Uhhh... So I just started USMLEWORLD... I've done about 150 questions in timed, random blocks, not including like 3 subsections that we haven't covered in class yet and I'm getting creamed. Like 61% overall. Some sections I'm getting only 1/2 the questions right. Is this normal? I haven't started really reviewing yet, but this is really disheartening. Some of these questions I'm completely and totally guessing on.
Getting killed by USMLEWORLD
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I think 60-70% is correlated with like a 230? So I don't think you have much to worry about. Go ahead and take a NBME practice test and see where you stand if you're curious.
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It all depends on how recently you covered the material.
If you are doing sections from current (or last semester's) classes, then you should be in the 80s.
If you are doing random questions and scoring in the 60s then you are set to do well.
If you are doing sections from current (or last semester's) classes, then you should be in the 80s.
If you are doing random questions and scoring in the 60s then you are set to do well.
Dude, you may see the percentage, but that still doesn't stop you from feeling like crap. I just need some loving and support right now-- you see the answers and you're like, "I used to know that.. I think. Holy crap, I'm screwed, how on earth am I going to re-learn 2 years of med school in 3 months!!!"
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Let's see... a 61% is estimated to be a 225 on the Step.
(link won't work, but it is http://www.clinical_review.com/USMLECalculator.php without the space)
How's that for some loving support from your favourite Northern European realist painter...👍
(link won't work, but it is http://www.clinical_review.com/USMLECalculator.php without the space)
How's that for some loving support from your favourite Northern European realist painter...👍
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Just a quick question abt that website, I used my NBME scores to get a projected Step 1 score, and the number it gave me didn't match up with the one in the NBME score sheet. Just wondering if anyone else noticed this?
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USMLEWorld is not a gauge of how well you will do on the actual exam. It is, instead, a learning tool, which should not be used out of context. In other words, don't take your score too seriously. Just use the questions and answers to guide you in your review of the different subjects covered on Step 1. You should be actively learning and reviewing as you answer questions, not worrying about whether or not you get them all "right." I know that we are all med students with the typical ego problems, but the sooner you let this one go, the more sane you will stay during your Step 1 prep process. You're not graded on your UW percentage.
It doesn't matter if you get 5% of the questions right - as long as you are learning something, you're making it worthwhile.
It doesn't matter if you get 5% of the questions right - as long as you are learning something, you're making it worthwhile.
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I think part of the reason people believe it does is all the 250+ ppl have a 70%+ overall on UW. If you learn from your misses you will get it right next time.
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Everyone has a different approach to UW. I reviewed a particular topic (like biochem or respiratory), and then, once I was finished with FA and/or whatever resources I was reading from, I did all of the UW questions for that subject on untimed tutor mode. I read and answered a question, then read (not skimmed, read) the entire answer. I would often stop to look things up from my books, occasionally even before I answered the question. I would often annotate the gist of the Q&A into FA before moving on to the next question.
Because I took this approach (only doing Qs for the topic that I had reviewed that day), my UW percentage was abnormally high. I did not take that as "I will score 310 on Step 1." My goal was to use UW to get the maximum return out of the effort I put in. By doing it this way, I made sure I knew a certain topic inside-and-out before moving on to the next one. I didn't really have to go back and re-review it again after this, because I had pounded it into my head over 2-3 days.
I, personally, could not focus when doing "random" blocks - they were too all-over-the-place for any kind of concrete review session, and I found myself bouncing all over FA and my review books. I agree that it definitely simulates the exam more realistically, but, for REVIEW purposes, I found my method to better organize my train of thought. Others may prefer the random review - it doesn't really matter, as long as you see a wide variety of questions in all possible categories in your 4-6 weeks of prep.
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did you do some random blocks towards the end to prepare for the randomness of the exam.
Some reasons why I liked random timed blocks.
- prepares you for the rhythm of the exam, doing blocks of 50. The only difference is the real thing takes a bit longer, so try to finish your UW blocks with about 10 minutes left over.
- Review. If you only study on a subject by subject basis, you forget the stuff you studied last. This was especially helpful the 2nd time through the material. When I ran into topics that were just beginning to get rusty I would go back and look over what I didn't know. It kept things interesting. Otherwise I think you'll be worst in whatever subject was farthest away from test day.
- Progress tracking. This is especially helpful when you are gunning for a 260 score. Everyone I knew who got above 250 was scoring in the 80% range on random, timed blocks at the very end. I got inspired as I saw my %s consistently grow as I approached D-day. It did make me angry when I scored subpar on a block but that also made me want to work harder. For me meeting certain % targets were very big confidence boosters that inspired me to plow on.
- Question distribution - The subjects are not populated equally. If you do 50q in a small subject and then 50 in a big subject, you've totally skewed the question distribution if you later decide you want to end your studies with random, timed practice.
For me it kept it interesting. I liked seeing annoying subjects (storage diseases, breast cancers, biochem pathways) that I super hard to memorize pop up from time to time while I was in the middle of other topics. It made me go back and relearn those topics.
I think you learn more out of getting answers wrong than you do getting them right. When the material is fresh you get everything right which is boring. When the material is a few days old you make mistakes that make you say "oh yeah!".
I think this strategy is better for people like me who were question heavy towards the end (especially after the first run through). I did more studying earlier on and very little questions (used garbage bank Kaplan) with many many more questions (UWorld) later and less book studying in the final weeks. I agree that random topics are less effective when you are completely clueless and have not seen the material yet.
- prepares you for the rhythm of the exam, doing blocks of 50. The only difference is the real thing takes a bit longer, so try to finish your UW blocks with about 10 minutes left over.
- Review. If you only study on a subject by subject basis, you forget the stuff you studied last. This was especially helpful the 2nd time through the material. When I ran into topics that were just beginning to get rusty I would go back and look over what I didn't know. It kept things interesting. Otherwise I think you'll be worst in whatever subject was farthest away from test day.
- Progress tracking. This is especially helpful when you are gunning for a 260 score. Everyone I knew who got above 250 was scoring in the 80% range on random, timed blocks at the very end. I got inspired as I saw my %s consistently grow as I approached D-day. It did make me angry when I scored subpar on a block but that also made me want to work harder. For me meeting certain % targets were very big confidence boosters that inspired me to plow on.
- Question distribution - The subjects are not populated equally. If you do 50q in a small subject and then 50 in a big subject, you've totally skewed the question distribution if you later decide you want to end your studies with random, timed practice.
For me it kept it interesting. I liked seeing annoying subjects (storage diseases, breast cancers, biochem pathways) that I super hard to memorize pop up from time to time while I was in the middle of other topics. It made me go back and relearn those topics.
I think you learn more out of getting answers wrong than you do getting them right. When the material is fresh you get everything right which is boring. When the material is a few days old you make mistakes that make you say "oh yeah!".
I think this strategy is better for people like me who were question heavy towards the end (especially after the first run through). I did more studying earlier on and very little questions (used garbage bank Kaplan) with many many more questions (UWorld) later and less book studying in the final weeks. I agree that random topics are less effective when you are completely clueless and have not seen the material yet.
