July 2009: USMLE Step 1 Support Thread

[jhu1]

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Just saw this one for Jun and though to make the July version of it 🙂 When are you taking the USMLE Step 1?

For me, I'll be taking it on a July 13rd. some time left but **** load of material still to cover,

 

[lukazo]

why on earth would you ask that here? The avg isn't set in stone, it varies around 220 with sdev of about 20. I dunno bout the 2 digit score, but nobody cares about that anyway!

:-|

ups sorry, maybe I have a wrong information. I'll search for it in inet. But why does nobody care about the score? higher score you get, higher chances you have, right? : )

 

[bluntdissector]

ups sorry, maybe I have a wrong information. I'll search for it in inet. But why does nobody care about the score? higher score you get, higher chances you have, right? : )

I meant why do you ask it in the July support group thread? 🙂

Yes, your score matters a lot...but the three digit score is more important. The three digit passing score is about 185, whilst the 2 digit is 75. The two digit score reaches 99 too soon - somewhere mid 230's. The avg 2-digit must be around 90...

Hope that helps!

I finally finished the uWorld questions. Thank god for that.

 

[lukazo]

ahaa 🙂 well I thought you meant something else. I asked it here, because, well, just thought people post here more intensively 🙂

Yeah, I searched and found that information, similar to yours. Thanks anyway.

Good luck to everyone who takes Step I this month. Good luck to you too 🙂

P.S. I don't know why, but my posts were doubled and posted several times. Must be some website script execution error.If here are moderators, please delete my 3 posts below containing "...." . Thanks beforehand.

 

[lukazo]

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[lukazo]

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[lukazo]

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[GujuMD]

test in about 2 weeks and still getting low 50's on USMLE world 48 Question blocks...any suggestion on what to do?

 

[Whats_up_doc]

test in about 2 weeks and still getting low 50's on USMLE world 48 Question blocks...any suggestion on what to do?

Are you doing them random? Are those errors based on a "concept" or are they based in a "oh, I knew that, didn't read carefully " type of error? Also, check out if these questions fall under what %. If they are like 50% or above, I would pay attention to that. If they are in the 20's or 30's I would look at them but wouldn't feel bad. For a more accurate measurement of your progress, do an NBME, since UWORLD (at least in my case) is mostly used as a learning tool. Hope this Helps. GO JULY THREAD GO! 👍

 

[bluntdissector]

test in about 2 weeks and still getting low 50's on USMLE world 48 Question blocks...any suggestion on what to do?

Do a NBME to see where you are really at and whether you should push the test back. Also have a look at your cumulative performance to see which subjects you need to spend more time on.

All the best! 😉

 

[bluntdissector]

July 2: metallo
July 3: braluk
July 7: dgriss1
July 8: bluntdissector
July 9: nadk9f
July 11: Cirrus83
July 13: jhu1
July 14: xd2005, ENThopeful, chubbykid
July 18: GujuMD
July 24: Whats_up_doc
July 27: Elfy
July 29: PRIMER, I Wayne

Not sure what time zone braluk is in, but either way he is probably done or is busy writing. So dgriss1 is next! I hope metallo and braluk got the July thread some serious 250+ scores... 😉

 

[GujuMD]

there are some blocks i'll get low 50's and others where i get high 60's...and the ones i get wrong...sometimes its because i didn't read the question properly or something i didn't know.
any suggestions on which NBME form to use?

 

[Whats_up_doc]

there are some blocks i'll get low 50's and others where i get high 60's...and the ones i get wrong...sometimes its because i didn't read the question properly or something i didn't know.
any suggestions on which NBME form to use?

The "reading" errors happen to me from time to time. Sometimes it has to do with fatigues, which is not cool. I am working on that. Once again, if you are doing them random and timed, unused and you wander between 50's and 60's you are average/slightly above average.

NBME's are supposed to be standardized but If I had little time I would do 5 and 6, since they are the last ones released...

Also the free 150 are a must a week or so before the exam to see where you are standing.

Checking out cumulative performance is a must too, IMO.

 

[bluntdissector]

The "reading" errors happen to me from time to time. Sometimes it has to do with fatigues, which is not cool. I am working on that. Once again, if you are doing them random and timed, unused and you wander between 50's and 60's you are average/slightly above average.

NBME's are supposed to be standardized but If I had little time I would do 5 and 6, since they are the last ones released...

Also the free 150 are a must a week or so before the exam to see where you are standing.

Checking out cumulative performance is a must too, IMO.

👍 totally. 5 and/or 6, or World SA 2 (I hear).

Don't do 1 or 2. I did 2 before I started and it's quite different from the others and too easy I rate.

 

[bluntdissector]

July 2: metallo
July 3: braluk
July 7: dgriss1
July 8: bluntdissector
July 9: nadk9f
July 11: Cirrus83
July 13: jhu1
July 14: xd2005, ENThopeful, chubbykid
July 18: GujuMD
July 24: Whats_up_doc
July 27: Elfy
July 29: PRIMER, I Wayne

Good luck dgriss1!!

 

[MountainEM]

thanks blunt...!
Pretty nervous, but been unfocused for about 4 days so it is prob. time.
Be flying paragliders in the tetons in 3 days...whoop
d
good luck to you the next day!

July 2: metallo
July 3: braluk
July 7: dgriss1
July 8: bluntdissector
July 9: nadk9f
July 11: Cirrus83
July 13: jhu1
July 14: xd2005, ENThopeful, chubbykid
July 18: GujuMD
July 24: Whats_up_doc
July 27: Elfy
July 29: PRIMER, I Wayne

Good luck dgriss1!!

 

[Whats_up_doc]

thanks blunt...!
Pretty nervous, but been unfocused for about 4 days so it is prob. time.
Be flying paragliders in the tetons in 3 days...whoop
d
good luck to you the next day!

Destroy it and represent July thread with Pride. GO JULY GO!!

 

[GujuMD]

Good luck dgriss and bluntdissector!

 

[psipsina]

I'm taking mine on the 9th. Can't believe its this close. I'm pulling high 60s on uworld. Two weeks ago I took NBME4 and hit a 214. I decided not to take another one. I know I'm passing so I won't push back the date based on the results and I'm afraid that if it isn't much higher it will psych me out on test day. My goal is to be between 220 and 230 (ideally 230).

 

[Whats_up_doc]

I'm taking mine on the 9th. Can't believe its this close. I'm pulling high 60s on uworld. Two weeks ago I took NBME4 and hit a 214. I decided not to take another one. I know I'm passing so I won't push back the date based on the results and I'm afraid that if it isn't much higher it will psych me out on test day. My goal is to be between 220 and 230 (ideally 230).

Hey psipsina don't let it psych you out. I am pretty much in your boat with 220's on NBME and some good and some bad days in UWorld. These last days are key. Keep a good attitude and rock 'em!!

 

[psipsina]

Hey psipsina don't let it psych you out. I am pretty much in your boat with 220's on NBME and some good and some bad days in UWorld. These last days are key. Keep a good attitude and rock 'em!!

I'm so excited. I rocked out a 77 on uworld tonight 😀 Hard work paying of with a perfectly timed peak. 2 more days 😀

 

[MountainEM]

I was really regretting being a lazy ass for the last week before my test tomorrow but then, the last thing I read before I go to bed is this:
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.b1bda39889783bf24189b0a92f01fc43.ac1&show_article=1

I knew the virus before I even opened the news link and then it donned on me...this is the gods telling me I am going to get the easy USMLE form tomorrow!
yes! score.

 

[Whats_up_doc]

I was really regretting being a lazy ass for the last week before my test tomorrow but then, the last thing I read before I go to bed is this:
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.b1bda39889783bf24189b0a92f01fc43.ac1&show_article=1

I knew the virus before I even opened the news link and then it donned on me...this is the gods telling me I am going to get the easy USMLE form tomorrow!
yes! score.

Now you can share this on the "You know you're in med school..." thread.

 

[bluntdissector]

F*cksakes, my internet bombed just as I posted.

I had to catch a plane to my closest Prometric centre, and the guy sitting next to me thought I was doing a first aid course. Wtf. They should have thought about that when they chose the name. 🙄 And the dude in front of me had Parkinson's. Awesome. And sad. Then I got utterly lost in Jo'burg as they have more one-ways than my GPS can handle. Not a nice experience on the day before...

I'm kinda freaking out - - but I'm trying to hold on to my really good USWA and Free 144 in the last 5 days. I can do it!! Gonna break 250. Lol.

Anyway, g'luck with the people putting the finishing touches on their board prep!

 

[Whats_up_doc]

F*cksakes, my internet bombed just as I posted.

I had to catch a plane to my closest Prometric centre, and the guy sitting next to me thought I was doing a first aid course. Wtf. They should have thought about that when they chose the name. 🙄 And the dude in front of me had Parkinson's. Awesome. And sad. Then I got utterly lost in Jo'burg as they have more one-ways than my GPS can handle. Not a nice experience on the day before...

I'm kinda freaking out - - but I'm trying to hold on to my really good USWA and Free 144 in the last 5 days. I can do it!! Gonna break 250. Lol.

Anyway, g'luck with the people putting the finishing touches on their board prep!

"Dissect"" that test. 👍

 

[GujuMD]

My 3-digit estimation for the two tests i took....why the big difference?

UWSA 1- 226 (7/4)
NBME form 5- 209 (7/7)

 

[bluntdissector]

My 3-digit estimation for the two tests i took....why the big difference?

UWSA 1- 226 (7/4)
NBME form 5- 209 (7/7)

maybe u were tired? fwiw i thought NBME 5 was harder than UWSA 1, 2 and NBME 6.

 

[bluntdissector]

My 3-digit estimation for the two tests i took....why the big difference?

UWSA 1- 226 (7/4)
NBME form 5- 209 (7/7)

oh, and did you do the NBME online? The answers for the illegal 'offline' one are wack. I did it online but checked sum stuff after. Wack wack.

 

[GujuMD]

oh, and did you do the NBME online? The answers for the illegal 'offline' one are wack. I did it online but checked sum stuff after. Wack wack.

I did them online

 

[bluntdissector]

I did them online

well, then i'd just try and learn from it and move on. The NBME's don't tell you what you WILL get, they just give you a vague indication and, more importantly, identify your weaknesses. Thats my opinion at least. I've seen people on here who went up a lot in 10d and who jumped 15-20 from their last NBME to the real deal. 🙂

But maybe, in a few hours, I'll be more negative. Ha ha ha. G'luck.

 

[GujuMD]

well, then i'd just try and learn from it and move on. The NBME's don't tell you what you WILL get, they just give you a vague indication and, more importantly, identify your weaknesses. Thats my opinion at least. I've seen people on here who went up a lot in 10d and who jumped 15-20 from their last NBME to the real deal. 🙂

But maybe, in a few hours, I'll be more negative. Ha ha ha. G'luck.

thanks....good luck tomorrow! u'll be fine- basing this on ur stats on practice tests.

 

[MountainEM]

Took it today but I am flying at 6am so I will make some notes later.

All in all, I really felt like I screwed it up today.

I did not think the test was that bad, I just felt like I was slow and I never had time to go back to the ?s that I doubted/did not know. I marked about 12-15 each section, and never got to look at them again. I was doing well on practice exams but I totally putzed through the real thing and really sucked. I guessed a lot and did not have time to really think through the complicated questions that required equations, etc. Screw it. Move on.

I will write more later. Dont let this post get you down if you are taking it. It was probably easier than I expected. Just not on my a-game.

blunt-good luck tomorrow
d

 

[Whats_up_doc]

Took it today but I am flying at 6am so I will make some notes later.

All in all, I really felt like I screwed it up today.

I did not think the test was that bad, I just felt like I was slow and I never had time to go back to the ?s that I doubted/did not know. I marked about 12-15 each section, and never got to look at them again. I was doing well on practice exams but I totally putzed through the real thing and really sucked. I guessed a lot and did not have time to really think through the complicated questions that required equations, etc. Screw it. Move on.

I will write more later. Dont let this post get you down if you are taking it. It was probably easier than I expected. Just not on my a-game.

blunt-good luck tomorrow
d

Sorry to hear that. Let's hope those were experimental. 🙂

 

[bluntdissector]

Hi there July peeps! 🙂

Took the test today, will post a longer thing in the 'Official' thread. But my test was hard. I didn't have a off day or anything, I was very calm and finished with 7 or so min left, but then I had like 13 flags to go back to...not that it really helped, they were mostly weird or straight recall, and quite frankly I don't know where I'd start looking for the answers! But I honestly think I had one of the harder forms, whatever that means, cuz everyone was either pregnant or in frail care or a baby with a genetic abnormality. VERY little neuro/cardio/resp/gastro, which are my strenghts, and lots of repro/endo/renal. Anyway, I performed to the max of my ability, so let's hope it goes well! 🙄

Good luck! Don't stress, the questions that cover concepts in World and FA are generally phrased much easier I think...it's just those that aren't are pretty f*cking weird...

 

[GujuMD]

now i am getting scared...

 

[Whats_up_doc]

July 3: braluk
July 7: dgriss1
July 8: bluntdissector
July 9: nadk9f
July 11: Cirrus83
July 13: jhu1
July 14: xd2005, ENThopeful, chubbykid
July 18: GujuMD
July 24: Whats_up_doc
July 27: Elfy
July 29: PRIMER, I Wayne

GOOD LUCK NADK9f. GO JULY GO!!!! 👍

 

[SimonSez]

Hey Guys,
Sorry for not joining your thread earlier. I did my exam a couple days ago (on July 7th). I thought the exam was kinda tough....I felt comfortable with about 60% of the questions; for 30% I was unsure of the answer so I had to reason it through and hope my logic was sound; the next 10% were complete WTF questions that I flat out had to guess for.
The important thing for now though is that it is over! Hopefully my results will be out in three weeks rather than six.
Good luck to everyone still to take the test (and also to those of you who already did! )

 

[bluntdissector]

now i am getting scared...

Despite my somewhat negative post I still think that anyone who did FA and maybe a few other books and the did world and some NBME's would have easily passed my form, although I think few people would have done really well. So try and stay calm, it really helped me that I wasn't stressed, I read through each question (last line first of course) and then whilst going through the Hx of the patient I was like 'Okay so they want the Tx that is contra-indicated, and I can see some risk factors here...let's see what options they have...ah, there is is - she has a bruit over the kidney, so they would prob give ACE-I in the options...yes, there is captopril.' It helps to go through the questions trying to see what they are trying to test. And for the really strange ones, try and cancel out a few and then go with your gut, and the FORGET about that question when you go to the next form.

Honestly (and please excuse me if this is being rude to people who have failed step 1 in the past) but the only way I can see anyone failing/doing MUCH worse than expected is if they get rattled and/or stress and freak out. Or if they really didn't study much. I'm talking about the people on the forum here. Yes, I might get 10-15 less than my 'target', but if I got a slightly different form I might have gotten 10 more than my target. The only way I could have dropped 40 is if I freaked out, I don't believe they make forms where people that have prepared well, gotten 210's or 220's or whatever on NBME's and DON'T panic will get like 160. What would be the point? If you stay calm, read carefully, rest your mind during your breaks and think through the questions whilst ignoring the arb questions I feel confident you'll get +/- 15 of your predicted score.

Unless you want 270 and the NBME you just did said 180. Then I'd kinda worry too!

PS - there was one other guy doing Step 1 at my centre and we both got there early. He seemed stressed and was still going through FA like crazy, and I don't know what he did in his breaks, but he didn't come sit outside in the sun and listen to music like I did. Granted, people have different methods, but I think that checking things in FA or studying in your breaks is a bad idea. I walked around, sat on the steps outside, listened to my Fav songs, rinsed my face (thanks Pollux!) and just tried to forget about my last block. Then I would sit down, take a deep breath, and tell myself 'You did everything you could have done, now just kick f*cking ass' and then tried my 100% best to get every single question that I possibly reviewed or got taught somewhere in my course right. I wasn't going to give anything away! And there was at least I question I got from reading Mass Gen Cases and one I got from checking something I saw on an episode of House. But my mind would not have been free to wander to these strange corners if I was stressed. So my advice - please please try and stay calm, else you will kick yourself for making stupid errors.

 

[bluntdissector]

This should make some of you laugh:

I was checking something cuz I think I mixed up some drugs on my form, and then when I was reading the wikipedia article on PCP I came accross this:

"The American rapper Big Lurch murdered an acquaintance and ate her lungs while on PCP"

I think I cried 2 litres whilst laughing at that. So if someone on your test is agitated, got read eyes and has just had someone's lungs for supper, pick PCP!

"On April 10, 2002, 26-year-old Singleton murdered Tynisha Ysais in her apartment. Her boyfriend Thomas Moore testified that he and Singleton spent the evening prior to the murder smoking PCP, also known as "angel dust."
The victim was found in her apartment by her friend Alisa Allen. Her chest had been torn open and a three-inch blade was found broken off in her shoulder blade. Teeth marks were found on her face and on her lungs, which had been torn from her chest. Eyewitnesses reported that when Singleton was picked up by police, he was naked, covered in blood, standing in the middle of the street and staring at the sky. A medical examination performed shortly after his capture found human flesh in his stomach which was not his own."

 

[Whats_up_doc]

Ok, so I am exactly 2 weeks before my test. I finished my first pass through FA and I have 15 tests left to be done for USMLE world.

I want to do all of the following:

Take Free 150 and NBME 5 this Saturday.

Study FA and do Uworld blocks for 4 days (focusing on weaknesses) and take NBME 6 next day.

I would like to review all of Uworld (is this efficient?), Margin Notes of RR (HY?), HY Goljan notes and Tommy's HY concepts ( can anyone comment on this?).

Last 2-3 days will be for Pharm,Micro, Immuno markers and crammable subjects.

Please comment on this. I'd appreciate it.

GO JULY GO!!!! 👍

 

[bluntdissector]

Take Free 150 and NBME 5 this Saturday.

Wht don't you take the free 150 like 2-3days before the real deal only, to boost your confidence? It's much easier than the NBME's and if it is going to be predictive you'd probably have to take it close to the real deal...And it can give you the boost! 🙂

 

[bluntdissector]

Cirrus83, its your time to shine! 👍

I just absolutely amazed the one doctor on the ward round yesterday when wet beri-beri featured on the DDx and I whipped out all the reactions B1 is a co-factor for, why people in ER would get Wernicke's, etc etc etc, and since he assumed we had all forgotten the basic sciences from 3years ago, he was like 'Wow, you have an amazing memory.' I just claimed it. So studying all the 'details' can count in your favour! 🙄

JULY!!

 

[xd2005]

Hey July-ers

Tips on how to spend the last few days? I've been going over some details in behavioral and looking over FA for the umpteenth time. Took NBME6 yesterday and ended up exactly as NBME5 8 days ago (240/580), even though I thought 6 was much harder than 5. I might have plateaued already considering UWSA gave me a 242 3 weeks ago lol. Ideally I'd want a 245 or so.

Congrats Blunt, hoping for the best for you 🙂

 

[bluntdissector]

Hey July-ers

Tips on how to spend the last few days? I've been going over some details in behavioral and looking over FA for the umpteenth time. Took NBME6 yesterday and ended up exactly as NBME5 8 days ago (240/580), even though I thought 6 was much harder than 5. I might have plateaued already considering UWSA gave me a 242 3 weeks ago lol. Ideally I'd want a 245 or so.

Congrats Blunt, hoping for the best for you 🙂

Thanx. I don't think you plateaued, since UWSA is prob easier than NBME, so maybe that was overpredicting, then 5 was accurate at the time and now 6 might be under? Who knows...😳

As for the last few days - I tried to make sure I don't miss the 'gimme' straight recall Q's for pharms, the virology table, immunology, etc. by cramming them a few days before - and it really helped.

Best of luck!

 

[Mortal_Lessons]

Anyone have any advice on how to approach medico-legal issues on the Step? I browsed through the Kaplan Bioethics book online (link: http://books.google.com/books?id=EhBxi-b76D8C&pg=PA37&lpg=PA37&dq=medical+law+for+usmle&source=bl&ots=zrWN768Cxg&sig=mNDziFFSJ7rwAEmVb4mt_bd22Lg&hl=en&ei=KYJXSqm8FJWNtgeX7-TdCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9).

For instance, let's say you have a patient that's had surgery performed on them. Afterwards, the patient realizes consent was never obtained. Does the patient sue the doctor for malpractice and/or can the doctor be convicted of battery for operating w/o consent? Thoughts?

 

[metallo]

Anyone have any advice on how to approach medico-legal issues on the Step? I browsed through the Kaplan Bioethics book online (link: http://books.google.com/books?id=Eh...7-TdCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9).

For instance, let's say you have a patient that's had surgery performed on them. Afterwards, the patient realizes consent was never obtained. Does the patient sue the doctor for malpractice and/or can the doctor be convicted of battery for operating w/o consent? Thoughts?

I'm pretty sure you won't see any questions on Step 1 about suing physicians. The only legal questions you would see would involve things like whether you should treat adolescent patients without parents' consent, whether you are required to share a diagnosis with an elderly patient when their family has asked you not to, etc.

 

[metallo]

Metallo, I am pretty sure you have worked your ass off for this test. Go ahead and do your last power review, get some good sleep, and GO GET EM'. Represent our July Thread with Pride!!!

By the way, just wanted to thank whats_up_doc for the support the night before my exam. Despite my worries, I actually wound up sleeping really well, so no matter what my score ends up being, I'll know that fatigue wasn't a factor (except maybe on blocks 6 and 7 🙂). Scheduling an afternoon exam was definitely one of the best choices I've ever made! I haven't written up my exam experience yet since I took a few days off afterwards and now I'm busy with my first 3rd year rotation, so at this point I'll probably just wait until scores come out.

Good luck to everyone who hasn't taken the exam yet!

 

[ENThopeful]

PS - there was one other guy doing Step 1 at my centre and we both got there early. He seemed stressed and was still going through FA like crazy, and I don't know what he did in his breaks, but he didn't come sit outside in the sun and listen to music like I did. Granted, people have different methods, but I think that checking things in FA or studying in your breaks is a bad idea. I walked around, sat on the steps outside, listened to my Fav songs, rinsed my face (thanks Pollux!) and just tried to forget about my last block. Then I would sit down, take a deep breath, and tell myself 'You did everything you could have done, now just kick f*cking ass' and then tried my 100% best to get every single question that I possibly reviewed or got taught somewhere in my course right. I wasn't going to give anything away! And there was at least I question I got from reading Mass Gen Cases and one I got from checking something I saw on an episode of House. But my mind would not have been free to wander to these strange corners if I was stressed. So my advice - please please try and stay calm, else you will kick yourself for making stupid errors.

yea i think this is the best advice ive read yet. I think its important to simulate environments/state of mind when doing the NBME/UWSA. I was pretty calm then, even though i self doubted a ton, I still came out on top. I hope this works out for me.

I think the next week form me will be reading over FA, nothing too intense, and making sure i pick up all the gimmes. Ive been studying for forever now and I dont think trying to cram and freaking out will help my state of mind.

 

[Proverbs31]

Scheduled to take mine on July 28th....trying to push it to the 30th but that date isnt open on my test site yet...I keep checking but as of now its set for 28th. I just wanted to join in to be a part of the group too! 🙂 So we can cheer and root each other on.

 

[GujuMD]

so- test is a week from today. Planning on doing UWSA 2 on monday and basically doing FA and UW questions from now until then. lately, my UW random unused 48 Q is mid 60's.
i think i am ready but i keep on hearing about people who are changing their dates and it kind of scares me that my date is coming really really soon.

 

[Whats_up_doc]

so- test is a week from today. Planning on doing UWSA 2 on monday and basically doing FA and UW questions from now until then. lately, my UW random unused 48 Q is mid 60's.
i think i am ready but i keep on hearing about people who are changing their dates and it kind of scares me that my date is coming really really soon.

What's up Guju. Sounds like a Good Plan to me! Couple of guys in my class are also changing dates. I thought they knew that you start losing your peak around 7th week I think? Anyway, I am in the same boat as u in U world. I got a 75 on Behavioral/Stats 😀 but then I took all random Q block and got a 64. I am stuck at 68 in Uworld.. It seems that won't change. However I used all preceding blocks in a system based 48Q timed fashion. I don't know how a systems based 68 translates to the real thing. I have 28% remaining questions. Let's see how random Q will work out. Hopefully good. Good luck.

GO JULY GO!