Help -- Kaplan Disaster

[mojojojo]

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Ok, so I'm in a dead panic and need some help.

I got the Kaplan Web Prep and started my studies (4 weeks ago) with their prelim test. I got a 55%, which I was told was good for someone starting.

Two weeks later I took the test provided by USMLE, and got a 64%. Apparently that's about equivalent to passing.

Last week, took NBME #1 and scored the equivalent of a 201, so I figured with 3 weeks left, I would be fine.

Today, I took the full-length Kaplan exam and got a freaking 53%. They say the passing equivalent is 65%. I'm devastated. I have no idea how I could have done so poorly. The thing is, I didn't feel like it was all that hard, there was stuff I was forgetting but I figured I would cement things these last two weeks.

So, I'm completely panicked. I have two weeks left to study. Has anyone else bombed the Kaplan and still managed to do alright? I don't want to barely scrape by with passing on this thing, but I have no idea what to do.

Thanks for any advice.....

 

[Taus]

I would go w/ another NBME (number 2 or 3 under testing conditions) and trust that result way more then whatever Kaplan says

 

[olliemctuffy]

Don't put too much stock in the kaplan test, especially their statement that 65% is equal to just passing. I agree with Taus, do an NBME and make sure you read the questions slowly and think about your answers even if it seems dead obvious, because if you know the material you should be able to explain to yourself why the answer you are choosing is right. If you do that, you will prevent stupid mistakes and then only miss the questions you really don't know. Good luck!

 

[bjackrian]

Kaplan has a vested interest in freaking you out so that you buy more of their stuff. I pretty consistently did worse on Kaplan products than on NBME products (and other question type books and resources). I agree with what the above people say--do an NBME to see where you stand.