Help! My Qbank scores are plummeting!

[Willamette]

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Man...what's going on?! I feel like I'm learning/reviewing fairly well, but my Qbank scores are suffering. Over the course of the last 250-300 Qbank MCQs, I've stunk it up to the tune of ~57% !!! Before that, I was right in the 65% range overall, but now I've just been busted down to 61% overall. I thought things were supposed to get better with studying? I even feel like I'm "guessing" on fewer questions, but that doesn't seem to carry over into a better score. I'm a bit concerned because I take the bad-boy on June 10th...could I have peaked already? Have any of you experienced the same phenomena (i.e. a downward trend in your Qbank scores)?

Willamette

 

[DrDre']

If you think you are still taking the questions with equal diligence to detail and such, and obviously your knowledge is staying the same or improving- then I would analyze the question make up of last 300 ? Maybe there is a much higher number of your weaker subjects such as biochem or immuno (for me!).
THat is generally what causes a significantly weaker score for me when practicing.
Also, if the random mix is truly random, you may have just randomly received a grouping of questions that showed your weaknesses, across the subjects. THis is much scarier.
Also 300 ? is not a big enough sampling in my opinion to freak me out.

These questions are prep for the real test only. Analyze the make up of your questions and improve your knowledge base there.

Good luck,

 

[FoxyDoc]

In my experience QBank has been "randomly non-random" (if that makes any sense). For example, for 1 block of Qs I seem to get a bunch of qs asking random details and for another block of qs I will get mostly big picture/clinical scenario type qs. So, my QBank scores have been extremely variable from 1 block to the next. I will get a 77 and feel okay about things and then I will get a 54 and be like what the F$$k. So, I guess my point is don't be too traumatized by QBank, just try and learn from it. In the end it doesn't matter what your QBank average is as long as you don't make the same mistakes on the real exam.

Good Luck

 

[LovelyRita]

Don't get bogged down by numbers!! You will make it!

 

[Willamette]

Thanks sooo much for the words of encouragement guys! One thing that I did on a whim, to see if I was really making any strides, was to take a block of 50 MCQs made up of only questions that I had missed. I didn't do perfectly, but the 86% made me feel like I was at least retaining SOME of what I was going over (of course some was just recognizing the MCQ). Anyway, how many of you do this from time-to-time?

Willamette

 

[moo]

Yeah I dunno what's going on with Kaplan. I'll get like 70s and 80s for a few days and today I get 44 and 60! Definitely you're not alone... makes me feel better too!

 

[EctopicFetus]

Man, me too recently (last ~400 Qs) ive been getting in the low to mid 70s and then today a 54, 50 and a 65? WTF??? I think i might be having an off day... I feel burnt out. I think Im gonna call it an early day. Get some rest and then 1st thing tomorrow do a 50 Q block. I hear this happens sometimes..

 

[GuitarMan]

I'm glad to hear other people are having this experience. My scores have been in the low to mid 70s for the last week, then all of a sudden today I'm getting reamed (two 58's and a 65). I think those clowns at Kaplan decided to roll out all the obscure stuff today to make us all freak out so we'll keep buying there damn test prep crap.

 

[BrooklynDO]

I'm glad to hear other people are having this experience. My scores have been in the low to mid 70s for the last week, then all of a sudden today I'm getting reamed (two 58's and a 65). I think those clowns at Kaplan decided to roll out all the obscure stuff today to make us all freak out so we'll keep buying there damn test prep crap.

its a conspiracy I tell you

 

[giznut12]

Does anyone else feel like they don't know anything? I take the USMLE in two days and despite finishing with a 72% ave (random) on Qbank, I feel like I am not going to do well. Is this normal?

 

[LovelyRita]

its a conspiracy I tell you

I'm a firm believer in this. Have you ever noticed that the ppl that work for kaplan are kind of robotic...like they have to live in Kaplan homes and eat Kaplan food and can only watch Kaplan TV and wear Kaplan clothes. Couple of years ago I took Kaplan for the mcat and it was in a different city, but it was the same way!! Even some of the professors, if you talk to them after class or something, they have this look like "please stop talking to me soon or I may divulge a Kaplan secret, at which time I will self destruct"

I would not be surpriseed one bit if they cranked it up a notch the week before the exam. Then you pass just fine and sigh "oh.....thank GOD I took Kaplan 😍 ".

OK I'm done now. I just woke up from a 3 hour nap on my Kaplan pillow. Things are really looking up. 🙄
M. Kaplan

 

[LovelyRita]

Does anyone else feel like they don't know anything? I take the USMLE in two days and despite finishing with a 72% ave (random) on Qbank, I feel like I am not going to do well. Is this normal?

I take my tests next week and the week after. In the coming days I'll be getting most of my medical education, since clearly I have never set foot in a med school ever.

 

[giznut12]

What are u talking about??? 😕

 

[LovelyRita]

I'm just joking.

It's a joke.

I take Comlex next tues. usmle the 16th. as I study I think to myself "i'm never gonna remember all this."

sorry to confuse.

 

[BrooklynDO]

I'm a firm believer in this. Have you ever noticed that the ppl that work for kaplan are kind of robotic...like they have to live in Kaplan homes and eat Kaplan food and can only watch Kaplan TV and wear Kaplan clothes. Couple of years ago I took Kaplan for the mcat and it was in a different city, but it was the same way!! Even some of the professors, if you talk to them after class or something, they have this look like "please stop talking to me soon or I may divulge a Kaplan secret, at which time I will self destruct"

I would not be surpriseed one bit if they cranked it up a notch the week before the exam. Then you pass just fine and sigh "oh.....thank GOD I took Kaplan 😍 ".

OK I'm done now. I just woke up from a 3 hour nap on my Kaplan pillow. Things are really looking up. 🙄
M. Kaplan

mary dear, thats the funniest thing ive heard in a while
Ive never taken a review course... sat, mcat, anything, and this is the first time im using their books (and qbank)
supposedly this should improve my score or something... i doubt it tho... i always did B+ anywhere i went and did better than people expected on the big tests...unfortunately this time that will require and me to start reading the questions...which after i go over my tests, seems like i dont do
😱
anyway

 

[LovelyRita]

mary dear, thats the funniest thing ive heard in a while
Ive never taken a review course... sat, mcat, anything, and this is the first time im using their books (and qbank)
supposedly this should improve my score or something... i doubt it tho... i always did B+ anywhere i went and did better than people expected on the big tests...unfortunately this time that will require and me to start reading the questions...which after i go over my tests, seems like i dont do
😱
anyway

Yeah Brooklyn, I need to start reading the questions too. I can't believe some of the stuff I overlook...

Hang in there!! 🙂

 

[Rod Farva]

F*** Qbank.

 

[Stinger86]

F*** Qbank.

 

[Brian Pavlovitz]

What a relief! I thought I was the only one sitting here saying: "Did I even ATTEND medical school for the past 2 years?"

Best of luck to everyone! 😉

 

[EMDrMoe]

I take my tests next week and the week after. In the coming days I'll be getting most of my medical education, since clearly I have never set foot in a med school ever.

That is the FUNNIEST thing I've ever heard, probably because I can relate so well!

I'm so glad to hear that other people are having the same Qbank problems. I actually am not doing any questions today and didn't do any yesterday. I'm just getting through a lot of information those days so I can have a "power review" for the week before the exam iwith a lot of questions. I hope it helps.

Good luck everyone!

PS - Has anyone that's been a good test taker in the past been having trouble getting their game face on? I have 9 days to find it!

 

[phllystyl]

Im down with the conspiracy theory as well.

Not as far as robots, but i wonder sometimes about the content of the questions and the few good blocks- bad block pattern that just seems to keep on repeating.

Would not surprise me at all if a) Kaplan knows their questions are different in scope than the released items and the basic science assessments, and b) this difference is done on purpose.

What if Kaplan is just forcing us this whole time to dig deeper into the finer details of it all with the assumption that the reasoning is something we'll already have?

just .02....

 

[moo]

Im down with the conspiracy theory as well.

Not as far as robots, but i wonder sometimes about the content of the questions and the few good blocks- bad block pattern that just seems to keep on repeating.

Would not surprise me at all if a) Kaplan knows their questions are different in scope than the released items and the basic science assessments, and b) this difference is done on purpose.

What if Kaplan is just forcing us this whole time to dig deeper into the finer details of it all with the assumption that the reasoning is something we'll already have?

just .02....

DOn't you guys all remember the MCAT? I took TPR and their practice tests A-D were the most impossible things. I'm down with this too--that Kaplan purposely stresses us out so that in the end we look back and recommend Kaplan to our peers.

 

[EctopicFetus]

Positive news report.. did another 50 Q block today after yesterdays horrific performance. Back up to 72%... Thank GOD!!

Good luck to everyone!

 

[Willamette]

Positive news report.. did another 50 Q block today after yesterdays horrific performance. Back up to 72%... Thank GOD!!

Good luck to everyone!

Congrats Ecto! I'm "back on the wagon" too as it were, with 2 70's on Random 50 mcq blocks! I always suspected that I'd get hammered by some rough blocks, but I just wasn't prepared to have so many of them in a row! One week to got, then I'll put this "mutha" behind me...Best of luck everyone!

Willamette

 

[Legion560]

As much as I hate "me too" replies...I have getting worked over as well. I thought Id take a one day break from questions to refresh myself and start again. First block of 50 today....I actually had to step outside for a second, bang my head agaisnt a concrete wall and scream F**&!!!!! at the top of my lungs. Gathering my bloody self together, I stepped back in, did another 50 and got 72 (partial redemption) Then I went back, looked at the first block as saw some of the really obscure pathophys connections they pulled. Dug out BRS path and FA and I could not find some of the answers in those books.

Maybe if I read the Kaplan books, they would show me the correct Kaplan mental masturbation techniques in order to get their questions and pass this motherf###er.

I need a drink

Legion

 

[BrooklynDO]

As much as I hate "me too" replies...I have getting worked over as well. I thought Id take a one day break from questions to refresh myself and start again. First block of 50 today....I actually had to step outside for a second, bang my head agaisnt a concrete wall and scream F**&!!!!! at the top of my lungs. Gathering my bloody self together, I stepped back in, did another 50 and got 72 (partial redemption) Then I went back, looked at the first block as saw some of the really obscure pathophys connections they pulled. Dug out BRS path and FA and I could not find some of the answers in those books.

Maybe if I read the Kaplan books, they would show me the correct Kaplan mental masturbation techniques in order to get their questions and pass this motherf###er.

I need a drink

Legion

i have said kaplan masturbation instructions... they dont help
some of the qbook questions require info or drugs that arent in there...or they say "X is also used" but nothing about what it does... and then ask interaction Q.
also, their mental acrobatics are sometimes soo incredible in their arial skillz that it causes one to doubt the uselessness of "which doesnt fit" style of answering questions

 

[EMDrMoe]

Do you guys feel the same when you do practice questions as you did when you started studying? I HOPE that isn't the case & I've learned stuff and just don't "feel" like it. It's getting pretty frustrating. I get stumped on the same old stuff, it seems (and have very little time to fix that!).

 

[Willamette]

Do you guys feel the same when you do practice questions as you did when you started studying? I HOPE that isn't the case & I've learned stuff and just don't "feel" like it. It's getting pretty frustrating. I get stumped on the same old stuff, it seems (and have very little time to fix that!).

For myself, I feel like I am guessing a lot less, but my scores are only creeping up. In other words, I'm not DOING a whole lot better overall, but I'm certainly FEELING like I KNOW a lot more of the answers now than when I first started Qbank ~3+ weeks ago. I guess you could say that the mid-upper 60's that I get now are stronger than the low-mid60s I was getting whatever that means...

Keep it up, and learn from your mistakes/lucky guesses. It'll all be over soon enough. Best of luck to you!


Willamette

 

[EMDrMoe]

For myself, I feel like I am guessing a lot less, but my scores are only creeping up. In other words, I'm not DOING a whole lot better overall, but I'm certainly FEELING like I KNOW a lot more of the answers now than when I first started Qbank ~3+ weeks ago. I guess you could say that the mid-upper 60's that I get now are stronger than the low-mid60s I was getting whatever that means...

Keep it up, and learn from your mistakes/lucky guesses. It'll all be over soon enough. Best of luck to you!


Willamette

Thanks 🙂 I think if I smush a bit more self confidence in there instead of the exact OPPOSITE I'll feel much better! 😎

 

[BrooklynDO]

I feel like im guessing less, and by less i mean i guess between two choices and not between all 5

 

[Willamette]

I feel like im guessing less, and by less i mean i guess between two choices and not between all 5

...too true, too true!


Willamette