Improving testing speed

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

QuackaDO

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2009
Messages
484
Reaction score
38
How do you guys do it?? I have read quite a few post and almost ALL of them are by people that scored exceptionally high on their boards that they finish with 10-15, sometimes even 20 minutes left in a block? I don't get how that's possible without missing A LOT of info. I just finished a block on World where 2/3 of it was questions I have had before and still only finished with 4 minutes to spare. On the NBME I took the other day I was NEVER even close... cramming the last like 8-9 question in the last 5 minutes. I know there has to be a technique but apparently I'm missing it.
I'm not a "slow" reader, but not a speed reader either. I also preview the last sentence (what it's asking for) and a brief glimpse of the answers before starting the question to catch those few you don't even need to read the passage but still time is about the same... right on time or just behind. What do you guys do when approaching a question to get done so fast and not miss details or forget them by the time you get to the bottom??
 
How do you guys do it?? I have read quite a few post and almost ALL of them are by people that scored exceptionally high on their boards that they finish with 10-15, sometimes even 20 minutes left in a block? I don't get how that's possible without missing A LOT of info. I just finished a block on World where 2/3 of it was questions I have had before and still only finished with 4 minutes to spare. On the NBME I took the other day I was NEVER even close... cramming the last like 8-9 question in the last 5 minutes. I know there has to be a technique but apparently I'm missing it.
I'm not a "slow" reader, but not a speed reader either. I also preview the last sentence (what it's asking for) and a brief glimpse of the answers before starting the question to catch those few you don't even need to read the passage but still time is about the same... right on time or just behind. What do you guys do when approaching a question to get done so fast and not miss details or forget them by the time you get to the bottom??

I'm also highly concerned about this. I did above average on step 1, however timing was a major issue for me. I'm particularly worried about this for step 2, where I'm hearing that the average test taker is struggling with time. I would say in terms of speed, I'm definitely a below average reader.

I also have issues with recalling little details earlier in the stem... I know this is going to be a major issue on step 2, given the length of the stem.

Perhaps I'll have to develop a method which involves highlighting so that when I skim back over, I have all the important points already highlighted.
 
Top