score not improving

[maya123]

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Hi
I am really frustrated and could use some advice. I am scoring 50% on uw questions. My scores are not improving and my exam is in 3 weeks. Your input would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance

 

[cdql]

Hi

I had the same problem around the midway point of my studying too. I think the only way to get better is to continue doing questions, continue carefully reading the explanations, and continue studying (no glamorous tricks here...sorry!)

You can also try taking an NBME examination as they can usually provide you with an estimated score and estimated weak areas to see where you can improve.

 

[lord_jeebus]

If a question bank is your sole method of study I don't think you can expect a huge increase in scores for that bank. Most questions test previously untested concepts and so the learning that you do (which will help for Step I) is not going to help as much on future questions.

Also, no question bank can cover everything, and it may be a good idea to use your test breakdown as a guide for your weak subjects and supplement your review with some good old-fashioned reading.

 

[maya123]

hi
thank you for your reply.
Is that enough to pass the exam ....because I don't want to take any chances.....could you please tell me how I could increase the score so that I could be sure to pass
Your advice is greatly appreciated
Thank you

 

[Law2Doc]

Also, no question bank can cover everything, and it may be a good idea to use your test breakdown as a guide for your weak subjects and supplement your review with some good old-fashioned reading.

Well, while good old fashioned reading is important, I think you are underestamating what you can get out of these question banks, if you use them effectively. Each explanation is about half a page of text, so if you read explanations of 2000+ some odd questions you are effectively reading a 1000+ page text. And one would assume that if the question bank companies did their job this is the highest yield material you could look at. So this plus First Aid and maybe one or two choice supplements probably gets the job done.

To the OP, you benefit most from the questions you get wrong. So even if you did the whole bank at that 50% rate, you probably would score substantially higher once you started repeating more questions.

 

[Law2Doc]

hi
thank you for your reply.
Is that enough to pass the exam ....because I don't want to take any chances.....could you please tell me how I could increase the score so that I could be sure to pass
Your advice is greatly appreciated
Thank you

I haven't seen any score estimators that deal with US World, but the MedFriends estimator for the Kaplan Qbank suggests that you need at least 59% to pass.

 

[anesthesiarocks]

Hi
I am really frustrated and could use some advice. I am scoring 50% on uw questions. My scores are not improving and my exam is in 3 weeks. Your input would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance

ummmm....study? You know...get out first aid and memorize it. Supplement FA with a path and maybe a pathophys review book.

The idea that there are people who just want to answer questions on a question bank all day and watch their score shoot up surprises me.

I guess it's possibly to disagree over how much time one should spent studying FA/Goljan vs. doing questions(I say spend way more time studying), but you need to at least study *some* if you want your score to improve much.

 

[anesthesiarocks]

Well, while good old fashioned reading is important, I think you are underestamating what you can get out of these question banks, if you use them effectively. Each explanation is about half a page of text, so if you read explanations of 2000+ some odd questions you are effectively reading a 1000+ page text. .

I know it's nit-picky, but I don't like the term "reading".

Last week I "read" a john grisham novel. As a result I was able to piece together the general frame and concept of the model so that I could follow the story. But I couldn't recall specific things about smaller details in the book.

But when I studied micro for usmle, I didn't "read" it. I memorized it.

 

[cdql]

ummmm....study? You know...get out first aid and memorize it. Supplement FA with a path and maybe a pathophys review book.

The idea that there are people who just want to answer questions on a question bank all day and watch their score shoot up surprises me.

I guess it's possibly to disagree over how much time one should spent studying FA/Goljan vs. doing questions(I say spend way more time studying), but you need to at least study *some* if you want your score to improve much.

Agreed. I'd say 8 hours studying and 3 hours of questions is a good split. And maybe even fewer questions in the final week in order to spend more time with FA.

 

[Law2Doc]

Agreed. I'd say 8 hours studying and 3 hours of questions is a good split. And maybe even fewer questions in the final week in order to spend more time with FA.

That's interesting, as I've seen model schedules from a couple of med schools which suggest making questions 50-60% of daily activities. (of course they didn't advocate an 11 hours/day study schedule). I suspect there are more than one way to skin this cat.

 

[maya123]

hi
Thanks for your replies. Actually I have gone thru all the material (kaplan lectures, notes, golgion,).... I am still going thru first aid. I feel I know the information but I am unable to answer the question..... Sometimes I read the answer and know it .....but always choose the wrong answer. Could anyone advise me how to answer the questions or point out my mistakes..... I am extremely frustrated..... and your opinion is greatly appreciated
Thank you

 

[anesthesiarocks]

hi
Thanks for your replies. Actually I have gone thru all the material (kaplan lectures, notes, golgion,).... I am still going thru first aid. I feel I know the information but I am unable to answer the question..... Sometimes I read the answer and know it .....but always choose the wrong answer. Could anyone advise me how to answer the questions or point out my mistakes..... I am extremely frustrated..... and your opinion is greatly appreciated
Thank you

Do you really *know* the material....or have you just "gone through it"? Because there is a big difference between the two.

For example, if I asked you to take out a sheet of paper and copy the page in FA that deals with all the different nephritic and nephrotic syndromes.....could you do it? If you can't, then you don't "know" the material.

 

[anesthesiarocks]

That's interesting, as I've seen model schedules from a couple of med schools which suggest making questions 50-60% of daily activities. (of course they didn't advocate an 11 hours/day study schedule). I suspect there are more than one way to skin this cat.

true there are, and it mainly depends on how the person does each.

If someone while they are doing questions is spending *way more time* analyzing the answers and then going back and forth from the answers to their primary reveiw sources, it's more productive. If you actively do questions in such a way that you make sure you know why the right answer is the right and the wrong answers are wrong answers(as well as knowing how the question could be changed to make the wrong answers right), it's more productive.

But I know some people who will spend 3 hrs doing 3 blocks of 50 questions and then totally skim over the ones they got right, even if there were some answer choices that,while they knew weren't the right choices, didn't really have a full understanding of. And then they'll spend 20 minutes skimming over the 45 or so questions they missed and act like they "studied" over 3 hrs.......in reality what they did was ascertain where they were at to some degree(and there is a great deal of confidence/value in that), but in terms of helping them get additional questions right it's not of great value if you do it that way.

 

[Law2Doc]

true there are, and it mainly depends on how the person does each.

If someone while they are doing questions is spending *way more time* analyzing the answers and then going back and forth from the answers to their primary reveiw sources, it's more productive. If you actively do questions in such a way that you make sure you know why the right answer is the right and the wrong answers are wrong answers(as well as knowing how the question could be changed to make the wrong answers right), it's more productive.

But I know some people who will spend 3 hrs doing 3 blocks of 50 questions and then totally skim over the ones they got right, even if there were some answer choices that,while they knew weren't the right choices, didn't really have a full understanding of. And then they'll spend 20 minutes skimming over the 45 or so questions they missed and act like they "studied" over 3 hrs.......in reality what they did was ascertain where they were at to some degree(and there is a great deal of confidence/value in that), but in terms of helping them get additional questions right it's not of great value if you do it that way.

Yeah, that's why it's nice to work your way through two question banks, as they often present the same questions in different form -- let's you know if you actually learned something from the first pass rather than just going through the motions.

 

[Taus]

true there are, and it mainly depends on how the person does each.

If someone while they are doing questions is spending *way more time* analyzing the answers and then going back and forth from the answers to their primary reveiw sources, it's more productive. If you actively do questions in such a way that you make sure you know why the right answer is the right and the wrong answers are wrong answers(as well as knowing how the question could be changed to make the wrong answers right), it's more productive.

But I know some people who will spend 3 hrs doing 3 blocks of 50 questions and then totally skim over the ones they got right, even if there were some answer choices that,while they knew weren't the right choices, didn't really have a full understanding of. And then they'll spend 20 minutes skimming over the 45 or so questions they missed and act like they "studied" over 3 hrs.......in reality what they did was ascertain where they were at to some degree(and there is a great deal of confidence/value in that), but in terms of helping them get additional questions right it's not of great value if you do it that way.

fully agree w/ that.....my scores on NBME's weren't going up simply b/c I was "doing UWorld questions"...they went up b/c after I did my blocks of 50 I spent at least an hour per block going over all of the answers and explanations.....doing this will tell you if you were thinking through the question properly instead of just regurgitating a few facts....the former will get you many more questions correct then the latter.....once you get the hang of how you need to work through the questions you will see your scores go up

 

[WhoisJohnGalt]

Hi
I am really frustrated and could use some advice. I am scoring 50% on uw questions. My scores are not improving and my exam is in 3 weeks. Your input would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance

How long have your scores not being going up? I was very frustrated when I first starting doing UW, because I was going from USMLERx (scoring ~65-70%) to 45-55% on UW. I didn't start seeing those go up for nearly two weeks, and was starting to really panic, then all of a sudden they just started shooting up to 65-70% on a consistent basis. Also, this wasn't WAY before my exam either-- I was right in your range (50%) 3 weeks before the exam, but have been doing much better this last week and my most recent NBME puts me at around 228. I think it just takes a long time to get used to doing those types of questions. Hang in there, I think you'll be just fine.

 

[blz]

first time I agree with anesthesiarocks - listen to him.

the grim truth is there's no way you should be hitting 50s if you've gone over all the material. learn it better and practice more. it only matters how you ended up, not how you started.

 

[Old_Mil]

Hi
I am really frustrated and could use some advice. I am scoring 50% on uw questions. My scores are not improving and my exam is in 3 weeks. Your input would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance

It would help if you take a look at your comprehensive summary and see what the tells you.

For instance...

There are only a handful of subjects that are killing me: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Pharmacology [all in the 30th *percentile*], Genetics [in the 15th - ouch]. The rest of the stuff I'm in the 60th percentile and up.

Anatomy is something I didn't like and I didn't do well in the first time around, and there's just too much random crap to memorize so I'm going to blow that off. I'm going to try and fix the Pharm score for sure. Genetics, time permitting.

 

[anesthesiarocks]

It would help if you take a look at your comprehensive summary and see what the tells you..

I think this is kind of overrated....I mean in general people are aware of what they know and don't know.

 

[maya123]

Thanks for your replies..... you are all very helpful..... I think my problem is answering questions...... I can reproduce straight from the book (of course I forget a few things).... but my technique to answer the questions is wrong....Answering the questions is my downfall ....In the end all I need is to pass.
How did you increase the score..... I have started with the same score....Is there anything else I could do ......I feel that I am at the midline .....and it could go either way ..... but I want to make sure that I pass it.
Your advice is greatly appreciated
Thank you

 

[Law2Doc]

Thanks for your replies..... you are all very helpful..... I think my problem is answering questions...... I can reproduce straight from the book (of course I forget a few things).... but my technique to answer the questions is wrong....Answering the questions is my downfall ....In the end all I need is to pass.
How did you increase the score..... I have started with the same score....Is there anything else I could do ......I feel that I am at the midline .....and it could go either way ..... but I want to make sure that I pass it.
Your advice is greatly appreciated
Thank you

There's no magic secret here. I think everyone is telling you you study hard, both in books and doing questions, until the test. Aim higher than just to pass. Unless you are in a situation where you might actually push back the test date based on how you are doing I wouldn't even look at the scores. You have to work your hardest and do your best, and the chips will fall where they may.

 

[cdql]

That's interesting, as I've seen model schedules from a couple of med schools which suggest making questions 50-60% of daily activities. (of course they didn't advocate an 11 hours/day study schedule). I suspect there are more than one way to skin this cat.

Hmm...my dean seemed to advocate the 8 hour review books/3 hour question method.

I guess it depends on how each person learns. I know there were definitely days where I wanted to do more questions and stop reading through review books (e.g. any day that included anatomy/embryology)

But in this final week, I feel that my time is better spent with FA rather than 50 random questions from the whole bank

 

[Miami_med]

Hmm...my dean seemed to advocate the 8 hour review books/3 hour question method.

I guess it depends on how each person learns. I know there were definitely days where I wanted to do more questions and stop reading through review books (e.g. any day that included anatomy/embryology)

But in this final week, I feel that my time is better spent with FA rather than 50 random questions from the whole bank

I don't know, I did a lot of questions the last week in order to stay sharp. I don't know how I did, but I was glad I did the questions.

 

[cdql]

I don't know, I did a lot of questions the last week in order to stay sharp. I don't know how I did, but I was glad I did the questions.

hmmm...maybe I ought to start doing that again? 😛

How many would you say is a good amount to stay sharp?

 

[Miami_med]

hmmm...maybe I ought to start doing that again? 😛

How many would you say is a good amount to stay sharp?

I stopped going over the answers as thoroughly, as the purpose was to keep sharp. Thus, I just went over things that I missed. Basically, I took it on a Wednesday.

Wed Before: 150 Questions
Thurs: 0, big study topic to cover
Fri: Last full length Practice of 350 Q-Bank Questions
Sat-Mon:50 Questions a day
Tues: 0 Questions
Wed: Test

There's nothing magical about the way I did it though. I liked having done a 350 Question Test a few days before. It made the real test feel like a repeat. By leaving a few days between, I was fully recovered. It didn't enhance my knowledge significantly, but it definitely helped my comfort.

 

[cdql]

I stopped going over the answers as thoroughly, as the purpose was to keep sharp. Thus, I just went over things that I missed. Basically, I took it on a Wednesday.

Wed Before: 150 Questions
Thurs: 0, big study topic to cover
Fri: Last full length Practice of 350 Q-Bank Questions
Sat-Mon:50 Questions a day
Tues: 0 Questions
Wed: Test

There's nothing magical about the way I did it though. I liked having done a 350 Question Test a few days before. It made the real test feel like a repeat. By leaving a few days between, I was fully recovered. It didn't enhance my knowledge significantly, but it definitely helped my comfort.

Awesome. Thanks for the advice! I think I'll try to add some questions back into my routine so I'm not completely shell-shocked on test day 😛

 

[Taus]

I stopped going over the answers as thoroughly, as the purpose was to keep sharp. Thus, I just went over things that I missed. Basically, I took it on a Wednesday.

Wed Before: 150 Questions
Thurs: 0, big study topic to cover
Fri: Last full length Practice of 350 Q-Bank Questions
Sat-Mon:50 Questions a day
Tues: 0 Questions
Wed: Test

There's nothing magical about the way I did it though. I liked having done a 350 Question Test a few days before. It made the real test feel like a repeat. By leaving a few days between, I was fully recovered. It didn't enhance my knowledge significantly, but it definitely helped my comfort.

In hindsight....not simulating a 350 question full-length exam was the only thing I wish I did....I was absolutely shot and really struggled to focus towards the ends of blocks 6 and 7 on test day.

 

[Law2Doc]

In hindsight....not simulating a 350 question full-length exam was the only thing I wish I did....I was absolutely shot and really struggled to focus towards the ends of blocks 6 and 7 on test day.

You probably would have felt burnt out whether you simulated it or not. It's a lot.

 

[Taus]

You probably would have felt burnt out whether you simulated it or not. It's a lot.

true....I just figured I'd be fine after doing all the nbme's while still being able to study later in the day after I took them

I was just so fricken drained by the end of it.....even after having so much caffeine in me that I had to try to give myself a carotid massage to lower my HR during the test.....

 

[notsittinpretty]

I was actually getting similar scores on Q-bank (~55%) with about three weeks to go until the big day. Needless to say, like yourself I was getting extremely upset Then one day about a week and a half ago i started pulling 70-80% on Q-bank pretty consistently (and yes, they were all new questions...not recycled). I wasn't doing anything differently, I think I just finally got the hang of questions and the big picture just started falling into place. My point is don't get overly frusturated - use the practice questions as a learning tool. If your scores are upsetting you, stop taking timed tests and don't look at your scores. Just go through questions and answer them one by one, you'll find that you are worrying less about how you are doing and more about what you are weak on. It really is the first time you are challenged to put EVERYTHING together...assimilating all of this information can be difficult. Cut yourself some slack and stick with it. Good luck.

 

[cdql]

I was actually getting similar scores on Q-bank (~55%) with about three weeks to go until the big day. Needless to say, like yourself I was getting extremely upset Then one day about a week and a half ago i started pulling 70-80% on Q-bank pretty consistently (and yes, they were all new questions...not recycled). I wasn't doing anything differently, I think I just finally got the hang of questions and the big picture just started falling into place. My point is don't get overly frusturated - use the practice questions as a learning tool. If your scores are upsetting you, stop taking timed tests and don't look at your scores. Just go through questions and answer them one by one, you'll find that you are worrying less about how you are doing and more about what you are weak on. It really is the first time you are challenged to put EVERYTHING together...assimilating all of this information can be difficult. Cut yourself some slack and stick with it. Good luck.

Similar story to report! It happened all of a sudden too. I guess something just clicks in the middle of studying.

I haven't fallen below 70% since that period (I haven't broken 80% either but that's a story for another day 😉)

 

[notsittinpretty]

I also started reading all of the answers first, as well as the last sentance of the question stem. You'd be surprised at how many times the clinical scenario is useless. Started saving me time so I wasn't pressing as much.

....anyway just another tip.

 

[Old_Mil]

I think this is kind of overrated....I mean in general people are aware of what they know and don't know.

True - but some things can surprise you...I wasn't surprised at how little Anatomy and Genetics I knew, but given my Pharm grade I was (and continue to be) surprised at how badly I do on Pharm questions...

...as far as Qbanks, I think they are my favorite way of studying because if I get something wrong I remember it more readily than if I was just reading. Also, you see the material presented in a way that it would or could be on a test...there are certain correlations I hadn't made until I saw it in a qbank.

 

[maya123]

Hi
Thanks for all the feedback..... great advice.....
I forgot to mention that I am doing the uw question in tutor mode. Do you think it is a good idea to continue in tutor mode or should I time myself. It is still taking me a little longer to think the question thru to get to the answer. Considering my time line of 3 weeks ..... what should I do?

 

[marr]

Hi
Thanks for all the feedback..... great advice.....
I forgot to mention that I am doing the uw question in tutor mode. Do you think it is a good idea to continue in tutor mode or should I time myself. It is still taking me a little longer to think the question thru to get to the answer. Considering my time line of 3 weeks ..... what should I do?

3 weeks left? plenty of time. Have you taken nbme 2 or 3? Seen your weakpoints that nbme pointed out? Review that like a B*itch. Ditch UW and Qbank, they wouldn't help you much. If you want to see how step I is do Robbins review of pathology. it's like 1000 questions, covering path and everything related to path. Trust me, this is one of the few books that is worth your time and money. So many of my questions on the real deal seem copied from this book. You will be glad that you did. BSS, a freebie on the internet. BSS=GOLD, GOLD, GOLD. It's from 97 and one of its author is Goljan. You wouldn't believe how many questions were related to BSS. it's extremely tough, but if get through it, you will tear up step I. On another note, if you had pay attention in class, you have 50% down. The rest, well just pray and work hard.

 

[azarbaijan67]

I haven't seen any score estimators that deal with US World, but the MedFriends estimator for the Kaplan Qbank suggests that you need at least 59% to pass.

i finished all UW today.2 month ago was around 40 now is more than 55 till 68 the most.it raised NBME score frome 370 to 490.
i am working on anatomy and neuroanatomy to get better grade.
any suggestion
than you

 

[interprimos]

I know it's nit-picky, but I don't like the term "reading".

Last week I "read" a john grisham novel. As a result I was able to piece together the general frame and concept of the model so that I could follow the story. But I couldn't recall specific things about smaller details in the book.

But when I studied micro for usmle, I didn't "read" it. I memorized it.

I agree with you in theory. In reality, some things are just so hard to memorize that it gets frustrating after struggling thru it. How did you get past that?

 

[Taus]

I agree with you in theory. In reality, some things are just so hard to memorize that it gets frustrating after struggling thru it. How did you get past that?

come up w/ stupid mnemonics

 

[SeventhSon]

Thanks for your replies..... you are all very helpful..... I think my problem is answering questions...... I can reproduce straight from the book (of course I forget a few things).... but my technique to answer the questions is wrong....Answering the questions is my downfall ....In the end all I need is to pass.
How did you increase the score..... I have started with the same score....Is there anything else I could do ......I feel that I am at the midline .....and it could go either way ..... but I want to make sure that I pass it.
Your advice is greatly appreciated
Thank you

If you think your technique of answering questions is the problem and not your knowledge base... I say concentrate on doing problems now. When you read the answers, try to figure out a logical algorithm that would have let you figure out this answer. After you do lots of problems, these algorithms start converging on each other and you get a combinatorial effect in terms of the number of questions you can answer based on the questions you have doine.

 

[DocMizzle]

Hi
Thanks for all the feedback..... great advice.....
I forgot to mention that I am doing the uw question in tutor mode. Do you think it is a good idea to continue in tutor mode or should I time myself. It is still taking me a little longer to think the question thru to get to the answer. Considering my time line of 3 weeks ..... what should I do?

For path, pathophys, and phys, do UW in tutor mode to learn it better for now. However, make sure you practice in timed mode at some point during your studying to work on your timing.

I recommend using FA for micro and pharm because UW is just too detailed for these subjects. most of the pharm and micro on the real test was straightforward, so spending a few days on these with FA is well worth your time to get these easy points.

 

[pdz]

For path, pathophys, and phys, do UW in tutor mode to learn it better for now. However, make sure you practice in timed mode at some point during your studying to work on your timing.

I recommend using FA for micro and pharm because UW is just too detailed for these subjects. most of the pharm and micro on the real test was straightforward, so spending a few days on these with FA is well worth your time to get these easy points.

Don't you think that if you start doing the path, pathophys and phys questions in tutor mode then you won't have many questions left to do in timed random mode?

 

[DocMizzle]

Don't you think that if you start doing the path, pathophys and phys questions in tutor mode then you won't have many questions left to do in timed random mode?

Maya's worried about passing, and the best way to ensure a pass is to have a handle on the information. In this case, it seems better to use UW as a strict learning tool rather than performance feedback, especially with only a few weeks left. Also, later on maya can go back in timed random mode, click all questions and see how much of the info was retained.

 

[anesthesiarocks]

I agree with you in theory. In reality, some things are just so hard to memorize that it gets frustrating after struggling thru it. How did you get past that?

note cards.....act like I'm teaching it to an empty room....whatever. Just brute force memorization.

And of course not all of it gets memorized completely.....if it did everyone would score 240+....

 

[anesthesiarocks]

True - but some things can surprise you...I wasn't surprised at how little Anatomy and Genetics I knew, but given my Pharm grade I was (and continue to be) surprised at how badly I do on Pharm questions...quote]

but weren't you aware of how much you had forgotten dealing with pharm stuff you studied 6 months ago? Grades from a while back really don't correlate well with what someone knows *right now*.....

If you want to know how well you know something(before starting questions) with a topic like pharm or micro or biochem or whatever, just get out a few sheets of paper and start with an organ system. Say cardiac pharm. If you can't just write down all the mechanisms of the different classes and all the key side effects/interactions and categorize all the different antiarrythmics effectively with side effects and mechanisms....then you know it. If you can't do that, you don't. And it only takes about 10 minutes to do so adequately, so everyone should have a decent sense of "where they are" in terms of knowledge base for any non-path/phys topic if they wanted to fairly quickly.

 

[Miami_med]

Similar story to report! It happened all of a sudden too. I guess something just clicks in the middle of studying.

I haven't fallen below 70% since that period (I haven't broken 80% either but that's a story for another day 😉)

I was probably there four weeks out, and l average about a 72% on that last 350 Question Test, so it can definitely be improved. I started in such a hole in Q-bank, that after scoring consistenly in the 65-80% range (don't ask) for the last couple of weeks, I only managed to pull my total average up to 60%, and that was with doing over 90% of the bank.