How to do question banks

[dreamdoc7]

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Does it really make a difference how u do questions? Such as timed or tutor mode? I understand that timed mode gets u the feeling of the real exam, but will it really affect the way I perform on the exam if I do them in tutor mode? The NBMEs are timed anyways.. I just like the fact that I don't have to wait til the block is completely over to see where I made my mistakes.. This way I can change my thought process which lead me to the wrong answer right away.. Maybe I should do them on tutor mode for a while and then switch to timed mode later?

 

[justinbaily]

How about 'timed-tutor' mode?

 

[OveractiveBrain]

Does it really make a difference how u do questions? Such as timed or tutor mode? I understand that timed mode gets u the feeling of the real exam, but will it really affect the way I perform on the exam if I do them in tutor mode? The NBMEs are timed anyways.. I just like the fact that I don't have to wait til the block is completely over to see where I made my mistakes.. This way I can change my thought process which lead me to the wrong answer right away.. Maybe I should do them on tutor mode for a while and then switch to timed mode later?

The debate you are having is between Learning and Training.

If you use the Qbanks to Learn, then the goal is really to read the explanations, link them to First Aid, and you don't care about getting the answers wrong. You can't possibly get the answer right if you haven't learned the content yet. This strategy is superior if done during your second year in medical school or at the beginning of your Step studying. It is the "first-pass" at the Step material and you will still be synthesizing the information. For learning, I recommend Kaplan qbank as the explanations are superior, they have ReKap, references to First Aid, and the questions are harder.

If you use the Qbanks to Train, then the goal is really to ignore the explanations but to get used to the hinge-type question, get used to the grueling pace of the exam, and to test your knowledge. This can also be useful to assess where you are at currently. As you said, NBMEs sort of do this. For trianing, I recommend UWorld QBank as the questions and interface are almost identical to the software you use on the real deal.

If you have to choose only one Qbank, I would pick Uworld. Just because Kaplan is better at teaching doesn't mean Uworld doesn't teach. The emphasis must be on Learning over Training. And again, you have other resources to assess your performance, that is, to train.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

The debate you are having is between Learning and Training.

If you use the Qbanks to Learn, then the goal is really to read the explanations, link them to First Aid, and you don't care about getting the answers wrong. You can't possibly get the answer right if you haven't learned the content yet. This strategy is superior if done during your second year in medical school or at the beginning of your Step studying. It is the "first-pass" at the Step material and you will still be synthesizing the information. For learning, I recommend Kaplan qbank as the explanations are superior, they have ReKap, references to First Aid, and the questions are harder.

If you use the Qbanks to Train, then the goal is really to ignore the explanations but to get used to the hinge-type question, get used to the grueling pace of the exam, and to test your knowledge. This can also be useful to assess where you are at currently. As you said, NBMEs sort of do this. For trianing, I recommend UWorld QBank as the questions and interface are almost identical to the software you use on the real deal.

If you have to choose only one Qbank, I would pick Uworld. Just because Kaplan is better at teaching doesn't mean Uworld doesn't teach. The emphasis must be on Learning over Training. And again, you have other resources to assess your performance, that is, to train.

Followup:
Obivously there are many ways of using Qbanks, and this is very rigid, black and white. You can imagine reading a section in first aid, then doing timed mode to assess your skill in the area, then read over the explanations (Training and Learning simultaneously) afterwards.

I, like you, like to know where my mistakes were made immediately. This can, however, effects your performance on test day. If you get too used to learning your mistake instantly, and that ability is taken away on test day, you have "trained poorly" and it may interfere with your psyche.

Lots of things to think about. What it comes down to is Learning or Training. Ideally, you do both. If you can only do one, learning is more important than training; you cant perform on a knowledge test without the knowledge.

 

[kaleerkalut]

Followup:
Obivously there are many ways of using Qbanks, and this is very rigid, black and white. You can imagine reading a section in first aid, then doing timed mode to assess your skill in the area, then read over the explanations (Training and Learning simultaneously) afterwards.

I, like you, like to know where my mistakes were made immediately. This can, however, effects your performance on test day. If you get too used to learning your mistake instantly, and that ability is taken away on test day, you have "trained poorly" and it may interfere with your psyche.

Lots of things to think about. What it comes down to is Learning or Training. Ideally, you do both. If you can only do one, learning is more important than training; you cant perform on a knowledge test without the knowledge.

Thanks for your advice! I was doing Kaplan Qbank along with classes on timed tutor but then I decided to switch and make UWorld my priority approximately 6 months out from Step 1. I've been told by many that if I'm shooting for 265+ that I should go through UWorld 2x and that's why I did this (I'm also doing these timed-tutor mode). What do you think about this new strategy vs. the old one? By the way, I'm also doing the Robbins Question Book (even though I'm only reading Rapid Review Pathology) as well. Thanks in advance 🙂

 

[dreamdoc7]

Thanks for the great response man 😀