Learning from FA without a strong background

[Sillyband]

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Hi, do any of you have Step 1 study advice for someone who did not learn/absorb class information from basic science classes and is now having a difficult time learning from FA?

I know that it would be ideal to have a great foundation from the classroom, but since I do not have that I am having an extremely difficult time learning from First Aid.

After reading through FA the first time, my NBME 12 score was a 180. 🙁 I bought USMLE Rx to try and help me learn more actively. However, even after reading the section and then doing the corresponding questions, I am still only getting 60% on this relatively easy question bank and it is very frustrating.

The plan is to get through Rx and then do Kaplan and UWorld while re-reading FA multiple times with the question banks and annotating extra information. Since, I don't have a great foundation would it be a good idea to supplement with review books?

It seems like a lot of the high scorers on SDN started out scoring high. Does anyone who started out low have any advice on how they used FA/question banks/review books to get their score up?

 

[jfgavina]

Well, I'm in the same boat. I have been an average-low student in my first 3 years (non-us basic science course) and an medium to high in my clinical year (4th). I started UW just by reading brs physiology, goljan RR cmmrs and FA and I'm averaging 53% in UW with 5% left. You started pretty well in your NBME and I think with 3 more reads in FA doing UW and redo incorrect, Rx and Kaplan you will score high. I advise you to switch immediately to UW as you finish Rx. How many time till the exam?

 

[englishpatient]

I started at 189 and most recent NBME was 245. If like me you weren't a pre-clinical superstar you really have to memorize the book. Scores went up once i did that instead of trying to understand everything. uw helps tie things together and gives you some more facts to learn

 

[jfgavina]

How many reads in FA to memorize it? Did you read it loud or used any particular strategy?

What additional sources did you to achieve that magnificent score?
How many weeks from 189---->240+?

 

[englishpatient]

Heh well I'm still not sure if the 240+ was a fluke, but it was about 4 weeks and got through FA about 3 times in between.

what i do is read a passage and try to get a vague sense of what's going on. if it really didn't make sense look it up in BRS physio or RR path. Then cover it and try and recite all the concepts in my head.

it depends though if you're missing questions because you know the raw information but can't apply it, or if you are just lacking the knowledge

 

[jfgavina]

And how much do you use UW?

 

[englishpatient]

I did 1 or 2 blocks every morning ala Taus (random, 46, timed) and write down the answers that weren't already in FA. then the next pass of FA i'd be re-reading FA plus all the extra notes i added from UW in the past ~week. I think it's great for pattern recognition

 

[Sillyband]

Thanks guys!

I am starting a research year soon, and am planning to squeeze in 2 question blocks/day + annotating in FA. Hopefully by using this question method, eventually my NBME scores will go up and I will actually learn the things I was supposed to during my basic science years...

I have about 4 months to go while working full-time, so we will see how this all turns out...

Any other advice?

 

[jfgavina]

english patient, did you read all the correct answers as well or only incorrect?

 

[tootheye]

I was in the same boat with FA looking like gibberish! I did Kaplan videos for understanding basic science concepts while making very few notes into FA. Then FA started making sense. After 1 pass of FA did UW-(ave 58%) annotated into FA. Listen to Goljan audios at some point along with FA. Tho' UW covers most of them. Later repeat reading annotated FA and UW incorrects/weak areas.

Kaplan/any foundation-> Read FA->UW