failed it - now what?

[kellysmith]

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this question goes out to those who either failed it and passed or have a close friend who failed and passed - how do i go about retaking this test and making sure i pass it? i almost feel as if there's no way i can pass it a second time if i already failed once - it's not like i had any catastrophes in my life while studying....
ughhhh!

 

[bigfrank]

this question goes out to those who either failed it and passed or have a close friend who failed and passed - how do i go about retaking this test and making sure i pass it? i almost feel as if there's no way i can pass it a second time if i already failed once - it's not like i had any catastrophes in my life while studying....
ughhhh!

First off, tomorrow is a new day. Don't lose heart!!!

It will be important (in reassessing your strategy) to determine how you studied the first time around, what things worked, and what things didn't. Did you do QBank? Did you really focus on First Aid?

First of all, please let me know how you prepared. You can reply here or PM me. Then we can go from there.

Best wishes,

 

[Zummy]

I know of someone who failed it TWICE, but passed the third time... so it definitely can be done- I personally can't imagine studying for that f- ing test a second time let alone a third, but don't despair- you can do it! Try to stay positive. I haven't got my pass/fail status/score yet, and I'm so anxious- i really didn't feel the test went well for me. Really.
Anyway, hope it cheers your spirits to know that it can definitely be done!
Good luck! 🙂

 

[OneStrongBro]

If you don't mind me asking. Was it close?

 

[Radon]

hey...so sorry to hear that you failed...i took the exam last week and really think i failed it...at this point i'm just trying to do a little step 1 reading in the very likely event i'll have to retake it.

if u dont mind, i think it would be helpful to know what your #s were like on qbank, nbme etc. i did ok on q bank (consistent low/mid-60s) and my nbme scores were 510 and 500...so i figured i could pass but i felt that the test tested everything that i had neglected to study well or just never got...i think that's the nature of the beast...and that, coupled w/ the fact that i was nervous, really messed up my performance...anyway just wondering if that's what happened to you...

in any case, dont lose heart!!! you made it to med school, got thru the first 2 years and absolutely have what it takes to get thru the step...just try to hang in there!

good luck, ray

 

[Stinger86]

🙁 sorry, kelly

Let us know how and with what you studied and I'll try to give some specific advice.

 

[jakstat33]

i sit on a committee that reviews step 1 failures and know of many who have taken step 1 multiple times before passing. the key is to recognize why you failed, and get help from an advisor, learning specialists at your school (or whatever the title is where you are), profs. it is possible that your school will be able to pair you with another student in your situtation, and you can help each other in your 2nd/3rd/nth attempt.

whatever you choose to do, be persistent & don't feel sorry for yourself. failure is part of this process, accept it and move on 👍

 

[Legion560]

this question goes out to those who either failed it and passed or have a close friend who failed and passed - how do i go about retaking this test and making sure i pass it? i almost feel as if there's no way i can pass it a second time if i already failed once - it's not like i had any catastrophes in my life while studying....
ughhhh!

crap. that sucks. Dont lose hope, people fail this test and pass. Probably happens more than you think. Please give us more info, and post it public on here so many people can respond and give thier $0.02. This way, you can develop a good strategy. Tell us this stuff:

1. How many days you gave yourself.
2. Books used for each subject
3. Q bank: how much did you complete, what % (this is only a rough estimate)
4. Any particular difficulties first and second year with any subject
5. your state of mind/confidence level going in (you could have just had a fluke score or something)
6. NBME assesments

There are various ways to make sure you do well the second time. One option which some of the people at my school who didnt make it used is an intense prep course designed for those who failed. I am told that it is very good and people end up with a pasing score or better after they take it. If you have any doubts about doing a conventional study strategy, you should probably look into it. If you feel like your study skills are weak or misguided, it would be worth pushing off a block to really nail step 1. If you think this is a fluke, then the SDNers here who have been so generous with thier time will definitely help you formulate a better strategy.

Now, go have a beer and relax. I know this sucks balls right now, but it will get better and you will bounce back.

Legion.

 

[roady]

Kelly,

I sent you a few private messages. Please read them if you get the chance.

Thank you, and best wishes~ 🙂

P.S. I am not going to give you advice based on my huge score (no advice or huge score to speak of)

 

[confused_amused]

Kelly, you aren't alone... i too came up a few points short and have no idea what to do. I also can't say that i'm handling things well or that there was a particular thing that i could point to and say "I could have done this better" or "I should've focused more on this". So any advice anyone has out there on what to do the 2nd time around would be great. My school is suggesting going to a course, but it's on the other side of the country and costs thousands of dollars, and I pay enough money to go to school as it is. I just don't think that that's the best option for me right now.

 

[Radon]

well, i just got my scores and got confirmation of what i had feared all along: i did fail...i guess what makes me so sick is that i was as close as you can possibly get w/o actually passing 😡 ...so, i have been going thru first-aid leisurely since taking the step 1 w/ the just-in-case mentality and now, i have to kick it into high-gear. i can't start w/o first passing the step and so was wondering when i can take the test. i heard i have to wait 6 weeks...? funny how i only studied for about 3 weeks the first time round.

on "random" qbank i ended up w/ a 64 avg. (scoring anywhere from 50-80 on the individual 50q blocks) My nbme scores were 510 and 500 and so i thought i was in good shape for getting the minimum pass...i think nerves is what messed me up on the test. i freaked out the night before and felt like i couldnt remember anything in FA. i ended up almost pulling an all-nighter b/c i just couldn't sleep...i felt that instead of tossing and turning in bed in vain, i might as well flip thru FA....BAD MISTAKE! i didnt get much sleep and then during the test my heart was beating so fast i couldnt even breathe let alone think clearly...near the end, despite ODing on caffeine, i was so tired i couldn't even keep my eyes open...so, my question, can anyone recommend a good sleeping pill and/or something for the anxiety-attacks suitable for the step 1 ordeal?? i have to go see the doc but i was thinking a BB-Blocker and a sleeping pill has anyone tried both together...well things can always be worse...i just have to suck it up and get over this hurdle...trying to be positive...
thanks for any help
r

 

[mjl1717]

I got basically the same score 180/74.
Id say its not the end of the world. As the superstars on this forum
Big Frank and Idio have said to me "in so many words" be MORE ORDERLY and Im using only First Aid and BRS Path and Physio + Robbins Qs,thats my nucleus.
Ill add more qs. Try to relax and takesome deep breaths. A score like that is right at the threshold because we both have the knowledge.!

 

[tega]

well, i just got my scores and got confirmation of what i had feared all along: i did fail...i guess what makes me so sick is that i was as close as you can possibly get w/o actually passing 😡 ...so, i have been going thru first-aid leisurely since taking the step 1 w/ the just-in-case mentality and now, i have to kick it into high-gear. i can't start w/o first passing the step and so was wondering when i can take the test. i heard i have to wait 6 weeks...? funny how i only studied for about 3 weeks the first time round.

on "random" qbank i ended up w/ a 64 avg. (scoring anywhere from 50-80 on the individual 50q blocks) My nbme scores were 510 and 500 and so i thought i was in good shape for getting the minimum pass...i think nerves is what messed me up on the test. i freaked out the night before and felt like i couldnt remember anything in FA. i ended up almost pulling an all-nighter b/c i just couldn't sleep...i felt that instead of tossing and turning in bed in vain, i might as well flip thru FA....BAD MISTAKE! i didnt get much sleep and then during the test my heart was beating so fast i couldnt even breathe let alone think clearly...near the end, despite ODing on caffeine, i was so tired i couldn't even keep my eyes open...so, my question, can anyone recommend a good sleeping pill and/or something for the anxiety-attacks suitable for the step 1 ordeal?? i have to go see the doc but i was thinking a BB-Blocker and a sleeping pill has anyone tried both together...well things can always be worse...i just have to suck it up and get over this hurdle...trying to be positive...
thanks for any help
r

Man?sorry?I had the same experience the night before my exam?here is the thread......http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=128402... I

had to postpone my exam because I couldn?t get any sleep night before. And ur nbme scores indicates that u should have comfortably passed the exam.... so take some solace in that. So with 6 weeks this time instead of 3, and armed with ample medication to make sure ur exam-eve breakdown doesn?t reoccur, u should be fine. An I really thinknot sleeping the night before mostly likely caused ur mishap?.not any deficiency in knowledge.

so go through that thread...some drugs were suggested....

 

[barone ROCKS]

make sure u dont take any benzo's, i would try zolpidem (ambien)

 

[Radon]

thanks guys!

 

[pxz]

Sorry to hear that. I am surprised that you did not pass considering your good Qbank/NBME scores. I really think you should take the whole day off before the test next time around.

If I were you, I would do Robbin's Qs and BSS the next time coming around and only read first aid and BRS path. There is no need to repeat the Qbank or do anything fancy here.

Good luck!