Exam Master USMLE Step 1 Practice Exam

[tesore]

I saw a few threads regarding the Exam Master Step I Practice Exam and it seems like the exam is a new version. Does this exam have any correlation to the real exam? Granted it does say:

"This exam is not designed to predict what your actual USMLE scores will be. Results will vary. However, this course is designed to give you as realistic a testing experience as possible, and to help you identify those areas where you may need further study."

It gave a breakdown of percent score by disciple which was nice. So at least I have a better idea of where I stand. Any thoughts?

Thanks.

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[tideleonheart]

I saw a few threads regarding the Exam Master Step I Practice Exam and it seems like the exam is a new version. Does this exam have any correlation to the real exam? Granted it does say:

"This exam is not designed to predict what your actual USMLE scores will be. Results will vary. However, this course is designed to give you as realistic a testing experience as possible, and to help you identify those areas where you may need further study."

It gave a breakdown of percent score by disciple which was nice. So at least I have a better idea of where I stand. Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Our school's library gives us a free subscription to this program - does anyone have any feelings about how well it compares to UW and Kaplan?

 

[turkeyjerky]

Our school's library gives us a free subscription to this program - does anyone have any feelings about how well it compares to UW and Kaplan?

So does our school. I haven't looked at UW or Kaplan yet (gonna wait til spring to go thru UW), but ExamMaster definitely sucks monkeyballs. It's the most low-yield ridiculous questions you can imagine.

A typical question consists of a paragraph long description of a patient presentation, followed by some wacky question out of left field, something like "what's the required co-factor in the third step of the TCA cycle?"

 

[McGillGrad]

So does our school. I haven't looked at UW or Kaplan yet (gonna wait til spring to go thru UW), but ExamMaster definitely sucks monkeyballs. It's the most low-yield ridiculous questions you can imagine.

A typical question consists of a paragraph long description of a patient presentation, followed by some wacky question out of left field, something like "what's the required co-factor in the third step of the TCA cycle?"

That is a typical step 1 question, fyi.

 

[turkeyjerky]

That is a typical step 1 question, fyi.

Really? All of the practice materials I've ever looked at (like robbin's review, brs series, pretest, kaplan qbook) seem to ask 2nd or 3rd step questions related to the stem. As opposed to exam master, whose questions do not require reading the stem and are mostly directed at obscure details not even covered in our courses.

Is that how step1 really is?

 

[McGillGrad]

Really? All of the practice materials I've ever looked at (like robbin's review, brs series, pretest, kaplan qbook) seem to ask 2nd or 3rd step questions related to the stem. As opposed to exam master, whose questions do not require reading the stem and are mostly directed at obscure details not even covered in our courses.

Is that how step1 really is?

I would have agreed with you before I started studying for the step. And then, once I took the exam, I realized that they know how we think and study in basic sciences. They know we often cram without associating and go straight for the high yield topics while sacrificing the basic concepts that can explain any disease...as opposed to regurgitating a laundry list signs and symptoms we learned in FA or Robbins, etc.

All of that to say that they step is about understanding the pathophysiology of disease and that means knowing small cofactors in the TCA. Why do you ask? Well, if you know the cofacter, know the origin of the cofacter (diet or intrinsic pathway) then you can use physiology to describe any symptoms and sign that you would expect to see in other cells and organs and this allows you to treat properly and efficiently with minimal side effects.

The reason they ask question like this is because buzz words and patterns used by physicians can be mimicked by PA's and NP's and that makes them (and patients) think that physicians can be replaced by mid levels. It's a plug-and-play society and we need to demonstrate why we do 6 extra years of schooling...

 

[sd1984]

I wrote on Saturday and would have to disagree with McgillGrad, questions were very similar to Uworld and even to some extend Kaplan.

Mcgillgrad was correct that the questions are out of left field but a majority of questions are 2-3 step questions pertaining somewhat to the vignette presented.