Frustrated, confused, could use advice

[Mittelschmerz]

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Hey everyone-

I am a long time lurker and have been using SDN for USMLE prep info and found it helpful, so now I'm hoping that I can get some advice.
My test is on July 21st, and I've been studying for about a month and a half. I started out not even passing on practice tests, and my UWorld averages were in the low 40s but have since come up to the high 50s and low 60s. I have taken two NBME's a month apart (first of June and yesterday), and got 180 and 200, respectively. I also took a UWorld assessment about 2 or so weeks ago and got 200 as well.
Then I took the free 150 around the same time and got 75%, which is apparently around a 220 ... so wtf???

I would be ecstatic with a 220-something, but now thinking that's unrealistic with only 2 weeks left and am now even worried about failing if I happen to get an exam that is heavy on my weaker subjects.

I have gone through FA once, annotating from Goljan and other review books. I also go thru World explanations and annotate things in that i don't know. Just getting really frustrated that what I'm doing doesn't seem to be working.

What would you recommend I do at this point?

 

[ENThopeful]

do you feel like you are understanding concepts at this point? if not, that may be where your problem is

 

[AllUpOnYoMama]

maybe there are some factors that you didn't take into account... did you take any of the exams after a long day of studying? Did you take all of them under the same circumstances such as timing and breaks etc. I 've taken NBME #2 and 3 and UWSA #2.... took NBME #2 after a long day of studying about 4 weeks ago and got a 196 then took NBME #3 last week and got a 208. Both where timed with 5 minute breaks in between blocks vs a 221 on UWSA #2 that I took yesterday with an hour break between blocks 2 and 3 (had to run an errand). Id like to think that the jump from a 208 to 221 was due to a really hard week of studying but I think the fact that I took that hour break gave me a slight advantage on blocks 3 and 4. If you look on the medfriends site, the difference between a 200 and 215 is something close to 10-15 question difference...I think these little things can really effect your score.

 

[Whats_up_doc]

Let's see... 2 weeks left is a great amount of time if you spend it wisely. if I were you I would review again those areas that you find yourself weak and do another NBME a week before the test. Test taking conditions are also key. Your mind has to be fresh to attack these questions. For example, I just did a UW block and got 58. Many of the questions that I got wrong were important concepts --> for some reason I didn't read carefully,maybe because I have been studying all day. So it all depends. I don't want to give false reassurance but many people around these forums have gone 20 points in 3 weeks or so. So.. hang in there!!! 👍

 

[Knicks]

Hey everyone-

I am a long time lurker and have been using SDN for USMLE prep info and found it helpful, so now I'm hoping that I can get some advice.
My test is on July 21st, and I've been studying for about a month and a half. I started out not even passing on practice tests, and my UWorld averages were in the low 40s but have since come up to the high 50s and low 60s. I have taken two NBME's a month apart (first of June and yesterday), and got 180 and 200, respectively. I also took a UWorld assessment about 2 or so weeks ago and got 200 as well.
Then I took the free 150 around the same time and got 75%, which is apparently around a 220 ... so wtf???

I would be ecstatic with a 220-something, but now thinking that's unrealistic with only 2 weeks left and am now even worried about failing if I happen to get an exam that is heavy on my weaker subjects.

I have gone through FA once, annotating from Goljan and other review books. I also go thru World explanations and annotate things in that i don't know. Just getting really frustrated that what I'm doing doesn't seem to be working.

What would you recommend I do at this point?

I'll leave it to the rest of the people here to assist you with that, but let me just say that your username rocks! 😀