I'm scared to death!

[Teejay]

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I've done 500 questions of Usmle world 🙂 . I can tell you confidently that i have learnt a lot but my scores scare me to death . My average is 50%(random questions) and that is crazy low. I have seen or read most of those materials but it's sometimes hard for me to put them together with the time i have. Besides, the questions in Uworld burn your brains. I'm going over first Aid a second time now because more than 50% of questions i get wrong are materials i read in first aid a long time ago but did not memorise well because i felt they were unimportant. Luckily, the ones i get wrong are ones i can potentially get right by just fact regurgitation if i could memorise first aid cold. I expect my scores to improve drastically if i finish memoring first Aid a second time with all the notes i've made in them, so thats what i'm doing for this week. However, what if i don't improve my scores? what should i do? The good news is that i have 7-weeks before my exam, so this gives me an opportunity to make necessary adjustments should i have to. Any advice will be deeply appreciated.

 

[DrThom]

I've done 500 questions in Usmle world 🙂 . I can tell you confidently that i have learnt a lot but my score scare me to death . My average is 50% and that is crazy low. I have seen or read most of those materials but it's sometimes hard for me to put them together with the time i have. Besides, the questions in Uworld burn your brains. I'm going over first Aid a second time now because more than 50% of questions i get wrong are materials i read in first aid a long time ago but did not memorise well because i felt they were unimportant. Luckily, the ones i get wrong are ones i can potentially get right by just fact regurgitation if i could memorise first aid cold. I expect my score improve drastically if i finish memoring first Aid a second time with all the notes i've made in them, so thats what i'm doing for this week. However, what if i don't improve my scores? what should i do? The good news is that i have 7-weeks before my exam, so this gives me an opportunity to make necessary adjustments should i have to. Any advice will be deeply appreciated.

1) You'll never feel like your ready for the exam
2) Dont' use UW as an assessment tool, use it as a learning tool (as it is meant to be used)...Take an NBME exam to see where you stand
3) You still have the luxury of A LOT of time. Most of us prepare for the exam in less time than you have left,

You're gonna need to learn to trust yourself and have faith or you're going to go nuts

 

[merovingian]

2) Dont' use UW as an assessment tool, use it as a learning tool (as it is meant to be used)

Using this (and any other qbanks for that matter), do you advise using the "tutor" mode that is not timed, or doing all TIMED test blocks? I would assume the timed blocks would be better to assess actual performance, but is tutor mode better for pure learning purposes?

 

[DrThom]

Using this (and any other qbanks for that matter), do you advise using the "tutor" mode that is not timed, or doing all TIMED test blocks? I would assume the timed blocks would be better to assess actual performance, but is tutor mode better for pure learning purposes?

For the most part, I used my question back (QBank, not UW) in tutor mode. I would answer the question to the best of my ability, then look at the answer. If it was right, great! I would still read the explaination. If not, I would read the explaination and attempt to learn from it. These question banks are designed more for learning and less for assessment. The only reason I can see to do a QBank timed is to get your timing down for questions.

 

[Medikit]

Using this (and any other qbanks for that matter), do you advise using the "tutor" mode that is not timed, or doing all TIMED test blocks? I would assume the timed blocks would be better to assess actual performance, but is tutor mode better for pure learning purposes?

Sometimes I used the tutor mode, sometimes I didn't, it depended on how much motivation I had- that is I tend to go through more questions when I didn't use tutor mode but when going over areas or questions that I had previously missed I found tutor mode to be more helpful. As always use what works best for you.

 

[blz]

You got a lot of time man. Our school only gives us 6 weeks to study for the test and if you've been through all the material already, you are way ahead of all of us (our school avg is ~230). I started a little bit earlier, but I only got through Biochem, Microbio, and Immuno. I did really good 2nd year so I'm hoping a lot of my path knowledge comes back to me.

 

[freaker]

I'm beginning to hate my school. We get a grand total of 4 weeks to study for Step I. That's it. 🙁

 

[gunnison]

I have about 4 and a half weeks to study, and I really wonder if it is going to be enough time.

 

[Teejay]

My school gives only 6-weeks. I started studying very early. It really hurt me because my grades dropped for the last block😡 . I'm still taking a course now which is probably going to end somtime next week. I hope all this suffering pays off in the end.

 

[doctorp82]

3 weeks post finals till my date

 

[goodies]

My school gives only 6-weeks. I started studying very early. It really hurt me because my grades dropped for the last block😡 . I'm still taking a course now which is probably going to end somtime next week. I hope all this suffering pays off in the end.

hey teejay, has ur UW scores gone up since reviewing FA? how many Q per day r u doing?

 

[Teejay]

hey teejay, has ur UW scores gone up since reviewing FA? how many Q per day r u doing?

I'm still revewing first Aid. Its taking me longer than expected. I hope to begin Uworld again IN 2weeks because i want to finish RR path and the Goljan CDs also. I also have my finals coming up, so i have to study for that too. I know my grades will definitely improve after this phase of content review because i view facts differently now i have a fill of how the real thing will be. Besides, the questions i was missing were questions >60% of people got right and could be found in first aid. Its very ironic- i get the tough questions but miss the easy ones. Hopefully, i''ll have some good news after two weeks.