Need Help With a New Study Plan

[bqhealer]

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Alright, so I'm 5 weeks into studying and still getting in the 226-230 range :/ I've moved my test date back by 4 weeks to hopefully improve my score and get closer to the 240s. But could really use some help with figuring out what to do next. Here's what I've done so far:

- DIT w/ FA
- FA (2x)
- Pathoma (1x)
- UWorld (completed 1x): 69% average
- 4 NBMEs: 217-230 range

I know that I want to go over FA at least 2 more times and at least do my UWorld incorrects but any thoughts or suggestions beyond that?

 

[Midwestern Blot]

Drink heavily

 

[J ROD]

Well, there are some things you can do. If you think it is a knowledge thing, going over FA several more times and maybe with some in-depth sources on weak areas could get you more points. Also, you can try and identify certain methods in your testing to help you get there.

Lastly, you could just have hit your ceiling. We all have a certain limit. I mean you can kill yourself for another month and get a few more points maybe. But, you have done what most consider the basic review and time period.

Only thing next is to go deeper into other sources in my opinion after another read of FA.

 

[Psai]

I think you might benefit from Goljan but a lot of people don't seem to like it. Pathoma again and maybe hit on pharm, biochem and micro. I started peaking around the end of5 weeks and this might be your peak as J DUB said. You're at the average for all medical students which is a very respectable place to be.

 

[rodmichael82]

I think you might benefit from Goljan but a lot of people don't seem to like it. Pathoma again and maybe hit on pharm, biochem and micro. I started peaking around the end of5 weeks and this might be your peak as J DUB said. You're at the average for all medical students which is a very respectable place to be.

Not if he's trying to go into a combined residency program called "Dermatologic Ortho-Plastic surgery"

 

[BlueJay25]

With 4 more weeks it seems like you'd have enough time to get another run through FA and Pathoma. Along with that, probably redo the incorrect questions on U World. I think by doing this, you should go up at least another 10 points.

Another possibility could be that you've hit your ceiling as previous posters have said. Good luck with studying and I hope that 4 week extension reflects in your score!

 

[J ROD]

Eventually........you get here..............

 

[BoBeanEater]

Alright, so I'm 5 weeks into studying and still getting in the 226-230 range :/ I've moved my test date back by 4 weeks to hopefully improve my score and get closer to the 240s. But could really use some help with figuring out what to do next. Here's what I've done so far:

- DIT w/ FA
- FA (2x)
- Pathoma (1x)
- UWorld (completed 1x): 69% average
- 4 NBMEs: 217-230 range

I know that I want to go over FA at least 2 more times and at least do my UWorld incorrects but any thoughts or suggestions beyond that?

@bqhealer

What 4 NBME's have you done?
Was the UW, FA, Pathoma, and DIT completed during your dedicated period?
AMG fresh out of classes? IMG? Etc...?
Missing certain topics/areas?
Was the FA reading simply reading, or was it attempting to memorize a page before moving on to the next page?
Done the Free 138?

I do not think you have hit a ceiling if you are in the 226-230 range. I actually do not even think that testing techniques or making mistakes is what is bringing your score down the most at the moment. If you had hit a wall higher, I might think differently.

My go to advice is usually more questions, but it can depend on a few other things at times. Did you do Rx or Kaplan question banks? Were the NBME's online or offline?

With 4 weeks, I think you can up your score. Hard for me to give advice at this point without more information, especially due to my test experience. I would not recommend reading a lot of Pathoma at this point unless your score performance profile in pathology is atrocious. A ton of people swear by Pathoma, and it may have been that I answered a lot of questions reflexively because I had used Pathoma, but I do not recall a point where I said, "Wow, Pathoma was clutch." YMMV though.

 

[bqhealer]

@bqhealer

What 4 NBME's have you done?
Was the UW, FA, Pathoma, and DIT completed during your dedicated period?
AMG fresh out of classes? IMG? Etc...?
Missing certain topics/areas?
Was the FA reading simply reading, or was it attempting to memorize a page before moving on to the next page?
Done the Free 138?

I do not think you have hit a ceiling if you are in the 226-230 range. I actually do not even think that testing techniques or making mistakes is what is bringing your score down the most at the moment. If you had hit a wall higher, I might think differently.

My go to advice is usually more questions, but it can depend on a few other things at times. Did you do Rx or Kaplan question banks? Were the NBME's online or offline?

With 4 weeks, I think you can up your score. Hard for me to give advice at this point without more information, especially due to my test experience. I would not recommend reading a lot of Pathoma at this point unless your score performance profile in pathology is atrocious. A ton of people swear by Pathoma, and it may have been that I answered a lot of questions reflexively because I had used Pathoma, but I do not recall a point where I said, "Wow, Pathoma was clutch." YMMV though.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Really hope that I haven't hit a wall but know that'll have regrets if I don't at least try to change my score.

Thanks @BoBeanEater for the encouraging words. I've done NBME 7 (220), 11 (217), 12 (230), 16 (226). DIT and Rx were completed outside of my dedicated study period but the rest were all completed within the 5 weeks. I'm a AMG fresh out of classes and have been struggling mostly with biochem, pharm, and heme/onc. Mostly read through FA while doing DIT/Pathoma and am hoping to do a closer read during these next four weeks. Also, haven't done the Free 138, planning on completing those questions in my final week of study before taking Step. Any thoughts?

 

[J ROD]

Well, in this case, you need to do more passes with FA. I say at least 2 more.

 

[BA11]

Did you do UW as timed and random? 69% is pretty damn good the first time through if so. It took me a good 500 questions before I was consistently getting around 70%. The score prediction chart predicts over 240 with that Uworld average.

What Im trying to say is that it may not be your knowledge base thats the issue.

 

[J ROD]

Did you do UW as timed and random? 69% is pretty damn good the first time through if so. It took me a good 500 questions before I was consistently getting around 70%. The score prediction chart predicts over 240 with that Uworld average.

What Im trying to say is that it may not be your knowledge base thats the issue.

That chart is off. 70% closer to a low 230's