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- Jan 17, 2009
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Hey everyone,
I took the new Naplex on Nov 1st and found out I passed today with 3 digits score. Many of you haven't taken the new version may be nervous about it. I have to say the level of difficulty of the new version is the same with the previous version. So, stick to the basic information. Because the new version has more questions and is longer that make it harder. 6 hrs with only one 10 minutes is exhausted. You need to train your endurance so that your brain is still sharp and function until the last minutes.
I make this post to thank people who shared their experience here and I want to continue passing on the experience. I would like to thank TMir who shared his experience and notes. I used his notes for my 1st and 2nd attempt. As I go through material, I add more to the notes. It saved me a lot of time. Here is his post: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...ailure-naplex-variance.1197820/#post-17710564
Ok. I will tell you what I did differently for the second time.
First attempt (185 questions): Failed with 72. I used:
+TMir notes
+Rxprep Book. Scan and read the book 1 time. I DID NOT do the Rxprep Qbank. That's the worst mistake.
+NABP pre-Naplex exams.
+SDN 120 math questions
Second attempt (new version: 250 questions): Passed with a 3 digits score. "Practice" and "repetition" are very important to this success. I used:
+ TMir notes. As I go through Qbank, I add more to the notes.
+ Rxprep Book, Rxprep Qbank. I ran through the Qbank entirely "3 times". The second time I set my baseline at %70. The third time I set my baseline at %80. Finally, I took the Rxprep 185 questions exam. I got 79% , 2 weeks before the second Naplex attempt.
+ Kaplan Qbank (provided by my school). I used this Qbank to practice my endurance. I practiced 2 times. I generated 360 questions for each time (6 hours. On average 1 question/1 minute).
+ "Pharmacotherapy Flash Cards" of Lange (provided by my school online library; used version on Amazon: ~$17). It has over 200 clinical cases which are similar to Naplex level. The explanation is extremely helpful. These flash cards are Highly recommended for the new naplex. I went through all flash card 1 time. (check your school online library if it has pharmacyaccess. It provide this flash card free. See my post below to look for this flash cards when you login into pharmacyaccess)
+ SDN 120 math questions. The week before the exam, I completed this set again. (total for 1 and 2 attempt: 2 times)
+ Quizlets. Highly recommended. I found this profile on quizlet through the search function. I think it's of TMir. Here: https://quizlet.com/naplex15
+ Monitor your progress!!! Important. I create an excel sheet to monitor and identify my weak chapters as I go through Rxprep Qbank. Any topics that below my baseline are considered to be weak and they need to be quizzed everyday. (check my post below for the excel file)
+ Create a study plan. It's like a compass that help you focus. I divide my study into 4 sections: cornerstones (topics that you must know such as the 1st 24 chapters of Rxprep), building up (need to know), expert (important topics such as HIV, ID, etc), and extra miles (clinical cases).
+ Feeling: the feeling of failing was terrible. It was the worse feeling I've ever experienced. Don't run away from it. Use it to push you to go extra miles.
+ Study all chapters, but stick to the basic !!! Every chapter is important. 1 question can make you pass or fail. Don't gamble. Of course, you can pick topics that you want them to be your strength.
The last 90 days was like hell. Anyway, I got out of it. I studied and practiced until I felt like if I don't pass, who-else is going to pass. You need to build your confidence level.
---
There is a question below that asks me how I started my last month and day to day activities. I think it's better to post here so that everyone can see.
We need to fight short-term memory. For my last month, this was how I started:
Main focus:
Period 1. Go through Rxprep Qbank again (first 2.5 weeks)
+ Determine my Rxprep Qbank baseline. Since you went through material once, set your baseline this time at least 70% or 80% this time. Any chapters below the baseline are considered to be weak.
+ Review weak points every day.
Period 2. Pharmacotherapy Flash cards (last 1.5 week)
+ Go through flash cards 3-4 hours every days.
Friday every week: 6 hours training (from 8 am to 2 pm). I use Kaplan Qbank to generate enough 360 questions (1 minute/questions).
Exactly how I started my day for:
Period 1
6:30 am: wake up. do personal and family things.
7:30 am: at the table. Start the day. Warming up with Brand/generic. 30-45 minutes
8:15 am: Must know for 1 hrs: Quizlet: https://quizlet.com/133389494/naplex-2016-flash-cards/
9:15 am: Study weak chapters. Review notes for each weak chapter (15 minutes per chapter). Do quizlet for weak chapters (15 minutes per chapter). This part often takes 4 hours.
+ !!!! Do not review weak chapters before the 250 questions section (see below). For example, do 250 questions of chapter 10 to 18. If weak chapters are 12, 15, 16, they would be reviewed the next day. Not the day before.
1:15 pm: Lunch
2:00 pm: Do Rxprep Qbank: 250 questions (Add up all questions of chapters until you have enough 250). Time it. I try to do 30 second/1 question. So it often takes 125' to 150'. Identify weak chapters.
4:30 pm: Break. Exercise to keep brain healthy and clear: Run and lift weight: 30'. Rest 30'.
5:30 pm: Dinner, Rest, personal thing: 1hr 30'
7:00 pm: Doing Math and Biostat:
10:30 pm: Sleep
Period 2.
6:30 am: wake up. do personal and family things.
7:30 am: at the table. Start the day. Warming up with Brand/generic. 30-45 minutes
8:15 am: Must know for 1 hrs: Quizlet: https://quizlet.com/133389494/naplex-2016-flash-cards/
9:15 am: Review all notes/chapters
1:15 pm: Lunch
2:00 pm: Start Pharmacotherapy Flash cards
4:30 pm: Break. Exercise to keep brain healthy and clear: Run and lift weight: 30'. Rest 30'.
5:30 pm: Dinner, Rest, personal thing: 1hr 30'
7:00 pm: Continue Pharmacotherapy Flash Cards
8:30 pm: Math and biostat
10:30 pm: Sleep
I took the new Naplex on Nov 1st and found out I passed today with 3 digits score. Many of you haven't taken the new version may be nervous about it. I have to say the level of difficulty of the new version is the same with the previous version. So, stick to the basic information. Because the new version has more questions and is longer that make it harder. 6 hrs with only one 10 minutes is exhausted. You need to train your endurance so that your brain is still sharp and function until the last minutes.
I make this post to thank people who shared their experience here and I want to continue passing on the experience. I would like to thank TMir who shared his experience and notes. I used his notes for my 1st and 2nd attempt. As I go through material, I add more to the notes. It saved me a lot of time. Here is his post: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...ailure-naplex-variance.1197820/#post-17710564
Ok. I will tell you what I did differently for the second time.
First attempt (185 questions): Failed with 72. I used:
+TMir notes
+Rxprep Book. Scan and read the book 1 time. I DID NOT do the Rxprep Qbank. That's the worst mistake.
+NABP pre-Naplex exams.
+SDN 120 math questions
Second attempt (new version: 250 questions): Passed with a 3 digits score. "Practice" and "repetition" are very important to this success. I used:
+ TMir notes. As I go through Qbank, I add more to the notes.
+ Rxprep Book, Rxprep Qbank. I ran through the Qbank entirely "3 times". The second time I set my baseline at %70. The third time I set my baseline at %80. Finally, I took the Rxprep 185 questions exam. I got 79% , 2 weeks before the second Naplex attempt.
+ Kaplan Qbank (provided by my school). I used this Qbank to practice my endurance. I practiced 2 times. I generated 360 questions for each time (6 hours. On average 1 question/1 minute).
+ "Pharmacotherapy Flash Cards" of Lange (provided by my school online library; used version on Amazon: ~$17). It has over 200 clinical cases which are similar to Naplex level. The explanation is extremely helpful. These flash cards are Highly recommended for the new naplex. I went through all flash card 1 time. (check your school online library if it has pharmacyaccess. It provide this flash card free. See my post below to look for this flash cards when you login into pharmacyaccess)
+ SDN 120 math questions. The week before the exam, I completed this set again. (total for 1 and 2 attempt: 2 times)
+ Quizlets. Highly recommended. I found this profile on quizlet through the search function. I think it's of TMir. Here: https://quizlet.com/naplex15
+ Monitor your progress!!! Important. I create an excel sheet to monitor and identify my weak chapters as I go through Rxprep Qbank. Any topics that below my baseline are considered to be weak and they need to be quizzed everyday. (check my post below for the excel file)
+ Create a study plan. It's like a compass that help you focus. I divide my study into 4 sections: cornerstones (topics that you must know such as the 1st 24 chapters of Rxprep), building up (need to know), expert (important topics such as HIV, ID, etc), and extra miles (clinical cases).
+ Feeling: the feeling of failing was terrible. It was the worse feeling I've ever experienced. Don't run away from it. Use it to push you to go extra miles.
+ Study all chapters, but stick to the basic !!! Every chapter is important. 1 question can make you pass or fail. Don't gamble. Of course, you can pick topics that you want them to be your strength.
The last 90 days was like hell. Anyway, I got out of it. I studied and practiced until I felt like if I don't pass, who-else is going to pass. You need to build your confidence level.
---
There is a question below that asks me how I started my last month and day to day activities. I think it's better to post here so that everyone can see.
We need to fight short-term memory. For my last month, this was how I started:
Main focus:
Period 1. Go through Rxprep Qbank again (first 2.5 weeks)
+ Determine my Rxprep Qbank baseline. Since you went through material once, set your baseline this time at least 70% or 80% this time. Any chapters below the baseline are considered to be weak.
+ Review weak points every day.
Period 2. Pharmacotherapy Flash cards (last 1.5 week)
+ Go through flash cards 3-4 hours every days.
Friday every week: 6 hours training (from 8 am to 2 pm). I use Kaplan Qbank to generate enough 360 questions (1 minute/questions).
Exactly how I started my day for:
Period 1
6:30 am: wake up. do personal and family things.
7:30 am: at the table. Start the day. Warming up with Brand/generic. 30-45 minutes
8:15 am: Must know for 1 hrs: Quizlet: https://quizlet.com/133389494/naplex-2016-flash-cards/
9:15 am: Study weak chapters. Review notes for each weak chapter (15 minutes per chapter). Do quizlet for weak chapters (15 minutes per chapter). This part often takes 4 hours.
+ !!!! Do not review weak chapters before the 250 questions section (see below). For example, do 250 questions of chapter 10 to 18. If weak chapters are 12, 15, 16, they would be reviewed the next day. Not the day before.
1:15 pm: Lunch
2:00 pm: Do Rxprep Qbank: 250 questions (Add up all questions of chapters until you have enough 250). Time it. I try to do 30 second/1 question. So it often takes 125' to 150'. Identify weak chapters.
4:30 pm: Break. Exercise to keep brain healthy and clear: Run and lift weight: 30'. Rest 30'.
5:30 pm: Dinner, Rest, personal thing: 1hr 30'
7:00 pm: Doing Math and Biostat:
10:30 pm: Sleep
Period 2.
6:30 am: wake up. do personal and family things.
7:30 am: at the table. Start the day. Warming up with Brand/generic. 30-45 minutes
8:15 am: Must know for 1 hrs: Quizlet: https://quizlet.com/133389494/naplex-2016-flash-cards/
9:15 am: Review all notes/chapters
1:15 pm: Lunch
2:00 pm: Start Pharmacotherapy Flash cards
4:30 pm: Break. Exercise to keep brain healthy and clear: Run and lift weight: 30'. Rest 30'.
5:30 pm: Dinner, Rest, personal thing: 1hr 30'
7:00 pm: Continue Pharmacotherapy Flash Cards
8:30 pm: Math and biostat
10:30 pm: Sleep
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