Switching from Uworld-solving mind to NBME mindset for Step 1?!

[LichenPlanus]

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While reviewing through my NBME tests, I've noticed several easy mistakes that I've done b/c I always think the question I out to trick you like in Uworld (since uWorld sometimes hinges on small details or tertiary reasoning). I've noticed most NBME's generally don't go to deep into details. Although Uworld has helped me improve big time, there is one major thing I haven't figure out yet:

How were you able to make a switch from Uworld trickster type mentality to NBME solving routine? Going thru several practice NBME's has helped, but have you found anything to be helpful? Thank you

 

[sliceofbread136]

Don't bother switching, the real thing is more like Uworld

 

[Thespunger]

I would have to respectuflly disagree with Mr. slicebread. I don't think UWorld is exactly like the real thing, and you are correct, the NBME style is much more straightforward. Think of it this way, for many Uworld questions you will notice that less than 40% of people got the question correct, well in the NBME world that is not a good question, and in fact they throw out most questions that less than 50% of medical students get right.

So you have to get into that mindset when taking the exam. If you see a question and start thinking that this is some really complicated trick question, and "they might have fooled the rest of them, but they ain't going to fool me" then you probably veered of course. At that point stop, erase your mind and reread/rethink the question, you may have read the question wrong, or even missed something very simple. Because most of the time the answer is the simpler, more common choice, that more than 50% of medical students would get correct or know. Most of the time at least. Now out of of block, 1 or at most 2 of those questions were actually trick questions and maybe you get them wrong.. BUT you risk getting significantly more easy questions incorrect if you get into the mindset that every question is hard or some twisted trick. Also, you waste more time on easy questions.

The most helpful thing is obviously just doing more NBMEs. When doing them, analyze each question, always ask yourself what is the "teaching point/concept" that this question writer is trying to test. Make sure you can answer that question, before you try to answer the actual question. Because really it is the same concepts that pop up over and over again on the NBME, and the real thing. Like the ol' navy saying KISS ..

 

[mlebee]

ur advice is gold.. i make many such silly mistakes d reason being overthinking d questions coz i ve a mindset tat "d quest can't b so easy.. may b its a tricky 1" n turns out i mark d wrong 1.. thanks a lot @Thespunger.. i ll follow ur advice in my next nbme n c how it works out for me..

 

[cs24]

While reviewing through my NBME tests, I've noticed several easy mistakes that I've done b/c I always think the question I out to trick you like in Uworld (since uWorld sometimes hinges on small details or tertiary reasoning). I've noticed most NBME's generally don't go to deep into details. Although Uworld has helped me improve big time, there is one major thing I haven't figure out yet:

How were you able to make a switch from Uworld trickster type mentality to NBME solving routine? Going thru several practice NBME's has helped, but have you found anything to be helpful? Thank you

Stop Uworld a week or two before your test, and take a few NBMEs and the free 150 in the last ten days before your test date

 

[shiralad]

Thanks a lot ...good luck!

 

[aspiringmd1015]

prob too late to do the old nmbes, but i use them here and there just to keep a contrast w/UW. Im well away from my last week though.