HELP!! Failed COMLEX Step 2 CK TWICE and need help

[needofhelp]

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I really don't know what else to do for this exam. Let me back track a little bit.

I originally took the COMLEX Step 2 exam on June 30 (or whenever the date was when the entire system shut down half way through the exam). I did COMBANK and COMQUEST before the exam and used Step Up to Step 2 in preparation for it. I felt pretty bad about the first half of the exam and decided to take the 2nd half at a later date. I studied some more and took it and my averages on my question banks were above 65% yet I failed my exam (I believe my score was a 320).

So I signed up again for the exam and went over Step Up to Step 2 a few more times and just did COMBANK this time and my question average was about an 85%. I just received my score today and I got a LOWER score than I first got.

I am beyond demoralized right now and I have no idea what to do. I do have a couple of interviews for residenceis already but I feel like I won't get anymore because of this setback.

But the biggest problem is I have no idea what to do. I've done the question banks multiple times now and I am looking at taking the exam again on November 15. My parents keep telling me to "take a course" but that's really hard to do when you have rotations to do. I've considering purchasing DIT to watch the videos (hopefully I can do that in 3 weeks and questions the last 2 weeks). What do you all think about that? And what question bank should I do? I've done COMBANK twice and COMQUEST only once.

I have never posted on here before and usually don't read the threads here too much but I am in dire need of some very sage advice. How on earth do I study for this exam effectively so that I can pass and move on? Oh and on top of all of this my Step 2 PE is on November 8 and I keep checking to see if I can move it but I can't.

Sorry for writing such a long thread but any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[scaredoflife]

Have you taken any COMSAE's? If so what were you scores?

Using a question bank more than once kind of fails if you don't stop at each question and understand why it is right or wrong. Technically you have seen the question so your mind goes directly to the answer. But if you can rationalize the answers you should be fine.

What do you feel is your weakness? Do you panic?

 

[swlabr1980]

I really don't know what else to do for this exam. Let me back track a little bit.

I originally took the COMLEX Step 2 exam on June 30 (or whenever the date was when the entire system shut down half way through the exam). I did COMBANK and COMQUEST before the exam and used Step Up to Step 2 in preparation for it. I felt pretty bad about the first half of the exam and decided to take the 2nd half at a later date. I studied some more and took it and my averages on my question banks were above 65% yet I failed my exam (I believe my score was a 320).

So I signed up again for the exam and went over Step Up to Step 2 a few more times and just did COMBANK this time and my question average was about an 85%. I just received my score today and I got a LOWER score than I first got.

I am beyond demoralized right now and I have no idea what to do. I do have a couple of interviews for residenceis already but I feel like I won't get anymore because of this setback.

But the biggest problem is I have no idea what to do. I've done the question banks multiple times now and I am looking at taking the exam again on November 15. My parents keep telling me to "take a course" but that's really hard to do when you have rotations to do. I've considering purchasing DIT to watch the videos (hopefully I can do that in 3 weeks and questions the last 2 weeks). What do you all think about that? And what question bank should I do? I've done COMBANK twice and COMQUEST only once.

I have never posted on here before and usually don't read the threads here too much but I am in dire need of some very sage advice. How on earth do I study for this exam effectively so that I can pass and move on? Oh and on top of all of this my Step 2 PE is on November 8 and I keep checking to see if I can move it but I can't.

Sorry for writing such a long thread but any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

Do you have test anxiety?

 

[aliDO]

make sure to take a COMSAE and get a 500 or better. It will be a nightmare if you fail a third time. My school kicks you out after three failed attempts and some do after two. Make sure you know your school's policy. Taking time off for a course is better than getting kicked out fourth year. And I agree, once you've done a qbank it is hard for the second time around to mean much. Good luck and do not take the test November 15th unless you are ready!

 

[sylvanthus]

I would switch to UWorld especially since COMBANK and COMQUEST have not been working for you and you have done them both. Also, if you have time, go through some kaplan videos in your weak areas if you can afford it or have access.

After that, take an NBME, not a bloody COMSAE. COMSAEs are useless IMO as I have seen multiple multiple people pass the COMSAEs and then fail the real thing. I don't think they are predictive. The NBME will give you a pretty good breakdown of your weaknesses so you know what to focus on that last couple weeks. The COMSAE and COMLEX subject breakdown is ******ed ( eg, healthcare systems or whatever it is, how do you study for that?).

 

[iowafarmstud]

First--I'm sorry the COMLEX has got you down. Take a deep breath in and tell yourself that you can do this...because you can. The COMLEX is one of the most random tests anyone will ever take, so you need to be mentally preparing yourself for that on test day...you will inevitably get a good handful of questions that are bizarre, off-the-wall things that seem like they have no right answer, multiple right answers, etc.

Now--I agree with sylvanthus in everything that was said. COMSAE's are a waist of money and time. The biggest thing it sounds like you need to do is to build your "test question knowledge base"--and the best way to do that is UWorld. "I'm not taking the USMLE" you say...and I have had many friends/students tell me that and chose to use only COMBANK/COMQUEST...I think that is the biggest mistake. UWorld will give you a SOLID knowledge base on what you need to know to answer enough questions to pass. Starting off--it may suck at first and you may have terrible percentages, but throw the percentages out the window. I think SDN and many people trust too much on getting %X and expecting to pass. The goal of question banks is to LEARN. My UWorld % at first were nothing to write home about, but they steadily improved as I went along. So, don't worry about % or comparing to others, just get UWorld and LEARN. UWorld was my sole source for "learning material" for the second set of boards. I believe that COMQUEST was useful in getting you to "think" like the COMLEX, but in no way would COMBANK/COMQUEST be sufficient as a knowledge base.

Anyway--my routine is to take a UWorld Q set of 44 Q's, then go through each question, regardless of if I got it right or wrong, reading the answer/explanation to all wrong/right answers, referring to a review book if it was a "major" topic that I needed some further understanding on, then repeat the cycle. Studying was boring and took forever...but I have had success on both sets of boards, so I must be doing something right?!

Good luck on what you decide to do and good luck on the next round of the COMLEX...you'll get it this time!

 

[needofhelp]

Thanks to everyone for putting in their two cents...here is some more information

1) Do I have test anxiety/do I panic? Yes and no. What I mean by this is leading up to the exam I get pretty stressed out (I mean who doesn't?) and get a bit anxious but once I sit down to take the exam I feel fine (well, as fine as a person can feel in an 8 hour exam).

2) I have done the question banks and I do take my time and see why I get questions right and wrong. It seems like some of you have mentioned doing UWorld and I did do some questions for Step 1 but there was a huge discrepancy between COMLEX questions and what they test on versus what the USMLE tests on but it is something I definitely will look in to.

3) I did just sign up for the November 15th COMLEX exam because the next 3 weeks are very light for me and I will have a lot of time to study. I also just ordered DIT for Step 2 and hope to bust it all out in hopefully the next 15-16 days and then maybe do UWorld questions after that, or do you think I should do questions as I go through DIT? Also, do you think I should do questions by topic or just a random set?

Thanks again for the words of encouragement. I am extremely depressed right now and just want everything to be done with already...

 

[Monggo522]

Hey so i share your pain dude...really do....So here is what i have to add. I failed step 2 the first time. scored around 380 something and was devastated...But at the same time i knew it was my fault because i did not study enough, or study properly...But here is what i did to redeem myself and i did end up passing the second time with a 532, so you can deff do it too!!

So i ordered DIT, and i also did the OMM component to it. i figured i was spending so much, what is a few extra hundred bucks and I also thought I might have been missing some OMM concepts. So I was on a rotation working 9 hours a day and still came home and tried to do 6-10 lectures per night..so yea dont expect to get much sleep. I was able to finish it in 18-19 days. and i only did it on single speed, because i did not want to rush through it.

Now for question banks. for the first time around i only did comquest and combank... which did not turn out so well. So the second time around I did Uworld every day while at work, tried to do atleast 40 questions per day. At night i will do about 50 combank questions, less if i was just super drained. I also did them both on tutor mode. the last 10 days i just focused on finishing every single combank question, and tried to fit a few uworld questions in also.

I also took both comsae's and Comsae B was 20 points lower than my original score, so a very good estimator.

I hope this helps you out a little. Keep your head up, it is rough, but just do everything possible it would be worth it in the end.

 

[needofhelp]

Thanks a lot for all of the advice and the words of encouragement. It's really hard to stay positive when you put in a lot of effort and your score goes lower.

I ordered DIT but I didn't get the OMM package but I think I may call them tomorrow and order it over the phone. I probably will start doing UWorld questions starting tomorrow and try to get through most of them. I've already done COMBANK now three times (I believe) so I may opt to do Comquest (since I've only done them once and did them really quickly) as my supplemental questions for the combank.

I just hope this is enough to not only pass my Step 2 but to obliterate them and show the different programs that I can do this.

 

[aliDO]

COMSAEs have been all over the place. That's why I said a 500 would be the minimum of what you would want. I would still take one. I scored around 20 points lower on the real deal. Do not skip OMM! DIT works for a lot of people if you lack structure. I would do both DIT and questions as questions IMO are the best way to prepare. Good luck!

 

[rc4ch]

You mentioned 3 weeks to study this on top of rotations? I'm not sure if that's going to be enough time to be honest with DIT and qbanks. I did DIT with the OMM and the main DIT course takes a while to get through. I took time off and that's all I did for 2 weeks and barely finished it in time. The OMM part can probably be completed in a weekend. But you want to review DIT after each lecture. Plus qbanks and going over the answers takes a lot of time.

I would recommend you to really absorb the material and not rush through DIT. But I understand the time constraints.

Good luck.

 

[needofhelp]

I just asked my school if I could take some time off and if they would allow it then I will have about 5 weeks of free time just for studying (granted, I lose a couple of days to interviews and my PE exam in Philadelphia). But it's not like I'm studying this stuff for the first time (even though my scores did suck).

Quick question: When doing UWorld questions, do you recommend that I just do random question sets to learn or do you think I should do them by subjects? For instance I just finished 7 Neuro lectures in DIT today and was thinking about starting Neuro questions tomorrow in UWorld and maybe doing like 40-50 questions in Comquest on 'random' just as an overall review. What do you guys/girls think?

And thanks again for all the words of encouragement and advice that you all have given me. It truly means a lot.

 

[iowafarmstud]

I just asked my school if I could take some time off and if they would allow it then I will have about 5 weeks of free time just for studying (granted, I lose a couple of days to interviews and my PE exam in Philadelphia). But it's not like I'm studying this stuff for the first time (even though my scores did suck).

Quick question: When doing UWorld questions, do you recommend that I just do random question sets to learn or do you think I should do them by subjects? For instance I just finished 7 Neuro lectures in DIT today and was thinking about starting Neuro questions tomorrow in UWorld and maybe doing like 40-50 questions in Comquest on 'random' just as an overall review. What do you guys/girls think?

And thanks again for all the words of encouragement and advice that you all have given me. It truly means a lot.

Do UWorld on random...the COMLEX will be random, so you need to prepare that way. If you were just starting 3rd year, subject by subject can be fine (in my opinion)...but train your mind to be able to change from category to category so you not only increase your knowledge base, but your actual test taking skills.

 

[st3ady]

this is a helpful thread as i am in a similar situation. i am on the fence between going to the pass program in illinois or ordering DIT... hope to make a decision soon
good luck i am sure we will succeed!

 

[balash]

Hi I just read your thread and I'm in the same situation except I should found out I failed the second time because I took the first exam late. Can you please let me know what worked for you?! I'm not sure what to do right now because I'm on a time crunch too. Did you take time off to study and how much time did you take? What did you do to pass? PLEASE HELP!

 

[needofhelp]

Don't fret buddy, you'll be alright.

I actually did quite well the 3rd time around. This is what really helped for me: Doctors In Training. That program and book helped a lot and they had a lot of high yield stuff that helped me for my exam. I also did take a month off so that I could focus solely on DIT and I did USMLE World Questions. Both of those together really helped me a lot and I think if you stick to those and just breathe that you'll do fine. If you need any other help or advice let me know. The most important thing here is to breathe, be confident and just take it one day at a time.

 

[balash]

Hey thanks for replying. I actually did the DIT lectures and read step up to Step 2 the first time I took it while doing about 750 q of comquest the first time. I didnt feel like that book did much for me in terms of obtaining knowledge so the second time I read thru all of First Aid for Step 2(which i thought was written better and had a lot more necessary information than Step Up) and did 350 q from comquest since I was rushing to finish reading the book while still on rotations. So you used a total of 4 weeks to study for the exam(and those whole 4 weeks you were off rotations?) ? Not sure how to go about studying this time. I'm really slow when it comes to reviewing questions so I have a hard time getting a lot of questions done. Any advice you have from now seeing what my previous study plans were would be very helpful. THanks again for replying!

 

[needofhelp]

Did you do the DIT course with their workbook and everything or did you do the bootleg just watch the videos? Because I've done the whole download the videos and watch it and I actually bough the course where I have the workbook and stuff and that makes a HUGE difference. I understand it's a lot of money (trust me, I do) but I swear doing the workbook and the pre and post quizzes helps to solidify the material so well in your mind and I saw so many questions on the COMLEX that were literally verbatim from the quizzes in the DIT book. It's well worth it.

And I did COMQUEST and COMBANK and I was averaging about 85% and higher and still didn't pass. Both of those question banks suck in my opinion. I would definitely focus solely USMLE World and maybe use the OMM questions from COMQUEST or COMBANK. If you do the DIT COURSE and USMLE World questions and go over them in detail as to why you get them wrong then I really do think you should pass and get 450 or above. I hope that helps. If you need anything else just let me know. I'll be praying for you and sending good vibes your way..

 

[cheruka]

All I did was to make notes out of comquest and combank. Read the notes 3 times. Worked for me.

 

[bklounge]

Hey thanks for replying. I actually did the DIT lectures and read step up to Step 2 the first time I took it while doing about 750 q of comquest the first time. I didnt feel like that book did much for me in terms of obtaining knowledge so the second time I read thru all of First Aid for Step 2(which i thought was written better and had a lot more necessary information than Step Up) and did 350 q from comquest since I was rushing to finish reading the book while still on rotations. So you used a total of 4 weeks to study for the exam(and those whole 4 weeks you were off rotations?) ? Not sure how to go about studying this time. I'm really slow when it comes to reviewing questions so I have a hard time getting a lot of questions done. Any advice you have from now seeing what my previous study plans were would be very helpful. THanks again for replying!

Hey, sorry to hear about your situation. I can relate bc I went through the same with step 1. Anyways, I know you're in a time crunch so let me know if you want my step 2 notes that I took from combank and comquest. Good luck!