I've been studying for step 1 ish but it has been unguided how do I reign it in?

[Toy303]

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So it is that time of the year...

I'm wondering if it is at all possible to bring up my step score by 30 ish points... even though my latest UWSA2 was a 240(230 really) . I've heard your score isnt that accurate once you've gone through UWorld. So in my head I'm still at the 214 NBME score.

1st NBME 12 in Dec 28-- 191
UWSA1 Feb27 --- 224
2nd NBME 15 in March 17-- 214
UWSA2 April 3-- 240

(All timed random)
Kaplan Diagnostic-- 73% (5 days ago)
Kaplan Q bank-- 71% but only 10% through it

UW avg--> 64% with like 16% left I started uworld q's early
(not too great about the annotating bit either)

I cant say that I have made a full pass through First Aid yet... and I haven't really completed Pathoma...Given this info and that I probably only have 5 weeks before my test? How do you begin to structure a schedule?

Btw I'm not officially out of school til April 25 and my test is May24

Im using
Kaplan Lecture Vids
USMLERx vids for the sections I cant keep my eyes open on
Kaplan q bank(recent only like through 10%)
Pathoma


I absolutely suck at Psych/Behavioral/Biostats!! :-(

 

[Apoplexy__]

What do people say about your score not being accurate? If you've heard that you can't trust any diagnostic after going through UWorld, that's a completely false statement crafted by the neuroticism of one poor soul. However, UWSA's are a little less reliable. I wouldn't completely discount the 240, but maybe bring it down to 230 until you do another NBME, since it is an outlier compared to your other scores.

My advice (remember, I'm only one person...)
-Skip the USMLERx vids unless you're finding them to be absolutely essential for your learning
-Use Kaplan lecture vids only for concepts you don't know in FA
-Do Pathoma + FA + Kaplan QBank in subject blocks (not random, since it sounds like your UWorld usage was random-esque)
-Supplement this Kaplan subject-based approach with other resources as needed (Goljan RR, BRS Physio, etc.)

And lastly, consider http://www.usmleworld.com/Step1/step1_subjectreview.aspx for Biostats. I suck at Behavioral/Biostats too, so I totally get you. I bought that $25 QBank in the link, but haven't tried it yet. Good luck!

 

[Ionian]

So it is that time of the year...

I absolutely suck at Psych/Behavioral/Biostats!! :-(

Lol, you prolly suck at it because you aren't taking the time to study/learn/review/practice it.

These subjects are the best, and really the key to getting a lot of extra points.

I love seeing these questions on NBMEs, everytime I do, I hear someone screaming "free points here! get your free points!"
(Sensitivity/specificity questons, Case-controls, etc., random easy psych topics etc.)

Memorize, and move on.

 

[Toy303]

Thanks that seems to narrow down and focus my sources a little better... I appreciate it! Now to just get through it all!
Ionian you're right I haven't really learned the psych bc I can't seem to make it stick..... reading and regurg has never been my thing I always need context and FA is nothing but a big fact book.

I'm gonna try the subject review thing kirbymeister suggested and listen to kaplan videos for that and hopefully it will work I just don't wanna waste too much time in that section---> tough one bc they are "free points" that I always loose!

Thanks again!