is USMLE world really representative?

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Rik825

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Hi, I'm 5 weeks out from my test and I've done about 500 questions in USMLE world. My average right now is 67% (which correlates to 73rd percentile).

I get a lot of the questions correct because I just kind of figure them out, without necessarily knowing the answer right off the bat. I feel like USMLE world doesn't really test you on the little details that you have to memorize.... Is this how the real test is goign to be?

Also, how accurate do you all think the USMLE world score estimators are (by that I mean the SA #1 and also the estimator on clinicalreview. com)? My goal is a 240 and, if USMLE world's estimates are accurate then that seems within reach. However, I've heard that the estimates are kind of inflated.....

Thanks for the advice
 
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Rik825 said:
Hi, I'm 5 weeks out from my test and I've done about 500 questions in USMLE world. My average right now is 67% (which correlates to 73rd percentile).

I get a lot of the questions correct because I just kind of figure them out, without necessarily knowing the answer right off the bat. I feel like USMLE world doesn't really test you on the little details that you have to memorize.... Is this how the real test is goign to be?
Click to expand...

I am completely with you on that...so many times I just reason out the answer, without knowing anything at all about what they were actually testing (the education objective that is). I am also curious to know if the real test has q's like these, or just insane over the top minutiae like Kaplan Qbank?
 
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i'm planning on redoing all the questions and was wondering if there was any way to hack the system and reset it myself? anyone know how?
 
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Anyone know if doing blocks of missed questions affects that overall percentage? I'm assuming no but just wanted to make sure. Thanks!
 
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Glaxo said:
Anyone know if doing blocks of missed questions affects that overall percentage? I'm assuming no but just wanted to make sure. Thanks!
Click to expand...

I actually heard that if you redo questions the percentage is affected by whatever your last answer is (so if you redo missed questions and get them right, you're percentage will be "falsely" elevated...that is if you want your percentage to reflect the first run through them all)
 
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Captopril said:
I am completely with you on that...so many times I just reason out the answer, without knowing anything at all about what they were actually testing (the education objective that is). I am also curious to know if the real test has q's like these, or just insane over the top minutiae like Kaplan Qbank?
Click to expand...

Gosh, i am glad i am not the only one feeling this! USMLE world, i can reason through it. Kaplan minute details get to me!!!

anyone commenting on this will be great 😀 merci
 
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I would say that if you are getting 50-60% on unused, mixed-block questions in UWorld, you should feel comfortable that your fund of knowledge will at least get you a passing score.

I would get 40-50 on UWorld (freaked me out!). Just got my USMLE score today and it was a 203/83. Hope this helps 🙂


Edit: I wanted to say also that a LOT of USMLE is about figuring it out and using process of elimination... it's an exam that tests your problem solving skills, not just your memorization of facts, so it's not possible to always be able to pick out the answer immediately. UWorld is pretty representative if not a little bit harder than the real thing.
 
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Aerith said:
I would say that if you are getting 50-60% on unused, mixed-block questions in UWorld, you should feel comfortable that your fund of knowledge will at least get you a passing score.

I would get 40-50 on UWorld (freaked me out!). Just got my USMLE score today and it was a 203/83. Hope this helps 🙂


Edit: I wanted to say also that a LOT of USMLE is about figuring it out and using process of elimination... it's an exam that tests your problem solving skills, not just your memorization of facts, so it's not possible to always be able to pick out the answer immediately. UWorld is pretty representative if not a little bit harder than the real thing.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your realistic input!
 
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I might just be weak in biochem but I found it to be a very difficult section compared to all of the other subjects thus far and I've done all but pharm, pathophys, and path. When I say all I mean I did every question in their qbank.
 
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it amazes me how a set of 2035 questions can have all the concepts need to do well on step 1
 
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TMP-SMX said:
That's the thing though. It's more like at least twice that because all of the answer possibilities have an explanation and could be a question in their own right.
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True, but I think that is offset by the about 12 questions I've already
seen on trisomy 21/18/13 and another dozen on cystic fibrosis, stuff
like that 😎
 
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Re3iRtH said:
True, but I think that is offset by the about 12 questions I've already
seen on trisomy 21/18/13 and another dozen on cystic fibrosis, stuff
like that 😎
Click to expand...

Well, those are pretty important concepts, I'm sure they will be tested on. When you see a question with some kid with overlapping fingers, you'll know exactly what to go for.
 
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How good is UW for preparing for the COMLEX? I started out using Kaplan Qbank, but I quickly got annoyed with the petty minutiae in it. I switched over to UW and found it much more satisfying. The questions were tough, but they seemed fair and mostly doable compared to Kaplan's. As stated above in a few other posts, I found myself fairing much better on UW and was able to reason out the answer many times. UW seems to test concepts and reasoning more than "how the hell would I know that" kind of facts. While I do enjoy that, I wonder if I am shooting myself in the foot for COMLEX, since I've heard several accounts that it is much lighter on the reasoning/concepts (and multi-ordered questions), but more heavy on single-order, fact-recall type of questions.
 
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future_dr_house said:
Technically you only need to know 336 concepts. 👍
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how did you come up with that number?

As a side note does any of you guys wish you had uworld during second year? I mean if its that crucial why not get it early, i am not concerned about the cost, and i have enough time to do about 20 questions a day as of right now 🙂
 
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kryptik said:
how did you come up with that number?

As a side note does any of you guys wish you had uworld during second year? I mean if its that crucial why not get it early, i am not concerned about the cost, and i have enough time to do about 20 questions a day as of right now 🙂
Click to expand...

7 blocks x 48 questions 🙂
 
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kryptik said:
how did you come up with that number?

As a side note does any of you guys wish you had uworld during second year? I mean if its that crucial why not get it early, i am not concerned about the cost, and i have enough time to do about 20 questions a day as of right now 🙂
Click to expand...

I dunno I got qbank early and I dont really remember any of the concepts I learned from it throughout the year, might have helped solidify ideas towards the end of second semester. What I wish I did was read review books throughout the year for the first year courses, esp biochem and embryo.


On another note if I've been hitting around 80% over the last couple hundred questions I've been doing and have about 3-4 weeks left till D-day anyone know what that could potentially correlate to? How likely do you think a 250 would be with that? Don't feel like taking an NBME yet to find out.
 
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Glaxo said:
I dunno I got qbank early and I dont really remember any of the concepts I learned from it throughout the year, might have helped solidify ideas towards the end of second semester. What I wish I did was read review books throughout the year for the first year courses, esp biochem and embryo.


On another note if I've been hitting around 80% over the last couple hundred questions I've been doing and have about 3-4 weeks left till D-day anyone know what that could potentially correlate to? How likely do you think a 250 would be with that? Don't feel like taking an NBME yet to find out.
Click to expand...
I would also like to know. I have only 3 weeks left...:scared:
 
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