Official 2016 Step 1 Experiences and Scores Thread

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Transposony

Transposony

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Someone asked about pathoma vs. goljian RR. Here's my take on it. Fwiw, i've been through both resources extensively. RR is excellent to use all 2nd year alongside classes. It builds a fort of knowledge that I noticed is difficult to match. I loved it a lot and it helped me get points on exams and I give it a lot of credit for honoring exams. It is however, not perfectly geared to STEP 1.

So for a condensed resource during dedicated time or the weeks before it, Pathoma is superior. If you've never seen goljian before then, trying to comb through it will prove disastrous for you. Reading that book is a little bit of an art too. Now im used to it and can fly through it if needed.
 
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ekonkaar said:
Took the step today. Bloody hell, that was the hardest exam I've ever sat. Initial thoughts: focus on basics and master them. All the hype about crazy hard impossible questions are a myth. It's basically like doing 7 very tough Uworld blocks. F*** NBMEs - they're nothing like the exam - anyone can get 250/260 on NBME by knowing all of First Aid, but the actual step is way more integrated and conceptual. Don't bother with old nbmes at all. Know your bugs and drugs very well. Finally - heart sounds are f******* on the real exam.
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Dude I dont know where you got the idea that questions on NBMEs would be similar to real exam, but the score on both would be similar, more or less.and i believe anyone cannot get 260 in NBME by knowing just all of first aid, it takes something more than that
 
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thelastaid said:
Dude I dont know where you got the idea that questions on NBMEs would be similar to real exam, but the score on both would be similar, more or less.and i believe anyone cannot get 260 in NBME by knowing just all of first aid, it takes something more than that
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I tend to agree with you but remember that each person's experience is different. I've heard people say that they had reworded old NBME questions on their exams. I think that the old NBME's do have some value in showing commonly tested concepts and how they tend to present their vignettes.

Now that I think of it, I remember someone who got like a 260 or close but said to do every NBME. So to each their own, I guess.
 
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thelastaid said:
Dude I dont know where you got the idea that questions on NBMEs would be similar to real exam, but the score on both would be similar, more or less.and i believe anyone cannot get 260 in NBME by knowing just all of first aid, it takes something more than that
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lol. So if they're not meant to be similar why have the NBME put them up as "retired" board questions?
And yeah, you obviously can't get 260 on NBME by just memorising FA but you can if you've learnt your stuff well at med school with a solid grasp of all the basic concepts they test + Uworld. You don't need to know a tonne of random ass stuff outside the FA. (maybe I went bit OTT straight after the exam)!
 
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i did most nbmes except first three, i spent a lot of time searching on forums forst everything i missed too so I knew the answer to everything more or less if it came up in real deal... nothing repeated on my exam. everyone does have a different experience, people who get repeated old NBMEs are pretty lucky imo, those are free points right there. but if you have the time, it may be worthwhile to look into older NBMEs, certainly not a necessity though.
 
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I'm thinking of now buying an NBME. Does it allow you to take breaks in between sessions? Or should i ensure i have 4 hours straight without any interruptions when planning on taking one?
 
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Tri723 said:
I'm thinking of now buying an NBME. Does it allow you to take breaks in between sessions? Or should i ensure i have 4 hours straight without any interruptions when planning on taking one?
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yes after each section, it automatically starts the subsequent one but you can immediately pause the test. simulate what your gameplan is on real deal by taking timed breaks so u get a feel of what it will be like.
 
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smile8888 said:
What's a good/reasonable goal to set to accomplish before dedicated study starts?
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It's really up to you. Take a practice NBME (offline if you don't want to spend $) and look at your weaknesses and improve them. For example, mine was biochem so I'm killing biochem right now. Also, micro and physio.

But I think the best thing to do is to look at concepts that you've had difficulty with and solidly the knowledge now so dedicated prep goes so much easier.
 
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allojay said:
I tend to agree with you but remember that each person's experience is different. I've heard people say that they had reworded old NBME questions on their exams. I think that the old NBME's do have some value in showing commonly tested concepts and how they tend to present their vignettes.

Now that I think of it, I remember someone who got like a 260 or close but said to do every NBME. So to each their own, I guess.
Click to expand...

what's the best way to get those old NBMEs?
 
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Hey guys,

Gonna go ahead and officially join you all now that I have official dates for boards. I'll be taking USMLE mid june and COMLEX end of june.

I started studying in Jan and so far have gotten about half way through First aid and pathoma along with having done around 15% of Uworld. I was expecting to be a lot further than I am at this point but It's been soooo difficult to manage school and board prep!

I've been doing uworld subject specific for the topics that I'm on in First Aid which has been a nice way to reinforce material. I'll be doing random with 2nd pass.

In the 15% of Uworld I've completed, I've averaged ~low 60s with a percentile score in the high 60s. I feel like I should be score higher considering I'm following along material Im covering in FA. Any thoughts/experience on this?

How are my summer test buddies doing with your prep?
 
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Taking it at the end of July... Not sure if my plan will be a good one!

I have 9 weeks total to study for that beast... I will use the first 3 weeks to do FA while doing some reading and watch videos for concepts that are hard for me to grasp... Will use another 3 weeks to do Uworld... And I will do a second pass FA/Uworld for whatever time I have left...

Target score >235...
 
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W19 said:
Taking it at the end of July... Not sure if my plan will be a good one!

I have 9 weeks total to study for that beast... I will use the first 3 weeks to do FA while doing some reading and watch videos for concepts that are hard for me to grasp... Will use another 3 weeks to do Uworld... And I will do a second pass FA/Uworld for whatever time I have left...

Target score >235...
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good plan. But I would be careful about the ability to finish uworld or FA in 3 weeks if those weeks include coursework as well. If they are completely free of school work, than that's manageable. That's just my personal experience.
 
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gobigorgohome22 said:
Sounds like a good plan. But I would be careful about the ability to finish uworld or FA in 3 weeks if those weeks include coursework as well. If they are completely free of school work, than that's manageable. That's just my personal experience.
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There will be no coursework... I will do all of these on my dedicated time after I am done with MS2.... I plan to study 12-14 hrs/day.
 
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Need some advice for scheduling my time as best as possible please. I finish class in 6 weeks and will have 5 weeks to study for dedicated. I'm currently doing biochem and need to do immuno and embryo Bc I'm weak in those areas. Is it advised for me to continue doing school + this review for the next 3 wks and then start uworld with 3 wks left of classes? I'm worried about getting through pathoma once more in dedicated and then all of uworld plus all the nbmes... And I haven't read through first aid yet- just randomly with classes.

Edit: the next 3 wks- all biochem immuno embryo anatomy (using Kaplan anywhere videos) plus class (GI). Then next 3 wks are derm/msk 3 wks in class and was gonna start uworld with first aid? Then dedicated do one full week of just pathoma and get that out the way then start nbmes 4 wks out and continue uworld and first aid?

I have DIT if I want to use any of the videos for struggle areas. I also have brs path if needed. Used rr goljan throughout the school year. Did like half of Kaplan and usmlerx qbank throughout the year.


@Phloston
@Transposony
@tasar1898

@seminoma

I really want to make >240 so any advice would be greatly appreciated!
 
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Hey @tvelocity514 , I can't really comment on your timetable since I have no knowledge of the american system but I have some questions/points for you:

1) What do you mean by all NBME's , like really all (1-17) ? Whats the point in that? The 3-4 most recent NBME's + UWSA are enough to get a sense of the subjects tested , you don't have to spend countless hours on google trying to find answers to q's published in 2003 or smthing
2) Seems like you have tons of resources for the different subjects, e.g. why RR + Pathoma + BRS path ? Just stick with one , in your case since you already know Goljan RR just keep going through the HY points of this. No need to overfill your head with random stuff . Goljan already contains Pathoma , but since you ve been through both only pick ONE and have faith in it..
3) Embryo?? What is there to review , probably gonna get 1 question in arches/pouches/w/e . FA was more than enough for me . About anatomy.. the same , my knowledge was sub-par AT BEST , and I just read Kaplan + FA and got a star.. For the american , I guess FA will be sufficient
4) Biochem?? Yeah biochem is cool but still , not tested so much.. Is it worth it spending much-needed time on it? Why learn all the pathways when all you need is alkaptonuria or maple syrup or LCAT def that are already in FA
5) Why so many videos for all the subjects ? Again pick one and stick with it .. kaplan / DIT all essentially try to explain the same stuff , but still these videos are useful if you have few knowledge of the subject
6) Keep in mind that Uworld will take 4-8 wks to finish and ''refine'' its knowledge , always dependent on your % correct.. For most ppl I 've talked to it took them like 6 wks WITHOUT FA memorizing/classes using up study hours

What I am trying to say is essentially the theme of your post is spreading yourself too thin over so many resources on LY stuff .. Why are you trying to reinvent the wheel when UFAP works so well for your classmates? ( in your case UFA + RR Goljan which is already super dense )

It's normal to feel like that , but anxiety to ''cover up all your bases'' with all these different resources will IMHO not result in a better score because just a superficial glance over 10 books does NOT lead to the understanding needed for USMLE. As others have said before me , pick a source that covers the basics and MASTER it , and don't worry about random LY stuff ( they will be on your test but no resource can prepare you for that , only your 2 yrs of med school)
 
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tasar1898 said:
Hey @tvelocity514 , I can't really comment on your timetable since I have no knowledge of the american system but I have some questions/points for you:

1) What do you mean by all NBME's , like really all (1-17) ? Whats the point in that? The 3-4 most recent NBME's + UWSA are enough to get a sense of the subjects tested , you don't have to spend countless hours on google trying to find answers to q's published in 2003 or smthing
2) Seems like you have tons of resources for the different subjects, e.g. why RR + Pathoma + BRS path ? Just stick with one , in your case since you already know Goljan RR just keep going through the HY points of this. No need to overfill your head with random stuff . Goljan already contains Pathoma , but since you ve been through both only pick ONE and have faith in it..
3) Embryo?? What is there to review , probably gonna get 1 question in arches/pouches/w/e . FA was more than enough for me . About anatomy.. the same , my knowledge was sub-par AT BEST , and I just read Kaplan + FA and got a star.. For the american , I guess FA will be sufficient
4) Biochem?? Yeah biochem is cool but still , not tested so much.. Is it worth it spending much-needed time on it? Why learn all the pathways when all you need is alkaptonuria or maple syrup or LCAT def that are already in FA
5) Why so many videos for all the subjects ? Again pick one and stick with it .. kaplan / DIT all essentially try to explain the same stuff , but still these videos are useful if you have like zero knowledge of the subject ( They were gold to me but I only learned beer physiology in my basic-sciences years , do you need them after studying so much for these subjects already?)
6) Keep in mind that Uworld will take 4-8 wks to finish and ''refine'' its knowledge , always dependent on your % correct.. For most ppl I 've talked to it took them like 6 wks WITHOUT FA memorizing/classes using up study hours

What I am trying to say is essentially the theme of your post is spreading yourself too thin over so many resources on LY stuff .. Why are you trying to reinvent the wheel when UFAP works so well for your classmates? ( in your case UFA + RR Goljan which is already super dense )

It's normal to feel like that , but anxiety to ''cover up all your bases'' with all these different resources will IMHO not result in a better score because just a superficial glance over 10 books does NOT lead to the understanding needed for USMLE. As others have said before me , pick a source that covers the basics and MASTER it , and don't worry about random LY stuff ( they will be on your test but no resource can prepare you for that , only your 2 yrs of med school)
Click to expand...


Eloquently said
 
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tasar1898 said:
Hey @tvelocity514 , I can't really comment on your timetable since I have no knowledge of the american system but I have some questions/points for you:

1) What do you mean by all NBME's , like really all (1-17) ? Whats the point in that? The 3-4 most recent NBME's + UWSA are enough to get a sense of the subjects tested , you don't have to spend countless hours on google trying to find answers to q's published in 2003 or smthing
2) Seems like you have tons of resources for the different subjects, e.g. why RR + Pathoma + BRS path ? Just stick with one , in your case since you already know Goljan RR just keep going through the HY points of this. No need to overfill your head with random stuff . Goljan already contains Pathoma , but since you ve been through both only pick ONE and have faith in it..
3) Embryo?? What is there to review , probably gonna get 1 question in arches/pouches/w/e . FA was more than enough for me . About anatomy.. the same , my knowledge was sub-par AT BEST , and I just read Kaplan + FA and got a star.. For the american , I guess FA will be sufficient
4) Biochem?? Yeah biochem is cool but still , not tested so much.. Is it worth it spending much-needed time on it? Why learn all the pathways when all you need is alkaptonuria or maple syrup or LCAT def that are already in FA
5) Why so many videos for all the subjects ? Again pick one and stick with it .. kaplan / DIT all essentially try to explain the same stuff , but still these videos are useful if you have like zero knowledge of the subject ( They were gold to me but I only learned beer physiology in my basic-sciences years , do you need them after studying so much for these subjects already?)
6) Keep in mind that Uworld will take 4-8 wks to finish and ''refine'' its knowledge , always dependent on your % correct.. For most ppl I 've talked to it took them like 6 wks WITHOUT FA memorizing/classes using up study hours

What I am trying to say is essentially the theme of your post is spreading yourself too thin over so many resources on LY stuff .. Why are you trying to reinvent the wheel when UFAP works so well for your classmates? ( in your case UFA + RR Goljan which is already super dense )

It's normal to feel like that , but anxiety to ''cover up all your bases'' with all these different resources will IMHO not result in a better score because just a superficial glance over 10 books does NOT lead to the understanding needed for USMLE. As others have said before me , pick a source that covers the basics and MASTER it , and don't worry about random LY stuff ( they will be on your test but no resource can prepare you for that , only your 2 yrs of med school)
Click to expand...

couldn't agree with Tasar more. to be very honest im not sure why people even bother asking what resources they should be using when all you have to do is read the experiences of recent test takers on this thread or the 2015 scores and experiences thread, which I know for a fact has tons of people who have done exceptionally well. I personally used UFAP, UW and usmleRX and i was happy with my nbmes and certainly hope i score around them. Stick to the highest yield material and learn it well. Your ability to extrapolate using your basics and test taking skills will determine the final range your score will fall within imo and this last part is what separates high scorers.
 
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Tri723 said:
wow...88% on Uworld. Well, i guess superhumans exist.
What all are you guys scoring on uWorld? what would be a good percentage overall for random/timed?

I saw some charts online, but they were a bit sketch...
Click to expand...
i'm like 5-6 months out. I'm in the 40-68 range. Learning a lot though.
 
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tasar1898 said:
Hey @tvelocity514 , I can't really comment on your timetable since I have no knowledge of the american system but I have some questions/points for you:

1) What do you mean by all NBME's , like really all (1-17) ? Whats the point in that? The 3-4 most recent NBME's + UWSA are enough to get a sense of the subjects tested , you don't have to spend countless hours on google trying to find answers to q's published in 2003 or smthing
2) Seems like you have tons of resources for the different subjects, e.g. why RR + Pathoma + BRS path ? Just stick with one , in your case since you already know Goljan RR just keep going through the HY points of this. No need to overfill your head with random stuff . Goljan already contains Pathoma , but since you ve been through both only pick ONE and have faith in it..
3) Embryo?? What is there to review , probably gonna get 1 question in arches/pouches/w/e . FA was more than enough for me . About anatomy.. the same , my knowledge was sub-par AT BEST , and I just read Kaplan + FA and got a star.. For the american , I guess FA will be sufficient
4) Biochem?? Yeah biochem is cool but still , not tested so much.. Is it worth it spending much-needed time on it? Why learn all the pathways when all you need is alkaptonuria or maple syrup or LCAT def that are already in FA
5) Why so many videos for all the subjects ? Again pick one and stick with it .. kaplan / DIT all essentially try to explain the same stuff , but still these videos are useful if you have like zero knowledge of the subject ( They were gold to me but I only learned beer physiology in my basic-sciences years , do you need them after studying so much for these subjects already?)
6) Keep in mind that Uworld will take 4-8 wks to finish and ''refine'' its knowledge , always dependent on your % correct.. For most ppl I 've talked to it took them like 6 wks WITHOUT FA memorizing/classes using up study hours

What I am trying to say is essentially the theme of your post is spreading yourself too thin over so many resources on LY stuff .. Why are you trying to reinvent the wheel when UFAP works so well for your classmates? ( in your case UFA + RR Goljan which is already super dense )

It's normal to feel like that , but anxiety to ''cover up all your bases'' with all these different resources will IMHO not result in a better score because just a superficial glance over 10 books does NOT lead to the understanding needed for USMLE. As others have said before me , pick a source that covers the basics and MASTER it , and don't worry about random LY stuff ( they will be on your test but no resource can prepare you for that , only your 2 yrs of med school)
Click to expand...


Thanks for such great advice!

1. I meant nbmes in general. Sorry I should have clarified. I would like to get through the ones they offer online (like 6 of them I think)

2. I've actually done pathoma and rr goljan throughout my M2 year. I was thinking of sticking with pathoma for dedicated Bc it is more condensed and a lot easier to get through. I just heard that it might be beneficial to rewatch them all the first week of dedicated time?

3. We took a practice nbme at our school (before I had neuro psych Gi and derm, and I did passing or better on everything but biochem and anatomy/embryo. So that's why I was worried about my biochem and was going over it again. That's good advice on the anatomy and embryo. I'll just do it in first aid! immuno I feel kind of weak on. But micro I'm really strong in. Immuno I'm still not sure Bc I feel weak in it but I think the micro component on my grade report really pulled it up. This is why I was using Kaplan just for immuno and biochem especially.


So what do you suggest I do then since I'm spreading myself too thin? Should I finish biochem (have like 4 chapters left in Kaplan book) and do immuno? Or just stop them altogether and start uworld. And did you read first aid through all the way during this time? Or just read when you went to annotate?

Time left: 6 wks classes, 5 wks dedicated
Thanks again!
 
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@tvelocity514 To clear up specifically for you:

1) 3-6 NBME's + UWSA's , if you like giving money do 6 , if you don't do 3
2) Sorry to be blunt like that , but haven't you watched the videos already ?? What are you 10 yrs old to need someone to spell things out for you , just read your notes and move on.. I say again : YOU and ONLY you can make the choice between RR and Pathoma , don't listen to other ppl , what suits YOU best
3)Immuno: ''How the immune system works'' for concepts + FA for details , Micro : Sketchy Micro + FA . I did kaplan and I totally regret it , WASTE OF TIME

So to sum up , IF i were you , I would do FA + Uworld + 1(ONE) book for path + the stuff I mentioned + Kaplan/RX bank( I recommend Kaplan qbank cause it teaches concepts , I did like 100q's from RX and they were all simple mindless regurgitation) IF you have time

My FA was already annotated 3months out from the test and I read only that.. That's obviously not possible for the US student , but you probably don't need to annotate everything from Kaplan since FA already makes sense to you
 
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apr27 said:
whats the best thing to do for anatomy?
Click to expand...
This is what I am doing (copied my post from a previous thread):

For anatomy, we are kind of on our own, it's either you know it or you don't. And I definitely don't/didn't know most of it..haha. I looked at FA, even matching the page numbers to the specific World question wasn't working. There isn't enough detail in FA in my opinion. FC is too much info, so I figured out another way to make it work

I just make flash cards out of the UWorld anatomy questions I kept getting wrong. Straight up index cards with the vignettes on the front and diagrams on the back done in colored pencil. It was really effective, I noticed patterns like I missed the common perioneal nerve 6x(!) in various forms. There are about 100 questions that I have problems with, so I just did this, and it didn't take that long, about a full weekend. One you really figure out where you blanking out on the info, you can fit multiple questions on one diagram. I just shuffle through it once in a while to refresh my memory, and I get most of the anat questions right when I hit them on World.

For neuroanatomy, I did the same thing, and if they put 12 landmarks in the answer description, I just remember the 2 closest landmarks next to the answer they want. Sort of learning neuro on the go..haha.

The NBMEs usually have like 5-8 anatomy questions (out of 200), so I figure the ratio will be the same on the real deal.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...1-in-fa-vs-firecracker.1172659/#post-17188820
 
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worldbeater said:
This is what I am doing (copied my post from a previous thread):

For anatomy, we are kind of on our own, it's either you know it or you don't. And I definitely don't/didn't know most of it..haha. I looked at FA, even matching the page numbers to the specific World question wasn't working. There isn't enough detail in FA in my opinion. FC is too much info, so I figured out another way to make it work

I just make flash cards out of the UWorld anatomy questions I kept getting wrong. Straight up index cards with the vignettes on the front and diagrams on the back done in colored pencil. It was really effective, I noticed patterns like I missed the common perioneal nerve 6x(!) in various forms. There are about 100 questions that I have problems with, so I just did this, and it didn't take that long, about a full weekend. One you really figure out where you blanking out on the info, you can fit multiple questions on one diagram. I just shuffle through it once in a while to refresh my memory, and I get most of the anat questions right when I hit them on World.

For neuroanatomy, I did the same thing, and if they put 12 landmarks in the answer description, I just remember the 2 closest landmarks next to the answer they want. Sort of learning neuro on the go..haha.

The NBMEs usually have like 5-8 anatomy questions (out of 200), so I figure the ratio will be the same on the real deal.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...1-in-fa-vs-firecracker.1172659/#post-17188820
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Word.

I'm thinking knowing brachial plexus, lower extremity nerves, the pharyngeal arch/groove stuff, and neuroanatomy will get you at least 80% (edit: which I want to believed you can get from FA+UW)

Edit: I feel like the other 20% you can from Moore's/class, but is that worth it?
 
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apr27 said:
Word.

I'm thinking knowing brachial plexus, lower extremity nerves, the pharyngeal arch/groove stuff, and neuroanatomy will get you at least 80% (edit: which I want to believed you can get from FA+UW)

Edit: I feel like the other 20% you can from Moore's/class, but is that worth it?
Click to expand...
I think you can get close to 90% just with World (and FA if you want to use that as well). The other 10% of anatomy questions are SO random, I feel like they are thrown in the NBME just to intimidate the student. I think it's better to utilize your study time elsewhere. When one of those 10% type random anatomy question comes up, just you use your deduction skills to try to guess the answer. Remember it's in the single digits in terms of questions on the exam, so we just need to be efficient in terms of prep for it.
 
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tasar1898 said:
@tvelocity514 To clear up specifically for you:

1) 3-6 NBME's + UWSA's , if you like giving money do 6 , if you don't do 3
2) Sorry to be blunt like that , but haven't you watched the videos already ?? What are you 10 yrs old to need someone to spell things out for you , just read your notes and move on.. I say again : YOU and ONLY you can make the choice between RR and Pathoma , don't listen to other ppl , what suits YOU best
3)Immuno: ''How the immune system works'' for concepts + FA for details , Micro : Sketchy Micro + FA . I did kaplan and I totally regret it , WASTE OF TIME

So to sum up , IF i were you , I would do FA + Uworld + 1(ONE) book for path + the stuff I mentioned + Kaplan/RX bank( I recommend Kaplan qbank cause it teaches concepts , I did like 100q's from RX and they were all simple mindless regurgitation) IF you have time

My FA was already annotated 3months out from the test and I read only that.. That's obviously not possible for the US student , but you probably don't need to annotate everything from Kaplan since FA already makes sense to you
Click to expand...
I'll start the bidding for Tasar's annotated FA book at 500 USD.
 
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tasar1898 said:
@tvelocity514
2) Sorry to be blunt like that , but haven't you watched the videos already ?? What are you 10 yrs old to need someone to spell things out for you , just read your notes and move on.. I say again : YOU and ONLY you can make the choice between RR and Pathoma , don't listen to other ppl , what suits YOU best
Click to expand...
For sure. I use RR; incredible book, and this is in spite of countless people telling me not to. Very happy with my choice.
 
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image.jpg


@Tri723 hahaha I even used staples to add extra pages in the initial chapters . I would never sell something with such emotional value..
 
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Well I didn't memorize the pathways per se , I just wanted the page with tumor suppressors and oncogenes to make sense.. So I looked up how all this stuff works to get an idea of tumorigenesis and compilated all that I could find in this page
 
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a new method what do you think guys please
First aid
pathoma+Brs physio+First Aid organ System+First Aid basic science ?

i am low medical student with GPA 2.17 is this safe or do i need books to build a knowledge ?
 
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ahmad sharawneh said:
a new method what do you think guys please
First aid
pathoma+Brs physio+First Aid organ System+First Aid basic science ?

i am low medical student with GPA 2.17 is this safe or do i need books to build a knowledge ?
Click to expand...
Only you can determine if a method works for you. Yes, all of those books will cover generally what you would need to pass the USMLE. What you decide to do with those books (i.e. how you decide to use them) will determine your final score. Good luck.
 
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ahmad sharawneh said:
a new method what do you think guys please
First aid
pathoma+Brs physio+First Aid organ System+First Aid basic science ?

i am low medical student with GPA 2.17 is this safe or do i need books to build a knowledge ?
Click to expand...


IMO, try not to complicate things. Keep it extremely simple. First step is to ID your strengths and weaknesses after your basic science curriculum. Do this by taking a practice NBME. Maybe buy NBME11 or find an older NBME online. After that, use that to figure out what you got wrong. See the concepts you missed or knowledge base you lack. Get into first Aid, and go over it intensely. Supplement it with Uworld and Pathoma as all the high scorers (>250) have suggested. After your FA pass, take another NBME based on your timeline/ schedule and then see where your weaknesses are. Read FA, do UW, do Pathoma and continue to learn primarily through questions. Keep it simple bud. Even if your foundation is weak. Waiting till the last second isn't going to do much good. So might as well just stick to the proven resources. If your >3 months out, maybe read the Kaplan books but at this stage, you really want to be efficient. Reading those books are more for M1/ early M2 year. Don't waste your time with them. I think you should just stick to UFAP unless your foundation is so bad that you can't even score close to passing on your practice NBME. Good luck
 
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ahmad sharawneh said:
ok but it is it enough to Ace the USMLE?
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Everyone in the recent months that have taken it said that it's a thinking exam. So you could read all the books in the world and still barely pass. Focus on concepts and understanding for the exam as most people have said. Learning how to think about physiology, and pathophysioogy is what's going to help you ace the exam. But before you get there, you really have to get the basics down.

For anyone that's taken it, I'd like to hear your opinion on the matter
 
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allojay said:
Everyone in the recent months that have taken it said that it's a thinking exam. So you could read all the books in the world and still barely pass. Focus on concepts and understanding for the exam as most people have said. Learning how to think about physiology, and pathophysioogy is what's going to help you ace the exam. But before you get there, you really have to get the basics down.

For anyone that's taken it, I'd like to hear your opinion on the matter
Click to expand...

everything you
allojay said:
Everyone in the recent months that have taken it said that it's a thinking exam. So you could read all the books in the world and still barely pass. Focus on concepts and understanding for the exam as most people have said. Learning how to think about physiology, and pathophysioogy is what's going to help you ace the exam. But before you get there, you really have to get the basics down.

For anyone that's taken it, I'd like to hear your opinion on the matter[/Q

very well said. youll do well with this understanding
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allojay said:
Everyone in the recent months that have taken it said that it's a thinking exam. So you could read all the books in the world and still barely pass. Focus on concepts and understanding for the exam as most people have said. Learning how to think about physiology, and pathophysioogy is what's going to help you ace the exam. But before you get there, you really have to get the basics down.

For anyone that's taken it, I'd like to hear your opinion on the matter
Click to expand...
thnx very much but if guy doesnt have basic knowledge and its very weak what do you suggest ?

BTW i have 2 and half year to get ready for the exam ?
 
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ahmad sharawneh said:
thnx very much but if guy doesnt have basic knowledge and its very weak what do you suggest ?

BTW i have 2 and half year to get ready for the exam ?
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Focus on developing a strong foundation, preferably by strongly adhering to your course curriculum (unless your school's curriculum veers far off from USMLE-related material), or perhaps by using a review course (like Kaplan). The answers to your questions can very easily be found by doing a simple search on the forum, or on google.
 
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plasmodium said:
In my opinion (and others may think otherwise) that will all depend on your pre-dedicated foundation in the basic sciences.
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pre-dedicated foundation in the basic sciences.

could you elaborate more ? so if you dont have a basic knowledge you will not be good at the exam? how someone can build a knowledge ?
 
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plasmodium said:
Focus on developing a strong foundation, preferably by strongly adhering to your course curriculum (unless your school's curriculum veers far off from USMLE-related material), or perhaps by using a review course (like Kaplan). The answers to your questions can very easily be found by doing a simple search on the forum, or on google.
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what is your view on kaplan? and why they are good for building basic knowledge ?
 
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so no basic knowledge no decent score ? right? and BTW how are you going to remember every detail in Robbins book or Grays for example?
 
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