Simulated exams?

[Peeshee]

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Hi, how many simulated exams did you do before taking Step 1? Do you think that 2 wks. before your exam you should focus more on studying high yield stuff or taking simulated exams? I plan to take 1 NBME, plus do the USMLE CD, and use 350 qu. from QBANK as simulated exams...is that too much???
thanks!

 

[AlexRusso]

Practice, practice, practice.

Nothing beats practice questions as prep for the exam. No matter how many times you read something you will not rememebr it the same way as when you come across a question with it. Questions are the best learning tools. Do as many as you can possibly get your hands on. The last two weeks before the test definately do a lot of questions and full-length practice exams. The last 2-4 days before the exam ease off on the questions and review some high yiled stuff. Try not to do questions the day before the exam as the ones you get wrong will increase your anxiety. Last few days before the test go voer material you know to cement it in and to decrease anxiety. And as one of the last things you do before calling it quits glance over those really hard to remember things like the Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Chemo drugs, or whatever it is you have trouble keeping in your head.

 

[Peeshee]

Thanks for the good advice! My focus during the last 2 weeks will be questions, review of questions, First Aid, and Goljan. Hopefully, everything will come together by then.
How long before the test date would you recommend taking an NBME practice exam?

thanks!