Decision to Exend

[Macguy86]

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My Goal: 240+

I have 6.5wks to study for this exam.
My preparation to this date NONE (except classes/skimming FA after each block)

Performance in Med School: Average-Above Avg

What is the best time to decide whether to extend? Everyone I speak with says do not do it, and that I will burn out/hate myself for extending after everyone is finished, ect.

10 Days before the test, if I take a practice exam, what should my score be around?

Should I take one periodically (I am using the Taus Method)..every 2 weeks to gauge my progress?

If my score 10 Days prior to my exam date is say 230. would you guys recommend I extend my test date?

I am looking at internal medicine right now, but NEED to get above a 240+ AT LEAST to be considered for the types of programs I am interested in. but who knows i may later be interested in ortho/plastics/uro ect

Thanks in advance!

 

[vicinihil]

I say you wait until a few days before the actual test and see how you feel. I don't know when the extension deadline is but I would wait and see. If your practice test score a week isn't even close to the 240 you want, then I would extend. If you hit 240 ish then I would say it's a gamble. If you're hitting above that, then take it!!!!

 

[Perrotfish]

I say take a practice test now to see if you're within striking distance of your goal score. I think if you're going to extend it makes more sense to do it now while you still have the option of creating a coherent study plan or using a review course rather than doing it 2 weeks before the exam when all you'll really be able to do it more FA reading and more practice questions.

BTW at my school everyone was similarly saying that they would never extend, were planning to take it early to 'get it over with', that more studying didn't help, etc. However when it came time to sign up for classes I think about 1/3rd of the class took at least 2 weeks of vacation to extend their exam date, with some taking as much as 8 weeks. People are really brave about this test until they actually have to take it.

 

[Macguy86]

Would a kaplan diagnostic test be okay? Its 150 questions?
What is the 'striking zone' by that I mean if I score say 180 on a practice test now, would I have to re-evaluate my goals?

I was actually thinking the same thing, that it would be better to make a 10 week plan, versus 6 weeks and then extend.
My plan is to stick to the Taus method and after 1 pass through at the 4 week mark, take 2 practice exams UWorld and NBME 4 and if they are consistently above 230 then I will take the exam.

If my scores are in the 215-225 range, i will postpone. Go through with the Taus Plan...read FA a second time and then a third time. I read somewhere that someone took the DIT course/wanted to take the DIT course after 6 weeks of studying? Anyone recommend a review course at the end of their studies?

 

[Perrotfish]

Would a kaplan diagnostic test be okay? Its 150 questions?
What is the 'striking zone' by that I mean if I score say 180 on a practice test now, would I have to re-evaluate my goals?

It's your career, spring for the $30 NBME exam. And yes, I mean if you're not even passing now a 240 probably isn't realistic in a 6 week time frame.

My plan is to stick to the Taus method and after 1 pass through at the 4 week mark, take 2 practice exams UWorld and NBME 4 and if they are consistently above 230 then I will take the exam.

I still think that, if you start a 6 week plan rather than extending right now and doing an 8 or 10 week plan, commit mentally to taking the test in 6 weeks. Don't extend unless you're actually in danger of failing the exam. 2-4 weeks of panic studying after a last minute extension will probably do more harm than good.

If my scores are in the 215-225 range, i will postpone. Go through with the Taus Plan...read FA a second time and then a third time. I read somewhere that someone took the DIT course/wanted to take the DIT course after 6 weeks of studying? Anyone recommend a review course at the end of their studies?

DIT is a 3 week course and the guy who runs it recommends that you finish it a week or two before you actually take the exam, it would work very well with an 8 or 10 week study plan. The Kaplan webprep course and the various live courses are pretty much designed to be your study plan, running through your entire study period.

 

[Macguy86]

thanks! I will purchase a practice exam. Which one should I do first, i do not want to use a really good practice exam and 'waste it' so early on.

I am actually 'afraid' to take any NBME's because if I do get a failing score before studying that will be depressing. What is the realistic increase from baseline score? 20-30 points? in your experiences and others here?

I am assuming those that start off with scores of 220, have been studying and have got through FA at least once before their study period. or they may be just that smart/good test takers?

 

[Perrotfish]

thanks! I will purchase a practice exam. Which one should I do first, i do not want to use a really good practice exam and 'waste it' so early on.

Use one where you can't review the answers, since you'll want those later. Otherwise I wouldn't worry about waste, you have at least 6 'good' exams: NMBE 4-7 and the 2 from Uworld. I don't think you're going to need all of them.

I am actually 'afraid' to take any NBME's because if I do get a failing score before studying that will be depressing. What is the realistic increase from baseline score? 20-30 points? in your experiences and others here?

I've asked this here and at my school and haven't gotten a good answer yet. I've had people tell me that 50 points is reasonable for an intense study period and others tell me 15 is a normal improvement. If you get a better answer please let me know.

I am assuming those that start off with scores of 220, have been studying and have got through FA at least once before their study period. or they may be just that smart/good test takers?

One, the other, or both. I've seen people that were really surprised at how high there score was, others who have been doing regular review all year, and of course the gunner types who have been reviewing all year and then pretended they'd never seen a first aid before when they got their score.

 

[Macguy86]

whats the difference between Comprehensive Clinical Science and Comprehensive Basic Science?

I am assuming i should purchase the comprehensive basic science as there are forms 1-7?

Also Taus recommonds after the first round NMBE 4
after the second round NMBE 2
after the third round NMBE 3

This was a few years ago, i am wondering if there are any others I should do, except the UWSE 1/2? How should I order them? does it matter? for example should i do the new form 7 after my first run through since its the newest?

 

[Perrotfish]

whats the difference between Comprehensive Clinical Science and Comprehensive Basic Science?

I am assuming i should purchase the comprehensive basic science as there are forms 1-7?

Also Taus recommonds after the first round NMBE 4
after the second round NMBE 2
after the third round NMBE 3

This was a few years ago, i am wondering if there are any others I should do, except the UWSE 1/2? How should I order them? does it matter? for example should i do the new form 7 after my first run through since its the newest?

Comprehensive clnical science are practice tests for the step 2. Yes you should purchase a basic science exam. I have no idea what order you should do them in.