How much biochem on step 1?

[tg78]

I take the test in 2 days and I am realizing biochem is definately my weakness. Took the NBME exams and got a 520 and a 590 and am feeling relatively ok about other subjects. Should I bother focusing on biochem at this point? For those who have taken the test, how much biochem showed up on yours? Still thinking pharm might be higher yeild....

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[Jalby]

I was a biochem masters and got a lot. My roommate never took biochem and didn't really get any. Not sure that helps, but there you go.

 

[NateatUC]

I didn't get too much straight biochem (i.e. pathway type stuff), but if you include genetics (which was taught in our biochem class), I got quite a bit. Significant # questions about the various genetic diseases - PKU, maple syrup urine disease, NF1, etc. I also got a couple of experimental type questions - 1 about lac operon, one about some recombinant genetic thing I had no clue about.

That was just my test though.

Good luck!

 

[tg78]

Thanks for the replies. Guess I will spend some time with my FA bichem section today! Yay!

 

[DrSmiles]

TONS! At least on my test anyway. They absolutely clobbered me with biochem, molecular bio, and genetics. So much in fact, that I thought I was taking the GRE at one point. It is really unfair, considering some people got hardly any on their test. I just hope this means I won't be retaking this exam. I did fine on the NBME practice tests, but I thought these practice tests were easy compared to the real test I received. But everyones exam experience is different, you just don't know what you are going to get.

 

[Zummy]

I had quite a bit of biochem too, as well as molecular- ugh! Yes, biochem was my weakness and I was hoping I'd "get lucky" but no such luck pour moi 🙁
Be sure you know the biochem, presentation, and pathology of those storage diseases (even the obscure ones) and enzyme deficiencies inside and out. And know the cycles/pathways/intermediates in FA like the back of your hand. Good luck

 

[Stinger86]

I take the test in 2 days and I am realizing biochem is definately my weakness. Took the NBME exams and got a 520 and a 590 and am feeling relatively ok about other subjects. Should I bother focusing on biochem at this point? For those who have taken the test, how much biochem showed up on yours? Still thinking pharm might be higher yeild....

Pharm is certainly higher yield, but Biochem can beat your head in if you don't know what you're doing. I spent a little extra time near the end of my study schedule redoing biochem just so I had most of the pathways, etc., crammed in my mind. It seemed to serve me well. And now that it's been weeks since I've taking the step, I can still remember path, pharm, micro, etc., but biochemical pathways and minutia are long gone. That's some good crammin'!