how to increase the score to passing

[malutka]

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Hello everybody,
I took test a month ago and failed with the score 167. I just need a passing score and I need to start studding again. But I am confused what to do now, what did I do wrong and wasn't able to pass. If anyone have suggestions how to increase my score and take an exam very soon (like in a month) please advise. Any advice will be helpful.
Thanks,
Maya.

 

[HLxDrummer]

I don't really have any special tips unfortunately.. what subject gave you the most trouble? I would just go for the highest yield stuff in the area you are the weakest in and/or review pathology.

 

[Brain Bucket]

Hello everybody,
I took test a month ago and failed with the score 167. I just need a passing score and I need to start studding again. But I am confused what to do now, what did I do wrong and wasn't able to pass. If anyone have suggestions how to increase my score and take an exam very soon (like in a month) please advise. Any advice will be helpful.
Thanks,
Maya.

You gotta tell us what you did for us to recommend a course of action.

My first instinct would be to tell you take NBME 15 with extended feedback.

Then memorize FA (starting with the weakest subject shown in the feedback from the NBME) in a manner such that you'd be able to reproduce it by memory (break it town into something manageable like 20-30 pages a day) and do as much of UW as you can.

Take NBME 13 before you sit the test because you don't want to fail it a second time. I only see you passing in a month if you're putting in some serious time.

 

[Nephronlearner]

I would suggest getting a tutor. You would be amazed at how much you can improve in just a month working with them. PM me if you would like the contact info for the tutor I use. It really has helped me tremendously. My NBNE score increased by 75 points!

75 points in one month? wow
On the other hand, 2 of your first 3 posts are about getting a tutor (and any other method being useless). Wonder how much this "tutor" charges

Anyway... I kind of doubt any person who has managed to get into medical school and graduate would really need a tutor in order to pass an academic exam.

 

[Shjanzey]

I'm really tired of this negativity on the forums.

I am surprised you didn't expect some level of skepticism. People are naturally wary when it comes to spending money on an untried source.

I think Brain Bucket's recommendation that OP share more information so that the weaknesses can be identified and a new strategy can be outlined is a nice place to start. I imagine a tutor would probably start at the same place 👍

 

[Nephronlearner]

Different thread, soccerdoc 😛 I think the one about First Aid videos (no clue if they are really useless but you did in fact call them useless and recommended tutor instead lol)

And creating an account to write about your "tutor" is indeed beyond suspicious, lol.

And yes, people who graduate medical school are smart enough to find resources that don't charge per hour.

I never took the USMLE but the general test taking advice would be what others have said already: taking a practice test to identify weak areas (no need for a tutor), buying a $25 book and spending a few days studying it (imagine how much money would the tutor earn by teaching someone the entire physiology, for example, lol - while pretty much the same can be done by just getting a decent book) and then taking another sample test to check the progress. I can't imagine USMLE being that much different from every other test. Just find some decent sources (I'm sure plenty of people here who have passed the exam can help) and get better at your weak areas.
Either that or give your next salary to soccerdoc or whoever else "the tutor" is so he could go through BRS Physiology with you 😛

 

[Nephronlearner]

Once again Nephron, referencing a different thread, I did not ever in fact call them useless. Someone who can't read really shouldn't be posting in my opinion. I said I had tried the videos and I found them to be a waste of time. They were helpful but did not utilize my time in an efficient manner. Time is of the essence and should not be used in haste.

I created this account because I myself looked here for advice when I wanted to improve my scores and everyone always says the same thing... take the test, study, take it again and assess. Well, when I did this, did i see improvement? yes. but i'm sorry an average test score is not going to cut it for me. I needed to see more results then what I was getting by what everyone suggests on here. So I got a referral from a friend (who passed his step1 with an impressive score) to try this tutor. I just thought that since no one ever mentions tutoring as an option on these forums.... that I would share with others my experience and let them know whats available because it was never mentioned to me on this forum.

I am not a tutor, I just think that it is worth it to get the score you want. Because lets be honest, if you fail Step1 you can kiss a good residency goodbye. and that is the foundation for your entire career.

and people who graduate medical school know that its gonna take a little bit more than a $25 book investment to get to the next level, you can be average all you want, but that is not what I am striving for.

Also, in response to Shjanzy...Tutoring is not an untired source. The quantitative results are proven....and many people in our profession utilize this. Maybe they are just not sharing it with others because they want to keep the 'secret' to themselves and be ahead of the pack.

I was just trying to help everyone out. Guess I will go back to not being an non active member on this forum because it apparently is too difficult to try to be helpful to others.

The ones who know whats up have already PM'd me.

Last note... Nephron, right you have never taken the USMLE so tell me why any of your comments are even valid? period.

Good for them. I'm sure they will rock everything 👍

I wasn't talking about the USMLE. I have no proper opinion about this particular test - because I haven't taken it. I was talking about test taking in general.

I may be a terrible reader. You don't seem to be much of a reader either, btw. I am not advertising anything, though.

And I'll conclude in similar fashion (the way I see fit):

 

[Nephronlearner]

This a USMLE Step 1 forum, if you are not talking about that then please do not comment.
thanks

🙄 don't worry, I'll find a tutor for reading 😎

 

[Shjanzey]

Also, in response to Shjanzy...Tutoring is not an untired source. The quantitative results are proven....and many people in our profession utilize this. Maybe they are just not sharing it with others because they want to keep the 'secret' to themselves and be ahead of the pack.

I think I wasn't clear. I meant untried as in not knowing the reputation of the person you may or may not be recommending. I acknowledge tutoring in general is pretty good as long as you receiving tutelage from a fully qualified individual.

 

[Doctosanthewan]

Hello everybody,
I took test a month ago and failed with the score 167. I just need a passing score and I need to start studding again. But I am confused what to do now, what did I do wrong and wasn't able to pass. If anyone have suggestions how to increase my score and take an exam very soon (like in a month) please advise. Any advice will be helpful.
Thanks,
Maya.

The most important thing, with anything in life, is absolutely do not allow yourself to become disheartened or feel like its not possible to succeed here.
I think you should really just stop for a moment, take a step back and ask yourself if now is really the best time to take this exam? Can you postpone at least for another 2 or 3 months? What kind of score are you really aiming for? If you ask for pennies, you get pennies...
Not mention the extra added dreadful anxiety thats going to make studying harder and the exam an even more daunting process.

Btw are you an IMG? Reason I ask is that having just a passing grade on step 1 is really going to make life so difficult when you come to try and get yourself a residency. In such case I would really just opt with caution and really taking the extra time to atleast hammer UWorld and FA as intensely as possible.

 

[Lydian]

I think I wasn't clear. I meant untried as in not knowing the reputation of the person you may or may not be recommending. I acknowledge tutoring in general is pretty good as long as you receiving tutelage from a fully qualified individual.

Why are you still talking? Get the hell out of the step 1 forums god damn pre-meds. Seriously. Your opinions mean nothing.