Hi Guys,
I took part I last week & I hate to say it, but it was a lot worse than I expected. I think the old tests weren't all that helpful, but def something you need to go through. I'm not sure what to tell you bc I feel like a lot of the questions that I didn't know, I probably wouldn't have known no matter how long I studied. Other questions that I had trouble with, I didn't know the process they were asking about in enough detail. I did really well in school, but I felt pretty unprepared in the exam. Although I am the type that can remember stuff for the test & then immediately forget it, so that's probably part of it.
I studied the decks, Kaplan USMLE for micro & lipincott for biochem. Maybe I should have gone through the decks more, but I didn't really get much studying from them - more as a study guide for researching on the web. I think I would have been better off studying my class lecture power points - I felt the professors had a better idea of what would be on the test than the decks (I had the 2009-2010 decks). I really felt like the decks left me ill prepared. If I could do it again (and had more time) I would have gone through all my class lectures, then the decks, kaplan USMLE micro videos, & Lippencott for Biochem. Maybe I should have used First Aid, but it is just a list w/o any explanation.
The micro & biochem I felt ok in, but some of the path/phys I had trouble with. The one thing I can think of that might help: get the question breakdown off of the NBDE/ADA site & really try to focus on those areas. Also, re: old tests, they do sorta give an idea of the areas tested, but the questions I got were just a lot harder. So if there's an area that's on the old test, I think those are good areas to know inside-out - maybe to focus not on what they asked in the old test, but every other aspect of the subject.
Anyhow, I hope this isn't too discouraging. If you're just trying to pass, I say just go take it - you'll pass. If you're trying to rock it - I wish you luck bc it sure didn't happen for me. I think it's one of those tests that's pretty easy to pass, but really, really hard to get over 90.
Good Luck!!
I took part I last week & I hate to say it, but it was a lot worse than I expected. I think the old tests weren't all that helpful, but def something you need to go through. I'm not sure what to tell you bc I feel like a lot of the questions that I didn't know, I probably wouldn't have known no matter how long I studied. Other questions that I had trouble with, I didn't know the process they were asking about in enough detail. I did really well in school, but I felt pretty unprepared in the exam. Although I am the type that can remember stuff for the test & then immediately forget it, so that's probably part of it.
I studied the decks, Kaplan USMLE for micro & lipincott for biochem. Maybe I should have gone through the decks more, but I didn't really get much studying from them - more as a study guide for researching on the web. I think I would have been better off studying my class lecture power points - I felt the professors had a better idea of what would be on the test than the decks (I had the 2009-2010 decks). I really felt like the decks left me ill prepared. If I could do it again (and had more time) I would have gone through all my class lectures, then the decks, kaplan USMLE micro videos, & Lippencott for Biochem. Maybe I should have used First Aid, but it is just a list w/o any explanation.
The micro & biochem I felt ok in, but some of the path/phys I had trouble with. The one thing I can think of that might help: get the question breakdown off of the NBDE/ADA site & really try to focus on those areas. Also, re: old tests, they do sorta give an idea of the areas tested, but the questions I got were just a lot harder. So if there's an area that's on the old test, I think those are good areas to know inside-out - maybe to focus not on what they asked in the old test, but every other aspect of the subject.
Anyhow, I hope this isn't too discouraging. If you're just trying to pass, I say just go take it - you'll pass. If you're trying to rock it - I wish you luck bc it sure didn't happen for me. I think it's one of those tests that's pretty easy to pass, but really, really hard to get over 90.
Good Luck!!
