Need advice

[usmlesaga]

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Hello,

I am really worried. I just took UWSA 2 and failed it, 400/192. My uworld scores are decent, random, timed, unused, at 60% (*first time through). For resources, I did DIT and I am making notes while going thru uworld. I really wanted to take the exam at the end of the month, but I see that is doubtful now.

I have 37% left of uworld. I dont know how to improve and I really need to improve from my Step 1 which was horrible. I am a crappy test taker, high anxiety, fast HR, etc..

Could use any solid advice, I will have to cancel a rotation to prepare for an extra month. And I am an IMG.

Thank you in advance!

 

[RedSoxSuck]

Hello,

I am really worried. I just took UWSA 2 and failed it, 400/192. My uworld scores are decent, random, timed, unused, at 60% (*first time through). For resources, I did DIT and I am making notes while going thru uworld. I really wanted to take the exam at the end of the month, but I see that is doubtful now.

I have 37% left of uworld. I dont know how to improve and I really need to improve from my Step 1 which was horrible. I am a crappy test taker, high anxiety, fast HR, etc..

Could use any solid advice, I will have to cancel a rotation to prepare for an extra month. And I am an IMG.

Thank you in advance!

I just started my 3rd year and haven't really started my prep so take my suggestion with a grain of salt. I think you need to figure out what went wrong. Take time to make you understand the mistakes you are making or falling for certain traps.

Figure out your mistakes, and then write them down and write down ways to avoid them. Just identifying your mistake is not enough. You must understand what can you do differently next time.

What makes you think you are a crappy test take? Do you run out of time? Or don't understand what is being asked of you in a timely manner? You can't process information quickly?


Hope this helps!

 

[OveractiveBrain]

Hello,

I am really worried. I just took UWSA 2 and failed it, 400/192. My uworld scores are decent, random, timed, unused, at 60% (*first time through). For resources, I did DIT and I am making notes while going thru uworld. I really wanted to take the exam at the end of the month, but I see that is doubtful now.

I have 37% left of uworld. I dont know how to improve and I really need to improve from my Step 1 which was horrible. I am a crappy test taker, high anxiety, fast HR, etc..

Could use any solid advice, I will have to cancel a rotation to prepare for an extra month. And I am an IMG.

Thank you in advance!

Per my usual

above
First Aid Step 2 or Step Up Step 2

and

Uworld​

Gets you a 230. Average. This has now worked for 15 students that I've tutored. Average to below average medical students at a US allopathic school getting average scores on the Step 2. The way you make this better is by adding something. People have also suggested master the boards by Conrad Fischer. If you are going to use Kaplan, I suggest just using Kaplan's Step 2 materials.

By "add something" I mean add Usmle Secrets or the other book you didnt do in the "or" (if you did FA, also do SU; if you did SU, also do FA). If you have time and opportunity I strongly recommend Kaplan Step 2 online or live lectures. It takes about 6-8 weeks, but is there for augmentation.

When I say "augmentation" what I mean is this. First Aid, Step Up, Secrets, etc. give you the content you are almost guarenteed to see on the exam. It is the content that is worth learning all the time. What they all leave out is the peripheral content. To push above a 240 you have to learn 10 things you wont use for every 1 you will. That's alot of effort. You have to know all the "core" material found in the review books, then a ****ton of more details. Since the questions are random, and all material is fair game, you have to know far more than you will need to get a higher score. The way you get that is with a program designed to give you those details.

I personally got a 258 (246 step 1) doing Uworld, First Aid, and Kaplan's Lecture series. I am not a good multiple choice test taker (I fall for traps and distractors like no one's business) but I consider myself a pretty solid success. Totally worth the effort of the Kaplan Course. I am was an allopathic AMG.

Crush does one thing: reminds you of the things you need to learn. You can read it in a weekend. It will get you no points on the exam. First Aid, Step Up, and Master The Boards are better choices

 

[RedSoxSuck]

Per my usual

above
First Aid Step 2 or Step Up Step 2

and

Uworld​

Gets you a 230. Average. This has now worked for 15 students that I've tutored. Average to below average medical students at a US allopathic school getting average scores on the Step 2. The way you make this better is by adding something. People have also suggested master the boards by Conrad Fischer. If you are going to use Kaplan, I suggest just using Kaplan's Step 2 materials.

By "add something" I mean add Usmle Secrets or the other book you didnt do in the "or" (if you did FA, also do SU; if you did SU, also do FA). If you have time and opportunity I strongly recommend Kaplan Step 2 online or live lectures. It takes about 6-8 weeks, but is there for augmentation.

When I say "augmentation" what I mean is this. First Aid, Step Up, Secrets, etc. give you the content you are almost guarenteed to see on the exam. It is the content that is worth learning all the time. What they all leave out is the peripheral content. To push above a 240 you have to learn 10 things you wont use for every 1 you will. That's alot of effort. You have to know all the "core" material found in the review books, then a ****ton of more details. Since the questions are random, and all material is fair game, you have to know far more than you will need to get a higher score. The way you get that is with a program designed to give you those details.

I personally got a 258 (246 step 1) doing Uworld, First Aid, and Kaplan's Lecture series. I am not a good multiple choice test taker (I fall for traps and distractors like no one's business) but I consider myself a pretty solid success. Totally worth the effort of the Kaplan Course. I am was an allopathic AMG.

Crush does one thing: reminds you of the things you need to learn. You can read it in a weekend. It will get you no points on the exam. First Aid, Step Up, and Master The Boards are better choices

👍👍

 

[usmlesaga]

Per my usual

above
First Aid Step 2 or Step Up Step 2

and

Uworld​

Gets you a 230. Average. This has now worked for 15 students that I've tutored. Average to below average medical students at a US allopathic school getting average scores on the Step 2. The way you make this better is by adding something. People have also suggested master the boards by Conrad Fischer. If you are going to use Kaplan, I suggest just using Kaplan's Step 2 materials.

By "add something" I mean add Usmle Secrets or the other book you didnt do in the "or" (if you did FA, also do SU; if you did SU, also do FA). If you have time and opportunity I strongly recommend Kaplan Step 2 online or live lectures. It takes about 6-8 weeks, but is there for augmentation.

When I say "augmentation" what I mean is this. First Aid, Step Up, Secrets, etc. give you the content you are almost guarenteed to see on the exam. It is the content that is worth learning all the time. What they all leave out is the peripheral content. To push above a 240 you have to learn 10 things you wont use for every 1 you will. That's alot of effort. You have to know all the "core" material found in the review books, then a ****ton of more details. Since the questions are random, and all material is fair game, you have to know far more than you will need to get a higher score. The way you get that is with a program designed to give you those details.

I personally got a 258 (246 step 1) doing Uworld, First Aid, and Kaplan's Lecture series. I am not a good multiple choice test taker (I fall for traps and distractors like no one's business) but I consider myself a pretty solid success. Totally worth the effort of the Kaplan Course. I am was an allopathic AMG.

Crush does one thing: reminds you of the things you need to learn. You can read it in a weekend. It will get you no points on the exam. First Aid, Step Up, and Master The Boards are better choices

Thank you for the advice. I will take it seriously. I wish I had the time and money for a Kaplan course but I dont. Also, I am really trying to take this by the end of the month..really appreciate your time in taking to write this.