NDBE Part I: do tests more or the decks?

[NDS]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi simple question (for those who have taken it), for the last two weeks remaining, should I focus on the past exams more or the decks more, which one will help me the most....and any other suggestions are welcome!
good luck to everyone out there taking the test!

 

[c132]

Just out of the blue, how many time have you been through your decks?

 

[NDS]

twice, I'm on my third time, but I still feel like i don't know anything! scary, why am I studying?!!

 

[c132]

I haven't really done them all yet the first time! I have been going really slow and "trying" to learn this but it isn't sinking in @ all. 😱

 

[NDS]

I know! oh well, but have confidence, I'm sure something is sticking, at least you will be able to make educated guesses....have confidence 🙂 yeah, I feel like I am giving myself a confidence booster....but oh well, hope it helps somewhat....
and oh also, I PM some past test takers, and they recommended spending a wekk on decks and a week on exams, both are important, sigh....if only I have the time....

 

[c132]

YEah i know, I am takin mine on the 9th too!!!! I am starting to rethink that decision. I figured if I spent 2 days on each section, then 3 days on exams I am gonna be fine! At least I hope so. I have always studied just the night before exams and always done well, so I am gonna take this test no different, well except studying for 11 days!!!!!!!!!!! 😱

 

[ItsGavinC]

Just out of the blue, how many time have you been through your decks?

7 times through them, except for Anatomy. I've been through those 4 times.

 

[c132]

DANG GAVIN! I expect some big numbers from you!!!!! 😀

 

[sjdent]

Are decks THAT important??

I mean, they gloss over basic material, but.......

I haven't been through that many decks...been focusing on studying a subject for a couple of days (Kaplan or school notes) then taking old test after old test after old test. Decks seem too easy or something. What do people think that have already taken them?

I'M GOING TO FAIL BOARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😱 😱 😱 😱 🙁

 

[NDS]

So I guess, one vote for decks as more important for the last two weeks?
For the decks, I don't remember anything, whenever I start redoing decks, I'd be like: "what! I don't remember reading this at all two weeks?!" So any suggestions? maybe the goal is to just read them quickly and repeat them instead of spending a lot of time memorizing them, because it sure isn't working for me....

 

[ItsGavinC]

Are decks THAT important??

I mean, they gloss over basic material, but.......
(

Well they are easy and basic, but everything important is on the opposite side. And, everything that is in bold has been an answer from released board exams.

So by studying the Decks you are studying the Board exams in a round about way. Of course, only the released exams can give you a real feel for the exam, and that is important.

 

[anamod]

I just started today and got through most of the biochem/physio. I will make it through once and maybe a sample test and that is all the effort I'm giving it. I plan on golfing a lot this week we have off.

 

[anamod]

7 TIMES that is overkill in my book I thought you wanted to be a GP. I guess different strokes for different folks. I feel that this test should be given on random days and out of the blue, this would show who really learned and not who spent days upon days of studying little facts.

 

[kato999]

i would look into getting the first aid for the usmle book for 40 bucks, its got alot of info that is completely irrelevant, but the stuff that is pertinent has a ton of mnemonics that might save you actually having to learn the stuff 😀 .

 

[NDS]

ok, sorry but back to the original question, old exams or decks more important now during the last two weeks....thanks

 

[NDS]

pump

 

[cgt3477]

Why not do both? You could review the decks during the day and do 1-2 tests in the evening.

 

[NDS]

I'm trying to do that right now, but it seems so impossible, I don't if I am just slow or there really is just too much info....

 

[ItsGavinC]

i would look into getting the first aid for the usmle book for 40 bucks, its got alot of info that is completely irrelevant, but the stuff that is pertinent has a ton of mnemonics that might save you actually having to learn the stuff 😀 .

<---- Using it right now. 🙂

 

[ItsGavinC]

7 TIMES that is overkill in my book I thought you wanted to be a GP. I guess different strokes for different folks. I feel that this test should be given on random days and out of the blue, this would show who really learned and not who spent days upon days of studying little facts.

Hmmm. Who really learned? Are you kidding me?

 

[anamod]

Hmmm. Who really learned? Are you kidding me?

No I really think this is the way it should be done. I'm not saying I learned more than you did. I'm just stating you could give a person not in dental school with a college degree this test if you gave them a month to study cards and old tests. I know your going through the decks that many times because you want to do well on the test. So you are jumping through the hoops needed to do well on the test. I just want to pass. I'm sure you and every one on here that are putting all this time in studying will get the scores you want, which I'm sure will be higher than mine.

 

[sjdent]

So from what I'm hearing is that most people on these boards are using decks as their primary studying. True for most? Anyone NOT really using decks and using review books instead?

 

[sjdent]

.........just wondering, b/c as someone who hasn't really studied many decks, should I be worried 😎 Guess everyone has their own methods. I know tons of people who have just studied decks and done fine (i.e. PASSED).


Also, if 75 is passing, what is average? Someone said something about 50/100 is good to shoot for? I wonder why these numbers aren't widely available to us for god's sake.

 

[c132]

I found a site that said that avg. raw score passing was 45 for anat and the biochem section, 44 for micro section, and a 54 for dental anatomy. This was the past 10 year average though!

As some of you guys are, I too only want to pass, well I would like to make a 76 or so I won't be cutting it close with the 75! I could care less about making a 90 or so, but if that stuff rows your boat, go for it!!!!! 😱

 

[ItsGavinC]

Also, if 75 is passing, what is average? Someone said something about 50/100 is good to shoot for? I wonder why these numbers aren't widely available to us for god's sake.

They are available. All the stats you would probably ever want are located in the ADA NBDE Techincal Report document.

The report is located at: http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/natboard/technical.asp near the bottom of the page in pdf format.

 

[GatorDMD]

man i have some rough shoes to fill... the average board scores last year here at UF was around 88-89! My class seems to be filled with more gunners than c/o 2005! (according to professors) I am just trying to stay alive. I have done the decks several times(3x 2001 and 1x 2004) and read the FA USMLE 2x and other crap. yet when i took the 98 tests my average was a 89 percentile!(91,89,88,88) what should i do to increase a better score? There is no way i will even pass if i am not getting great scores on these old tests simply b/c the decks were made from them and the new test wont be repeated material. my only option is to do more old tests.

 

[NDS]

well ok, to do the best you can (whether that's 90, 80, or 70 for you), would it be decks or exams first focus? please some people who have taken the exam let me know, thanks

 

[GatorDMD]

oh yeah i forgot to mention the einsteins here at UF (admin) have us taking classes, seeing patients and doing rotations all summer! I have a quiz and a test this week! what since does this make?

 

[sandman]

oh yeah i forgot to mention the einsteins here at UF (admin) have us taking classes, seeing patients and doing rotations all summer! I have a quiz and a test this week! what since does this make?

You're not alone. We have clinic a full day on monday, and every morning In the afternoons we have classes in "worthwhile" topics like patient cultural sensitivity, ethics and radiology. Our review classes go until the friday before the exam. From the international forum it sounded like the decks were the way to go along with old exams, but its all a crap shoot.

 

[NDS]

ok so exams or dental decks more important? (sorry to hear about your hectic schedule, I thought my school was bad, yuk) well but in the end, you will do what you need to do, and you all be fine 🙂 good luck,
thanks
just think it'll be over soon!

 

[wasabi007]

does anyone know what the difference is between the 2001 and 2004 decks besides corrections to errors? i've been studying off the 2001 decks and was wondering if it was worthwhile to take a look at the 2004 decks?

thanks!

-wasabi

 

[sjdent]

As some of you guys are, I too only want to pass, well I would like to make a 76 or so I won't be cutting it close with the 75! I could care less about making a 90 or so, but if that stuff rows your boat, go for it!!!!!

I totally second that thought!!! I will be so damn happy when (IF) I get straight 76's all the way through!

 

[sjdent]

Is ANYONE using any method outside just decks/test? Sounds like everyone is relying on decks mostly.

 

[bigdental]

Is ANYONE using any method outside just decks/test? Sounds like everyone is relying on decks mostly.

I'm studying BRS reviews, First aid, netters cards, and clin micro right now to prepare for 1st yr and part I next summer hopefully. Haven't gotten the decks yet so don't know much about dental anatomy yet but should be getting them next month for quick review.

 

[ItsGavinC]

I've skimmed every page of the Kaplan book, taking note to memorize the margin stuff mostly (the book is just too broad for the most part). I also memorized all of the applicable mnemonics from the First Aid for the USMLE Step I book, and I've done most of the Q-Bank Dental Anatomy question, and nearly none of the other questions.

But Decks and exams are still my beef.

 

[boboli_chef]

Are there any significant differences between the First Aid for the USMLE texts from 2002, 2003, or 2004?

I will soon have the chance to purchase an older edition, and was wondering if this would be a worthwhile investment, or if I should just opt for the newest version? (that is, when the time comes for me -- part I is still over 720 days away)

 

[ItsGavinC]

You shouldn't have a problem with a moderately old version. There is only a minimal part of the book that is applicable to us.

For example, although the book coverse Path, there is still quite a bit of that which is not going to be tested on the NBDE. It is useful to look through for the diseases and symptoms that you know from your Path course, however, and refresh yourself.

Anatomy has *some* items that are beneficial, and physiology also has some general items that are beneficial. Micro is good for grouping items together, but even some of it's depth is quite overkill for our exam.

Because of this an older version won't make much of a difference. You might miss out on a couple of new mnemonics, but they also might be mnemonics for things that aren't tested anyway.

 

[NDS]

does anyone know what the difference is between the 2001 and 2004 decks besides corrections to errors? i've been studying off the 2001 decks and was wondering if it was worthwhile to take a look at the 2004 decks?

thanks!

-wasabi

good question...anyone know???

 

[wasabi007]

here's a great answer i received: 👍

hey wasabi, the only difference that i saw, besides the rearranged question/answers, was in the pathology section. that one had a few changes. it had more infection control material and a few more details i did not know from studying the 2001 decks. If you have time it may be worth it but there is something about recognition and if you go over the 2001 one more time you will probably retain a lot more than going over the 2004 once. I went thru the 2001 3x and new it inside and out, yet when i hit the 2004 i slowed down and had to rethink what i learned from the 2001. they both have the same exact grammatical errors and both even have a few errors in their explanations. so if it were me i would do the 2001 again and take the bullet of the say 20 or so different facts you may learn from the 2004. sorry so long, but i hope this helps. good luck.

hope they don't mind me posting this~ thanks again!

-wasabi 🙂

 

[r_salis]

i would look into getting the first aid for the usmle book for 40 bucks, its got alot of info that is completely irrelevant, but the stuff that is pertinent has a ton of mnemonics that might save you actually having to learn the stuff 😀 .

If you want to save a little money, you can find copies of last year's edition for $10-$15 (or less) on eBay or half.com -- and 2- or 3-year old editions are practically free. 🙂