Some advice needed on my goal score for Step 1

[Celestine]

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Hey,
So I haven't posted anything in this forum, but I do lurk a lot, reading all of this proffered wisdom, lol. Anyway, about what I need advice on...

Total study time: 05/16-06/23 (test day) - 5.5 weeks
UWorld Qbank: 71% (58% completed, randomized tests of 10-40 questions)
NBME 11 (06/12): 231 (540)
NBME 12 (06/17): TBA

Goal score: 250

I'm doing a systems-based approach, using RR Biochem, MMRS, RR Path, BRS Physio, FA, Pharm Cards, and UWorld. At this point, I have renal path left, and all of heme, onc, neuro, derm, and musculoskeletel. I start review on June 18th - I plan to do a run through of FA, go through marked/incorrects, and read the 46 page Goljan review.

Is it possible for me to up my score by 20 points in the next ten days? I've always been a good standardized test taker (2370 SATs, 34 MCAT after two weeks of studying), but this test is a different beast. In addition, I slacked off a lot in med school and I'm worried it's coming back now to bite me in the ass. I just want to know if my goal is realistic or if I should reevaluate. Thanks!

P.S. And if you have any tweaks for my final review, please include that as well 🙂

 

[winkleweizen]

Hey,
So I haven't posted anything in this forum, but I do lurk a lot, reading all of this proffered wisdom, lol. Anyway, about what I need advice on...

Total study time: 05/16-06/23 (test day) - 5.5 weeks
UWorld Qbank: 71% (58% completed, randomized tests of 10-40 questions)
NBME 11 (06/12): 231 (540)
NBME 12 (06/17): TBA

Goal score: 250

I'm doing a systems-based approach, using RR Biochem, MMRS, RR Path, BRS Physio, FA, Pharm Cards, and UWorld. At this point, I have renal path left, and all of heme, onc, neuro, derm, and musculoskeletel. I start review on June 18th - I plan to do a run through of FA, go through marked/incorrects, and read the 46 page Goljan review.

Is it possible for me to up my score by 20 points in the next ten days? I've always been a good standardized test taker (2370 SATs, 34 MCAT after two weeks of studying), but this test is a different beast. In addition, I slacked off a lot in med school and I'm worried it's coming back now to bite me in the ass. I just want to know if my goal is realistic or if I should reevaluate. Thanks!

P.S. And if you have any tweaks for my final review, please include that as well 🙂

Sure its possible..i wouldnt focus on that..i would just worry about learning as much as possible and let the things fall as they may. Ive never understood these goal scores...just shoot for your best. I mean personally im shooting for 280.

 

[SlaveOfTCMC]

Hello fellow slave 👍

Your plan is very doable. Just be sure to eliminate silly mistakes and ignore everything our slavemasters have tried to indoctrinate us with.

 

[Celestine]

Thanks for the responses. I guess I should be happy that I got a 231 on that test, and not something lower.

So, another question. I have about 5-6 days put aside for review. Right now, I have ~900 questions left in UWorld, hopefully I'll have only about ~500 left by the time I start review. Should I focus on finishing UWorld or really memorizing FA? I've heard conflicting opinions, but to get my score up 20 points, which option makes more sense?

 

[Celestine]

Sorry, just wanted to bump this. I'm really freaking out because I'm behind on my reading and I have so many questions left. Finish questions/read FA fast or do fewer questions/read FA in-depth?

 

[Celestine]

Ugh, hate to bump this again, but some feedback would be nice. Test is morning of 6/23 and I'm a total mess because I have so much left to do and no idea how to go about tackling it 😕

 

[winkleweizen]

Ugh, hate to bump this again, but some feedback would be nice. Test is morning of 6/23 and I'm a total mess because I have so much left to do and no idea how to go about tackling it 😕

I think where you are now at 230 you would probably benefit more from memorizing FA. If you can find time to do UW, fo sho do it.

 

[Celestine]

Yeah, decided to cut out NBME 12 (either I do well but don't learn much new info or I do not so great and freak out even more) and spend that time catching up on UWorld. Definitely going to leave 5 days for FA review. Thanks for the advice 🙂

 

[Celestine]

Argh, still reading through some Goljan stuff. Haven't touched neuro yet, have to do that all day tomorrow. Which leaves me only four days for FA. And I still ~700 qs. This really sucks. I feel like if I go to the test having not finished UWorld, I'm going to keep wondering what I missed out on...

 

[bowlofmushypeas]

I feel the same way about world. I don't know how much I'll have left but I'll definitely have a few hundred before I take my test. For people who have taken the test, how much info is actually only in qbank and NOT in FA? Currently, my way of dealing with not freaking out about not finishing is to assume that it's more about getting myself in a frame of mind to answer questions instead of learning that much info from qbank. The majority really seems to be in FA that I've personally encountered.

 

[MrBigLips]

I wish I could help you guys out a little more as to uworld and real tests day material is like since I've done uworld... twice. But... but my test is on the 26th so can't really help.

I don't think leaving 300-400 questions in uworld can be that harmful. It'll just come down to your luck if those questions/concepts come on your actual test or not.

 

[Celestine]

Yeah, it's a fine line to walk. I'm down to 600 questions now. Cut out doing the neuro chapter in Goljan, just using FA x 2 for neuro and hoping that's enough...

FA for the next four days, with heavy review of pharm which I suck at the most. Read through the Goljan review. And then get enough right to get that delightful 250...