Soooo...how exactly should I use UWorld?

[IonClaws]

The other threads that came up in searches don't really address my question so I'm asking it here.

I've heard it's a good idea to use UWorld throughout second year to get practice doing questions, etc.,...but how exactly do I USE it?

I've been doing random questions from the cardiology section, all subjects (we're on the CV/Pulmonary block). Obviously, being in second year, I don't have time to review what we went over first year, even though that ony makes up 25-30% of the test.

It seems like I'm learning a bunch of random things and while UWorld's explanations are good and I read all of them, I don't feel it's connecting with what I'm currently learning.

So what do I do? Should I just do random questions every day along with my class studies until I get a significant number done, when I can see where my strengths and weaknesses are come Step 1 prep time??? I'm at a loss right now and have no idea how to proceed.

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[Ismet]

I'll start by saying that you're going to get different opinions from different people, and there's no one right way to do it. Take advice from different people and see what works for you.

I personally don't think one should use UWorld during 2nd year while you are learning the material. That QBank should be saved for the 2-3 months before you are scheduled to take Step 1, when you are working on integrating material you have already learned. You'll find that very few boards questions are strictly one subject, they pull from multiple subjects. So even though you're doing the cardio questions, you're being tested on more than just cardio, which you might not know or remember. You're also looking at questions based on basic information you haven't even learned yet, which is a waste of the questions. Yeah you probably learned something from the explanation, but it would have been more useful if that explanation could have solidified or refreshed something you learned before, not teaching it to you for the first time.

I'd suggest doing USMLERx during MS2 so that you start getting used to board-style questions. These are better divided by subject. Save UWorld for later.

 

[Chir0nex]

So I actually wouldn't start using Uworld now. If you want to do questions throughout the year, I would recommend Firecracker which lets you set up custom question schedules and helps keep you reviewing. I would save Uworld until much closer to the exam period (I didn't start doing regular Uworld sections until early march). The issue with starting now is twofold. First, the vast majority of the the material is stuff you haven't really covered yet, so it is questionable how useful it will be. Second, if you are doing Uworld quesitons now, you will not much available to review with in the more intense dedicated study period unless you plan on getting a second qbank. While I think starting to study early is great, I also believe there are more effective ways at this point (like annotating First Aid and focusing on stuff from first year like anatomy and biochem).

 

[NickNaylor]

I'll start by saying that you're going to get different opinions from different people, and there's no one right way to do it. Take advice from different people and see what works for you.

I personally don't think one should use UWorld during 2nd year while you are learning the material. That QBank should be saved for the 2-3 months before you are scheduled to take Step 1, when you are working on integrating material you have already learned. You'll find that very few boards questions are strictly one subject, they pull from multiple subjects. So even though you're doing the cardio questions, you're being tested on more than just cardio, which you might not know or remember. You're also looking at questions based on basic information you haven't even learned yet, which is a waste of the questions. Yeah you probably learned something from the explanation, but it would have been more useful if that explanation could have solidified or refreshed something you learned before, not teaching it to you for the first time.

I'd suggest doing USMLERx during MS2 so that you start getting used to board-style questions. These are better divided by subject. Save UWorld for later.

I agree with this. I bought the Kaplan qbank to use during MS2 and found it pretty cruddy. I also found it difficult to set aside the time to do a significant amount of questions in addition to studying/other commitments.

The key to using UWorld, IMO, is to go through the questions as many times as possible. Go through them all, then go over your incorrects, then, if you have time, go through them again. Read the explanations - even to questions that you get correct (unless you know the info cold).

As mentioned above, though, I would save your UWorld grinding for your actual study period or the second half of the year. Even if you do the topics by subject, the questions still tend to be somewhat integrated. You'll probably find them pretty difficult coming straight out of the gate. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing, but, for me at least, it's easier to learn with the questions once you have at least a minimal baseline knowledge base. Otherwise it's just haphazard guessing all the way through.

 

[IonClaws]

Wow, all of these responses in less than an hour. Thanks guys, this will be very helpful, now I can rest easy and focus on studying the course material.

 

[Bancrofti]

A better thread would be a poll, asking people what they think about how to use Uworld, including how many times to do it and at what point prior to your exam date. That way it makes your life easier instead of having to read through a thread full of different answers that might leave you more confused than before it started.

My vote is for saving Uworld towards the end. I think you should allot yourself enough time to get through it once, do any incorrects, and do any marked questions. I don't think it's necessary to go through it more than once. I'd also recommend another qbank. I actually liked Kaplan and I feel that it helped me solidify high yield material as I was learning it in class.

 

[cbrons]

Usmlerx now , uworld next semester


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[Psai]

I agree with everyone

 

[DermViser]

I agree with this. I bought the Kaplan qbank to use during MS2 and found it pretty cruddy. I also found it difficult to set aside the time to do a significant amount of questions in addition to studying/other commitments.

The key to using UWorld, IMO, is to go through the questions as many times as possible. Go through them all, then go over your incorrects, then, if you have time, go through them again. Read the explanations - even to questions that you get correct (unless you know the info cold).

As mentioned above, though, I would save your UWorld grinding for your actual study period or the second half of the year. Even if you do the topics by subject, the questions still tend to be somewhat integrated. You'll probably find them pretty difficult coming straight out of the gate. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing, but, for me at least, it's easier to learn with the questions once you have at least a minimal baseline knowledge base. Otherwise it's just haphazard guessing all the way through.

Kaplan Qbank is the worst Qbank ever. Too many repeats (i.e. Down syndrome) and not similar to the test. Conveniently a lot of the questions could only be answered if you had the Kaplan Lecture Notes. 🙄

I agree with @Ismet, use USMLERx to solidify the information thru out MS-2. USMLEWorld does pull from multiple subjects although there are some that aren't and are straight one subject questions. The key is to get used to answering USMLE Step 1 style questions early on.

https://members.aamc.org/eweb/upload/Are Questions the Answer PPT 11-6-12 10PM.pdf

https://www.aamc.org/download/308080/data/researchinmedicalstudenteducation-johnson.pdf

 

[notbobtrustme]

do the questions, read the explanations

the end.

there's no magic formula, just ****ing do it.

 

[VisionaryTics]

Focus on course material now, start doing UWorld questions closer to exam since they integrate everything you learn M1/M2.

If you have time, do UWorld twice rather than UWorld and another source.

 

[PL198]

Would about older versions of Uworld? Do they recycle old questions year to year, making this a silly idea, or would you guys look at older versions if you had the opportunity?

 

[DermViser]

Would about older versions of Uworld? Do they recycle old questions year to year, making this a silly idea, or would you guys look at older versions if you had the opportunity?

No I wouldn't look at older versions, as when you do it later, you won't know your real knowledge base, bc you'll know the answers. There's something about doing the questions, answering it, and then reading the entire explanation of why the right answer is right, and why the other answers are wrong, which solidifies the information.

 

[Dave89]

I don't understand this business of "saving" UWorld for the second semester.

It's not like you're going to have more time to study then - unless your school gives you half a year of dedicated prep time.

Good luck trying to pick up all the information in the explanations for the 2000+ questions in four months. (And prep time should be review; not going over UW questions for the very first time.)

 

[DermViser]

I don't understand this business of "saving" UWorld for the second semester.

It's not like you're going to have more time to study then - unless your school gives you half a year of dedicated prep time.

Good luck trying to pick up all the information in the explanations for the 2000+ questions in four months. (And prep time should be review; not going over UW questions for the very first time.)

Bc the questions are interdisciplinary and thus cross disciplines, so you'll have a hard time doing well if you're in a subject based curriculum and you have yet to cover that subject.

 

[JP2740]

I don't understand this business of "saving" UWorld for the second semester.

It's not like you're going to have more time to study then - unless your school gives you half a year of dedicated prep time.

Good luck trying to pick up all the information in the explanations for the 2000+ questions in four months. (And prep time should be review; not going over UW questions for the very first time.)

I did it in 5 weeks.

 

[AnonymousD.O.]

The other threads that came up in searches don't really address my question so I'm asking it here.

I've heard it's a good idea to use UWorld throughout second year to get practice doing questions, etc.,...but how exactly do I USE it?

I've been doing random questions from the cardiology section, all subjects (we're on the CV/Pulmonary block). Obviously, being in second year, I don't have time to review what we went over first year, even though that ony makes up 25-30% of the test.

It seems like I'm learning a bunch of random things and while UWorld's explanations are good and I read all of them, I don't feel it's connecting with what I'm currently learning.

So what do I do? Should I just do random questions every day along with my class studies until I get a significant number done, when I can see where my strengths and weaknesses are come Step 1 prep time??? I'm at a loss right now and have no idea how to proceed.

I'm going to start doing some question banks but for sure save UWORLD for your hardcore review time. Don't waste it now. That should be common sense, its the best source....save it.

 

[AnonymousD.O.]

I don't understand this business of "saving" UWorld for the second semester.

It's not like you're going to have more time to study then - unless your school gives you half a year of dedicated prep time.

Good luck trying to pick up all the information in the explanations for the 2000+ questions in four months. (And prep time should be review; not going over UW questions for the very first time.)

50 questions a day is completely manageable, and that would only take up less than a month and a half

 

[sinombre]

Kaplan Qbank is the worst Qbank ever. Too many repeats (i.e. Down syndrome) and not similar to the test. Conveniently a lot of the questions could only be answered if you had the Kaplan Lecture Notes. 🙄

Hmm, my school bought us that qbank... should I ditch it completely and use uslmerx now, and uworld later?

 

[NickNaylor]

I did it in 5 weeks.

Yeah, I was gonna say... I burned through it in about 4 weeks for step 1 and slightly longer than that for step 2. If you're dedicated and don't screw around it's relatively easy to get through at least 100 questions in a day. I do my questions in 20 question blocks and it takes me anywhere from 50-60 minutes to get through the blocks with explanations.

 

[Ismet]

I don't understand this business of "saving" UWorld for the second semester.

It's not like you're going to have more time to study then - unless your school gives you half a year of dedicated prep time.

Good luck trying to pick up all the information in the explanations for the 2000+ questions in four months. (And prep time should be review; not going over UW questions for the very first time.)

My school gives us 2 months of dedicated study time and most people get through all of UWorld. It's really not that hard, especially if you have 4 months. 2 blocks a day is manageable, and that would get you through in just 23 days. Obviously you take breaks or do less some days or review more some days so it should take longer than 23 days, but it's not like it needs to take you a whole 6 months or anything.

 

[DermViser]

My school gives us 2 months of dedicated study time and most people get through all of UWorld. It's really not that hard, especially if you have 4 months.

Most people don't get a full EIGHT 😱 weeks to study for Step 1. Good God, 2 months!?

 

[DermViser]

Yeah, I was gonna say... I burned through it in about 4 weeks for step 1 and slightly longer than that for step 2. If you're dedicated and don't screw around it's relatively easy to get through at least 100 questions in a day. I do my questions in 20 question blocks and it takes me anywhere from 50-60 minutes to get through the blocks with explanations.

-- Well aren't you a smarty pants.

 

[Ismet]

Most people don't get a full EIGHT 😱 weeks to study for Step 1. Good God, 2 months!?

Well the first 4 weeks we technically had a class that ran Tues/Weds/Thurs AM, and a clinical skills course once a week, but other than that, yeah.

 

[DermViser]

Hmm, my school bought us that qbank... should I ditch it completely and use uslmerx now, and uworld later?

I mean I don't know how much Kaplan Qbank has changed since now USMLEWorld is the gold standard. Back when Kaplan was the only game in town, it made sense to use it. Now it just seems like there are so many better resources.

 

[NickNaylor]

-- Well aren't you a smarty pants.

 

[PL198]

Hmm, my school bought us that qbank... should I ditch it completely and use uslmerx now, and uworld later?

Wrong, your school decided that kaplan was a good idea for you, so they required you to pay for it, by adding it to your fees. people at my class are like " ZOMG WE GET UWORLD FOR FREE YAY" when there's a fee associated in our total cost for it...

 

[DermViser]

Wrong, your school decided that kaplan was a good idea for you, so they required you to pay for it, by adding it to your fees. people at my class are like " ZOMG WE GET UWORLD FOR FREE YAY" when there's a fee associated in our total cost for it...

Proof that you don't have to be intelligent to actually make it into med school. Just book smart.

 

[sinombre]

Wrong, your school decided that kaplan was a good idea for you, so they required you to pay for it, by adding it to your fees. people at my class are like " ZOMG WE GET UWORLD FOR FREE YAY" when there's a fee associated in our total cost for it...

Right, I know. I guess it would have been more accurate to say "my school allocated some of the money I gave them to pay for Kaplan, is it worth using or should I pay for another qbank?"

 

[Ismet]

Right, I know. I guess it would have been more accurate to say "my school allocated some of the money I gave them to pay for Kaplan, is it worth using or should I pay for another qbank?"

Take my opinion with a grain of salt because I didn't personally use Kaplan, but since you already have it, might as well use it in addition to USMLERx. From what I've heard, Kaplan is excessively detailed and tests minutiae. Rx has its own share of crappy questions, but I just did it in tutor mode and brushed off the questions that were poorly written.

 

[DermViser]

Take my opinion with a grain of salt because I didn't personally use Kaplan, but since you already have it, might as well use it in addition to USMLERx. From what I've heard, Kaplan is excessively detailed and tests minutiae. Rx has its own share of crappy questions, but I just did it in tutor mode and brushed off the questions that were poorly written.

This. This is why I thought they weren't like the real thing.

 

[PL198]

Right, I know. I guess it would have been more accurate to say "my school allocated some of the money I gave them to pay for Kaplan, is it worth using or should I pay for another qbank?"

haha yeah just messin with you, just making sure you understood that

 

[Bancrofti]

Right, I know. I guess it would have been more accurate to say "my school allocated some of the money I gave them to pay for Kaplan, is it worth using or should I pay for another qbank?"

Take my opinion with a grain of salt because I didn't personally use Kaplan, but since you already have it, might as well use it in addition to USMLERx. From what I've heard, Kaplan is excessively detailed and tests minutiae. Rx has its own share of crappy questions, but I just did it in tutor mode and brushed off the questions that were poorly written.

I didn't think they were bad relative to the quality of Rx, again just my opinion. People always complained about minutiae in Kaplan, but when I looked things up after I got them wrong, a majority of the time it was in first aid. Additionally, Uworld is definitely the best question bank, so you shouldn't even try to take a ton away from other qbanks besides the question exposure. For this reason I like Kaplan better because there are about 300 less than Rx. Kaplan also has a "high-yield" option so you can further decrease the number of questions to a little less than 1550. That being said, I think a big benefit to Rx is having the FA pages visible along with your answers, which can save you a lot of time depending on how in depth you want to go for review of your questions. I don't think you could necessarily go wrong with either, just want to give a vote of confidence for Kaplan since I know it gets bad mouthed a lot here. The interface did suck at times, but all in all I had a better experience than I did with Rx.