Official 2011 USMLE Step 1 Experiences and Scores Thread

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Hello everyone. I am a second year who will write the exam in June 2011. Meanwhile let this be a good thread where everyone share their study progress and recent trend of the exam.
 
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Anyone have suggestions on the last 2 weeks? I'm looking ahead, but I'll be done my first run through of UW next Monday. I'll have gone through FA 1-2 times, hitting my problem areas (anatomy, genetics, pharm) 2x. I'm 55% done UW now, really marking liberally, planning on doing all my marked + incorrects. I have a packet of notes I've made from UW, plus stuff I annotated into FA, so I guess I'll go through FA system by system...but can anyone tell me how much time to alot for going through incorrects/another time through FA? Any other suggestions/thoughts? I'll take nmbe 6 tomorrow, and will probably try to take 7,11,12 before the exam as well. I'm trying to figure out how to go from the 230 range into the 240+ range (I'd kill to be there). Thanks!

edit: i've also seen taus method, but just wondering if anyone has other ideas/plans. right now i have 500 questions marked! (eep!) so uh, yea...by the time I'm done it'll probably be 800-1000-->~20 blocks, not sure if that's ridiculous or not? also, i'm sitting at a 71% (still inconsistent, which sucks).
 
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Day man said:
Anyone have suggestions on the last 2 weeks? I'm looking ahead, but I'll be done my first run through of UW next Monday. I'll have gone through FA 1-2 times, hitting my problem areas (anatomy, genetics, pharm) 2x. I'm 55% done UW now, really marking liberally, planning on doing all my marked + incorrects. I have a packet of notes I've made from UW, plus stuff I annotated into FA, so I guess I'll go through FA system by system...but can anyone tell me how much time to alot for going through incorrects/another time through FA? Any other suggestions/thoughts? I'll take nmbe 6 tomorrow, and will probably try to take 7,11,12 before the exam as well. I'm trying to figure out how to go from the 230 range into the 240+ range (I'd kill to be there). Thanks!

edit: i've also seen taus method, but just wondering if anyone has other ideas/plans. right now i have 500 questions marked! (eep!) so uh, yea...by the time I'm done it'll probably be 800-1000-->~20 blocks, not sure if that's ridiculous or not? also, i'm sitting at a 71% (still inconsistent, which sucks).
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1. Do as many practice questions as you can, and try to finish UW

2. On your last run through of FA you should be comfortable enough with the understanding. Focus on memorizing small facts/cramming.
 
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ArcGurren said:
1. Do as many practice questions as you can, and try to finish UW

2. On your last run through of FA you should be comfortable enough with the understanding. Focus on memorizing small facts/cramming.
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age old question/the human condition: redo world marks or kaplan/rx? both? I'm thinking redo the marks then hit up weaknessess subject specific in kaplan/rx.
 
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Day man said:
age old question/the human condition: redo world marks or kaplan/rx? both? I'm thinking redo the marks then hit up weaknessess subject specific in kaplan/rx.
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I redid the incorrect/marked for UW, which took me 2/5 of my final week of studying. It's important that you do this because it's much higher yield than a lot of the Kaplan incorrect that I had (which largely consisted of stupid picky questions which very few people got correct).

I spent the remainder of my time doing UWSA1 and 2 since I hadn't done them yet. If you have, I would instead spend time doing Kaplan incorrects/marked or Rx or whatever ONLY after UW incorrects.
 
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Any suggestions on how to improve on heart sounds? I am really bad at them. How hard are they on the real thing?
 
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abmd said:
Any suggestions on how to improve on heart sounds? I am really bad at them. How hard are they on the real thing?
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listen to them! Google 'heart sounds' and try out the different websites. The ones on the real deal arent too bad. Very loud, obvious murmurs. Dont forget that you can move the stethoscope around on the real deal, so if the heart sound sounds normal, its b/c you have to move it to one of the other heart spots.
 
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RySerr21 said:
listen to them! Google 'heart sounds' and try out the different websites. The ones on the real deal arent too bad. Very loud, obvious murmurs. Dont forget that you can move the stethoscope around on the real deal, so if the heart sound sounds normal, its b/c you have to move it to one of the other heart spots.
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Does the murmur change intensity as you move it or does it just completely disappear?
 
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iA-MD2013 said:
Does the murmur change intensity as you move it or does it just completely disappear?
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it was just completely gone. It messed me up b/c by default the stethoscope was on the aortic area, and it sounded copmletely normal. I was like, wtf there is nothing wrong with this heart...but there were no options that said 'normal.' Then i realised that you had to move it around and it changed depending on where you were listening.
 
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Wait...how do you change the location? Can you do this on Qbanks, too? I have Rx and Uworld, but I've only had heart sounds on Rx so far. But it didn't seem like there was a way to change the location of the stethoscope.
 
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Isis24 said:
Wait...how do you change the location? Can you do this on Qbanks, too? I have Rx and Uworld, but I've only had heart sounds on Rx so far. But it didn't seem like there was a way to change the location of the stethoscope.
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you can use your mouse to move the stethoscope from locaiton to location on the chest. I dont think most qbanks have this. I do remember doing it somewhere though.
 
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RySerr21 said:
it was just completely gone. It messed me up b/c by default the stethoscope was on the aortic area, and it sounded copmletely normal. I was like, wtf there is nothing wrong with this heart...but there were no options that said 'normal.' Then i realised that you had to move it around and it changed depending on where you were listening.
Click to expand...

I did lol ... i am still really bad. The littman website and blafuss I got most of them wrong! I just hope its not as hard...
 
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so I missed my test today due to being sick and not being able to sleep at all

glad to postpone it though. Up until an hour before, I was seriously considering taking it despite feeling like crap. By 10-ish I felt dead and thank god i made the right decision.
 
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can anyone speak to the exam program format?

does it let you keep calc or values up while switching questions and selecting answers? can you press left/right/abcde to change q's and select answers? can you use number keys for the calculator or is it click only? how does the strikeout-hilight work? (I have UW and URx and they are each a little diff from each otherl)

what size monitors/resolution (about) did they have for you guys?

I know it all sounds silly but I want format to be a nonissue when I walk in.
 
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I did the practice one a couple of weeks ago but I don't think the software is the same as in the actual exam. The strike-out/highlight was the same as UW tho..except you could reverse it to highlight answers. There was also no calculator in it...not sure if that is the case in the real one but it threw me off. The computer screens seemed relatively high resolution LCD but that might depend on the site. What really threw me off was my site doesn't allow watches...and there was no clock and no timer to tell you how much breaktime you had left. ??????? Again maybe the actual software has the timer....
 
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jfgavina said:
No calculator??? 👎 Can anyone please confirm if this is true?
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thats false. You do have a calculator. The set up is identical to what you see in UW, even the lab values were the same. It made it easy to find things b/c I had looked them up so many times in UW that I knew where most of the common things were. The search function is also really helpful.
 
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good to know. sorry for causing mass hysteria 😛 What about the timer? Does it tell you how much break time you have left? I felt like I was in a bubble in there🙁
 
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Podie said:
good to know. sorry for causing mass hysteria 😛 What about the timer? Does it tell you how much break time you have left? I felt like I was in a bubble in there🙁
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yea it keeps track of your total time in the day and you total break down. Any time you have left over from your block is added to your break time.
 
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Just took it today came out feeling like all of dreams were crushed.
I was surprised at just how similar it was to Uworld, it's the EXACT layout which is great, I didn't get a lot of anatomy questions [lol which is good since I didn't bother reviewing the innervation of the lower limbs] it didn't really seem that hard knowledge wise I just didn't know a lot of things.
Preparing for the worst case scenario and so I'll start back studying after my week vacation.
 
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Maalik Ashtaar said:
Just took it today came out feeling like all of dreams were crushed.
I was surprised at just how similar it was to Uworld, it's the EXACT layout which is great, I didn't get a lot of anatomy questions [lol which is good since I didn't bother reviewing the innervation of the lower limbs] it didn't really seem that hard knowledge wise I just didn't know a lot of things.
Preparing for the worst case scenario and so I'll start back studying after my week vacation.
Click to expand...

Dude. I thought everyone feels like they did lousy. Don't waste time studying when you probably won't need to..?
 
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Just got done with the exam, and just like everyone says its exactly like UWorld looks wise (right down to the calculator and labs).....felt like I was doing Uworld blocks.....but more stressful. The breakdown was pretty decent....felt like it touched on every subject at least once....

Every exam varies but I felt mine had a lot of genetics and experimental questions....probably my weakness...but i'm hoping most of them were experimental and wont hurt me toooo much (one can only wish)..... alot of people said anatomy hit them hard...I had a couple but i think it wasnt too prominent on my exam. alot of up and down physio questions - hormones, cardio, renal, respiratory even musculo skeletal contraction stuff.....took some time to really think about....there was a good distribution of pictures and only 2 cardio audios (and the stem DOES NOT give away the answer)......immuno was there but not crazy....overall the exam was more concept based then actual regurgitation of facts. NO REPEATS of any NBME 7, 11, 12 but i would highly recommend them especially 11 and 12. the question stems were pretty long too at least 3 to 4 sentances (no one lines) There were some questions that I didn't know what they were asking and just wasted my time re-reading to understand it better. Some were super easy, just giving you the key words to click the right answer. my advice would be to pick and answer and come back later if you dont get it the first time....i lost a lot of time to answer ones I would know later on to re-read the questions on experimental rats and intential lab muations......

all in all i think First aid and Uworld prepares you well if you invest your time into them properly......i wish i went through First aid a few more times but did what I could in the time i had (4 weeks)....hopefully my NBMEs predict well enough and didnt completely bomb it! dont even want to think about the long wait but i was never one to check my grades right after an exam anyways sooooo we'll see!
 
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Also, does it let you increase the font size if you press control-plus sign on the keyboard, like in many internet browsers? My vision is awful! All the reading has destroyed my eyes!
 
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The font size is larger than UWorld's largest, but you cannot increase the text size. (At least at my center, it very likely depends on the monitor resolution and I would bet that it is standardized.) UWorld has the option to increase font size in the program and if you want to go bigger than the largest, you can decrease your monitor resolution. Kaplan and Rx can be increased by the browser.

On the real thing, I'm 95% sure you cannot browse with the arrows and cannot mark choices with keys.
 
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st3ady said:
Also, does it let you increase the font size if you press control-plus sign on the keyboard, like in many internet browsers? My vision is awful! All the reading has destroyed my eyes!
Click to expand...

I don't think so, sorry, but the font is closer to the one used on the Kaplan Qbank and it's larger/more pleasant for the eyes.
 
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Anyone know if you can bring up the lab values and have it be to the right side of the questions at all times? I normally do this on NBMEs to decrease the width of the question stems

I ask b/c I hate how in the NBMEs, the text extends all the way across the monitor... and you have to scan the whole width of your screen for each line.

Also, is there a way I can see the tutorial somewhere online before the test so I can use those 15 mins for break? I hear there's a buncha keyboard shortcuts
 
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Merit2011 said:
Just got done with the exam, and just like everyone says its exactly like UWorld looks wise (right down to the calculator and labs).....felt like I was doing Uworld blocks.....but more stressful. The breakdown was pretty decent....felt like it touched on every subject at least once....

Every exam varies but I felt mine had a lot of genetics and experimental questions....probably my weakness...but i'm hoping most of them were experimental and wont hurt me toooo much (one can only wish)..... alot of people said anatomy hit them hard...I had a couple but i think it wasnt too prominent on my exam. alot of up and down physio questions - hormones, cardio, renal, respiratory even musculo skeletal contraction stuff.....took some time to really think about....there was a good distribution of pictures and only 2 cardio audios (and the stem DOES NOT give away the answer)......immuno was there but not crazy....overall the exam was more concept based then actual regurgitation of facts. NO REPEATS of any NBME 7, 11, 12 but i would highly recommend them especially 11 and 12. the question stems were pretty long too at least 3 to 4 sentances (no one lines) There were some questions that I didn’t know what they were asking and just wasted my time re-reading to understand it better. Some were super easy, just giving you the key words to click the right answer. my advice would be to pick and answer and come back later if you dont get it the first time....i lost a lot of time to answer ones I would know later on to re-read the questions on experimental rats and intential lab muations......

all in all i think First aid and Uworld prepares you well if you invest your time into them properly......i wish i went through First aid a few more times but did what I could in the time i had (4 weeks)....hopefully my NBMEs predict well enough and didnt completely bomb it! dont even want to think about the long wait but i was never one to check my grades right after an exam anyways sooooo we'll see!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the update! I got a quick question. How important did you feel RR Goljan and his audio were? I don't have much time left and I'm trying to stick with the most useful stuff only. And how many images did you have? Thanks!
 
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Just wondering... did anyone have to know the chromosome associated with the tumor suppressor genes on their exam?
 
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I took the test on 17th, I thought it was a really weird test. But honestly I had no idea which ones were experimental. I had almost 0 immuno questions, I had a lot of anatomy questions. The 3 multimedia questions i had were ridiculous. But then you have other questions that were so obvious, you start to think wtf ?
FA micro is right on the spot. I got above 70% on all the qbanks random/timed/46q blocks. But I didn't think the question are that similar. I know I had a couple repeats (or very similar qs) from NBME forms. Some of the graphs are insane. NOW everyone from May 17th - mid june test takers have to wait until mid july for the results. I am freaking out, I really need a good score. Hoping for >230
 
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lavodnas said:
I took the test on 17th, I thought it was a really weird test. But honestly I had no idea which ones were experimental. I had almost 0 immuno questions, I had a lot of anatomy questions. The 3 multimedia questions i had were ridiculous. But then you have other questions that were so obvious, you start to think wtf ?
FA micro is right on the spot. I got above 70% on all the qbanks random/timed/46q blocks. But I didn't think the question are that similar. I know I had a couple repeats (or very similar qs) from NBME forms. Some of the graphs are insane. NOW everyone from May 17th - mid june test takers have to wait until mid july for the results. I am freaking out, I really need a good score. Hoping for >230
Click to expand...

>70% in UW, if that's what you did, is good for more than just >230. fwiw.
 
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exi said:
>70% in UW, if that's what you did, is good for more than just >230. fwiw.
Click to expand...

Thanks man, all i can do is hope.

I did Kaplan and UWorld, I got a slightly higher score on the kaplan than on UWorld. I did only one UWSA, I think i got like a 242 or 244

Also on a side note, I did NOT get one freaking Hardy Weinberg question. I couldn't believe it.

At the cubicle at my prometric center where my computer was, had nail clippings all over the floor.
 
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lavodnas said:
Thanks man, all i can do is hope.

I did Kaplan and UWorld, I got a slightly higher score on the kaplan than on UWorld. I did only one UWSA, I think i got like a 242 or 244

Also on a side note, I did NOT get one freaking Hardy Weinberg question. I couldn't believe it.

At the cubicle at my prometric center where my computer was, had nail clippings all over the floor.
Click to expand...
sick!!!
 
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lavodnas said:
I took the test on 17th, I thought it was a really weird test. But honestly I had no idea which ones were experimental. I had almost 0 immuno questions, I had a lot of anatomy questions. The 3 multimedia questions i had were ridiculous. But then you have other questions that were so obvious, you start to think wtf ?
FA micro is right on the spot. I got above 70% on all the qbanks random/timed/46q blocks. But I didn't think the question are that similar. I know I had a couple repeats (or very similar qs) from NBME forms. Some of the graphs are insane. NOW everyone from May 17th - mid june test takers have to wait until mid july for the results. I am freaking out, I really need a good score. Hoping for >230
Click to expand...

Just out of curiosity, when you say "a lot of anatomy" how many would you ball park that as? 10? 30?

Also, in my opinion, if you had a cumulative of over 70% on Uworld, you should rock that thing. Uworld is way harder than it sounds listening to a lot of SDN posters. Good work on those percentages though! Sorry you have to wait until Mid July!
 
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Sheldor said:
Just out of curiosity, when you say "a lot of anatomy" how many would you ball park that as? 10? 30?

Also, in my opinion, if you had a cumulative of over 70% on Uworld, you should rock that thing. Uworld is way harder than it sounds listening to a lot of SDN posters. Good work on those percentages though! Sorry you have to wait until Mid July!
Click to expand...

Hmm, I would say between 10 and 15. I want to say at least 5 had some sort attached image, like CT/MRI/ANGIO/XRay

Also I used:
Kaplan lecture notes/videos/qbank
FA x 2
Goljan almost 2 times (audio only, usually when I would run)
Uworld x2
HY neuroanatomy
 
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lavodnas said:
Hmm, I would say between 10 and 15. I want to say at least 5 had some sort attached image, like CT/MRI/ANGIO/XRay

Also I used:
Kaplan lecture notes/videos/qbank
FA x 2
Goljan almost 2 times (audio only, usually when I would run)
Uworld x2
HY neuroanatomy
Click to expand...
did you feel that most of the questions were right out of FA and Uworld. Or did you have to recall info from your other sources? Was Goljan Audio that particularly helpful?
 
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I just took my first NBME (#11), and I was surprised at how difficult the behavioral "what is the right thing to do?" type questions were. Wow. What is everyone studying for behavioral, b/c that section in FA is obviously not sufficient. I have BRS Behavioral, haven't read that, should I? It's long, surely there's something else out there that would work also...don't wanna spend too much time on that. Any advice?
 
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pullandbear said:
did you feel that most of the questions were right out of FA and Uworld. Or did you have to recall info from your other sources? Was Goljan Audio that particularly helpful?
Click to expand...

Kaplan gives a really nice base for things, but it missed some high yield content. But Kaplan pharm is no joke, that is the best by far. The Dr. Raymond videos are so good (a little long). Same with B. Science I thought it was good. I used Kaplan Qbank more to gauge my performance.

I used Uworld and FA to narrow stuff down and figure out the more high yield content and reinforce it.

So when I was taking the test I feel like I remembered more stuff from FA and Uworld than anything else. But that maybe because I went over Uworld and FA 2 times. Also the last week I only read FA and did nothing else.

I dont know how useful Goljan was, I just did it because I run everyday so I figured I might help. So if you have time I would at least listen to it.

Hopefully that helps ?
 
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