Step I Little Help Down Here? 1st Post...

[theCamel]

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Hi, I'm a new member here. I'm looking fwd to learning and contributing to ya'll on these forums. I do have a few questions for anybody willing to help --> my Step 1 is next Saturday, and I think I am in some trouble.

I have not passed a single NBME 1-4, scores were up to 173
Took the 150 "FRED" Questions just now and got 65%
QBank finished, 51%, later scores around 60%

I have been using BRS Path, 1st Aid, and Robbins QBook for questions - I feel like I have learned nothing first two years of school, and lose confidence every time I seem to build up a slight bit of confidence. I have listened to Goljan and I will think it's helping, but then I will screw up on practice questions. I have talked to friends who have done well, and they tell me I sound like I know my stuff, but I am pretty sure that I am very borderline for even passing, let alone doing well.

So I guess my questions are:
-Should I postpone the exam? I have already pushed back my test window, I'm not sure if I can even push it back again.
-Is there a way for me to even tell if I am at a passing level? I used all the NBME's already... Should I do the Kaplan simulated thing? Or am I better off just studying, since this will take a day.
-If I should just suck it up and take the test, what should I study this last 1.5 weeks?

Thanks for any advice guys, I am sure you have read emails like this 1000x, so have I. I just haven't had any good advice to give since I am screwing up such big time here...

Peace, and thanks in advance. -K

PS weakest areas:
*Female Endocrine Repro
*Heme/Onc (cannot keep straight M1-7, ALL, AML, PML, diagnosis, treatment, path slides, etc etc)
*Anatomy, esp brachial plexus lesions (for the life of me, I cannot keep this stuff straight) and arm/hand innervation

 

[39094]

If you've taken all the NBME exams and haven't broken 173 I'd say you're asking for trouble. True most people's scores go up from their last NBME, but 9 points is a lot to ask in 1 day.

If you can push back the test I'd say that's the best thing to do at this point. Go over your weak points and spend lots of time with everyone's good buddy first aid. You might have to pay the extra $50 to extend your time (if you haven't already) but certainly that's better than paying $450 to take the exam again (or whatever they're charging now). You might be out of luck altogether as I thought most testing places had a 48 hour cancellation or something to that effect, I could be wrong.

Regardless, best of luck. It's an uphill battle but with a few extra weeks of studying I think you can add 10 pts. to your score.

 

[theCamel]

thanks, i was afraid of this...