Hi
I took the nbme 3 today. I scored 300 points which is 163. My exam is in a couple of weeks, and I was wondering if someone could tell me how I could bring up the mark to around 400. . I was really depressed after getting the marks. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance
A real quick answer, since I'm in the kitchen...
(1) Make sure you are not trying to study too many different things, but stick to your resources and learn them well
(2) Be proficient with FA, know it VERY WELL...
(3) Understand your weaknesses... Look at the NBME, they are pretty SPOT ON regard what your weaknesses may be.
For example, I knew that I was very strong in physiology so I barely spent 2 days studying physio. But, I was very weak in biochem, so I spent more than 3 days on that....
AT THE SAME TIME HOWEVER, if you feel that you are weak in a major subject such as PATHOLOGY, than make sure you have that down. For example, if you feel like you are not as strong in both Path and Behavior/Micro, make sure you hit Pathology first.
(4) Do questions, AT LEAST 50 A DAY, and make sure you review the answers THOROUGHLY... Reading the answers will solidify what you already know and teach you CONCEPTS that will build you knowledge base. Do NOT underestimate the power of questions (sounds funny, but true). Another key point, if you are weak in one subject, than do more questions in that subject. So for me, I nearly finished all the questions in the USMLEWorld Qbank for my weak subjects, such as Biochem, Pharm and Micro, but had more than 300 Q left for Patho and Pathophyiology...
(5) DO NOT PANIC!!!!!!! Don't be an idiot and freak your self out!!!!! Just don't do that to yourself... You'll just stress yourself out and there is not reason for that, it will take away from your studying... Just STUDY, instead of THINKING about how much you need to study. That is, don't say to yourself "THERE IS SO MUCH TO STUDY", rather study one bite at a time and you will get it done!
(6) TWO WEEKS IS A LONG TIME! BELIEVE ME!!! Take about 30min or so to make a general schedule for yourself for the next couple of weeks... that will calm you down, and give you some structure, and take a look at the schedule and sort of do a status check as to where you are as you study....
Anyway, hope that helps so far, I gotta go cook my salmon....
but good luck and stay calm.... If you study you will be rewarded...
