?