Please help!!!

[familyfirst]

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Dear colleagues,

Please provide any suggestion how you can help me to pass UMSLE step 3. I am in PGYII Ob/Gyn residency.

This is my 2nd attempt at step 3. I received the same exact score (3 digit # and percentile) both times. Failed by 5 points (3 digit #). For the first time, I used the book "Crush" step 3 and USMLE WORLD Q bank and CCS which I only completed 5% of the Q bank questions and studied one month during residency work days.

4 months later, I took the exam again using "First Aid step 3" and USMLE WORLD Q bank and CCS and completed all the questions. I used about two months time to study the 2nd time.

I am deeply sad and depressed....How can I increase my score for the next time? Please advice.

Thank you.

 

[dreiko]

I can not say from my own personal experience because I have yet to take Step 3. But I have heard that test anxiety and test strategy are the main culprits when someone misses passing by a few points. If you have received higher than a 70 on the USMLE, then it is not a problem with content, it is a problem with test strategy. In fact, the sad thing is that if you fail by less than 10 points, that is practically only 5 or less questions: not a big content changer.

First, you need to pass 65-70% of the USMLE World Qs in order to be absolutely sure you can pass the Step 3. And you need to know why you missed the questions... as in: was it really content? Or really was it a error in test strategy? Do you find yourself choosing the wrong answer because you switch it? Do you go back and switch answers? Do you think to much about the question? Do you reread the question too many times? Are you getting tired by the end of the test and just answering the questions to get the test over with? Are you rushing when you read the question stem? etc.

I don't know of any good test strategy techniques specifically for the Step 3.. but here are some that I have been told work for all exams.

Absolutely DO NOT study the day before or the day of the exam. It seriously drops your score.

Get some sleep the entire week before, set yourself on the same schedule as you would for the test. I know you're on a residency but you need to study and answer questions at the same time during the day as you would answer them on your test.

Read the question stem once and know it. Don't rush the stem, instead be quicker to decide the answers.

Spend time thinking about the most commons: What's the most likely diagnoses? What's the initial step in management? What's the best inital test? What's the most accurate diagnostic test? What is the next step in management?

If you can't figure out the answer and you basically have no idea of what the question is talking about, just answer your favorite letter and move on. And keep the letter the same throughout the test. You are more likely to guess the right answer if you keep the letter the same.

I can't think of anymore test strategy tips... I'm sure there are probably tons of residents that have taken the Step 3 and passed it that can give you better advice.

Good luck.

Dear colleagues,

Please provide any suggestion how you can help me to pass UMSLE step 3. I am in PGYII Ob/Gyn residency.

This is my 2nd attempt at step 3. I received the same exact score (3 digit # and percentile) both times. Failed by 5 points (3 digit #). For the first time, I used the book "Crush" step 3 and USMLE WORLD Q bank and CCS which I only completed 5% of the Q bank questions and studied one month during residency work days.

4 months later, I took the exam again using "First Aid step 3" and USMLE WORLD Q bank and CCS and completed all the questions. I used about two months time to study the 2nd time.

I am deeply sad and depressed....How can I increase my score for the next time? Please advice.

Thank you.

 

[familyfirst]

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I feel a bit comforted by your answer.

 

[rolling wheal]

i only used kaplan's new book "master the boards" and thought it was real good. Pretty much what you need to know for step three. i also bought usmle world but only did 30 q's because i felt i needed to know the info in master the boards more. the CCS cases on usmleworld were helpful though. i think it's easy to score high on CCS if you practice them b/c the content is simple. If you can do well on CCS it takes pressure off to do well on the multiple choices. I read master the boards once, practised about 10 ccs cases over a two week period and passed with a 209. I'm no genius either, so this is doable for anyone. Good luck.