how much do I need to study to just pass boards?

[ortnakas]

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I didn't use it. I think you're spreading yourself too thin using that many Qbanks. Do UW along with only another Qbank and preferably go through UW twice.

Remember, it's a quality vs quantity thing. Yes, you do need the volume and the sufficient exposure to different material to improve your odds at seeing stuff that will be presented on your boards. However, there's only so much you can absorb given the limited time we have to study. Therefore, you need to limit your material and try to master it.

Second the parts about spreading yourself to thin and quality vs quantity. I differ from most because I do recommend getting through Combank along with UWorld. Don't spend time annotating explanations like UWorld, and yes a lot of questions suck, but the question style is very similar to COMLEX (for Level 1 anyway). UWorld prepares you on the material which is the more important part, but Combank prepares you for the different approach.

 

[starri]

I'm pro-COMBANK + UWorld. I think UWorld is better for the science stuff, but COMBANK is needed just to remind yourself about how bizarre COMLEX questions are.

 

[NontradCA]

Let's not pretend that doing well on step 1/level 1 makes a better doctor, even resident. I don't have a problem with being blunt, but postulating someone's gonna kill people for not memorizing first aid is absurd. You're not gonna retain that **** anyway, so I'd say there's more correlation trying during first two years to get foundations than what's reflected on a standardized exam score.

I scored 90+ percentile on level 1, step 1 and I can say that dedicated study hasn't helped me in the least during third year. For IM COMAT, maybe. But otherwise you forget all that stuff. Lets not kid ourselves children. Medical school is something to get through.

 

[Goro]

We have good data at my school that the more COMBANK questions you do, the higher your COMLEX score.

That said, I'm a firm believer in that there aren't enough practice questions out there, so the more you do from any bank, the better.

How essential is COMBANK? Like between my Kaplan, RX, UWORLD, and COMBANK. Am I even going to remotely have the time to do that many questions?

 

[hallowmann]

How essential is COMBANK? Like between my Kaplan, RX, UWORLD, and COMBANK. Am I even going to remotely have the time to do that many questions?

I agree with the others about spreading yourself too thin. I'd drop Rx and honestly maybe even Kaplan. If you're just doing them now, that's fine, but I stopped using RX by Dec/Jan of 2nd year.

A couple passes through Uworld would probably serve you better than other qbanks.

I felt combank was good for getting used to the format of the COMLEX before Level 1. I actually felt Uworld was more representative of Level 2. I didn't finish Combank, but did a decent percentage of it.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I agree with the others about spreading yourself too thin. I'd drop Rx and honestly maybe even Kaplan. If you're just doing them now, that's fine, but I stopped using RX by Dec/Jan of 2nd year.

A couple passes through Uworld would probably serve you better than other qbanks.

I felt combank was good for getting used to the format of the COMLEX before Level 1. I actually felt Uworld was more representative of Level 2. I didn't finish Combank, but did a decent percentage of it.

We have a 2 month dedicated study period tho. It doesn't start until... 4 months from now.

 

[hallowmann]

We have a 2 month dedicated study period tho. It doesn't start until... 4 months from now.

That's amazing. I really wish I had that kind of dedicated study time for step & level 1. 6 wks to study and then the 2 exams a week apart with enough time to move. Awesome.

I mean if you feel like you're getting a lot out of them, then sure, but you should probably stop in like 2-3 mos and focus on Uworld at that point.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

That's amazing. I really wish I had that kind of dedicated study time for step & level 1. 6 wks to study and then the 2 exams a week apart with enough time to move. Awesome.

I mean if you feel like you're getting a lot out of them, then sure, but you should probably stop in like 2-3 mos and focus on Uworld at that point.

Actually it's more like 10 weeks. 8 weeks to study, Usmle on the 9th week, comlex on the 10th week.

The cost however is that the curriculum makes it almost entirely impossible to do dedicated study or review during class.

 

[hallowmann]

Actually it's more like 10 weeks. 8 weeks to study, Usmle on the 9th week, comlex on the 10th week.

The cost however is that the curriculum makes it almost entirely impossible to do dedicated study or review during class.

Yeah, but still, you barely need to study during the curriculum. 8 weeks of only dedicated studying is more than pretty much anyone would need. Just make sure you use all of it. Like you will live and breathe Uworld, FA and Pathoma 10-12 hrs a day 7 days a week for dedicated study.

Don't get too burned out beforehand too though. The worst thing you can do is be tired of FA and Uworld before even rolling into dedicated study.

 

[chizledfrmstone]

Actually it's more like 10 weeks. 8 weeks to study, Usmle on the 9th week, comlex on the 10th week.

The cost however is that the curriculum makes it almost entirely impossible to do dedicated study or review during class.

Study the material well the first time. Far too many people tried to half ass board prep with half assing class work. They ended up full assing everything.

 

[Rekt]

We have a 2 month dedicated study period tho. It doesn't start until... 4 months from now.

I have like 3-4 weeks. That's an unreal amount of time.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Study the material well the first time. Far too many people tried to half ass board prep with half assing class work. They ended up full assing everything.

That's what I try haha. Robbins is hard tho.