The merits of taking a practice exam

[TexasTriathlete]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I bought the two UWorld practice exams, so I should eventually use them, right?

I'm about a month out from the step, and I'm really not sure where I stand. I'm crushing it on World, but it is my second time through, I'm doing tutor mode, and I'm going system by system. I'm also doing it following Rx. That is, I do a system on Rx, then I go immediately to World and do the same system. So I wouldn't say that this is necessarily a great indicator of what all I am retaining, and its more of a learning tool for me than anything else.

I am doing decently on Rx, but I wouldn't say I'm blowing the doors off it.

But what if I am learning this stuff really well? Do I really want to know that right now?

At this point, I'd say the main thing motivating me is the belief that I don't know ****. There is part of me that feels as though I'd fail the exam if I took it right now. Realistically, that probably isn't the case.

I'm right at around 80% on UWorld right now, through about 60% of the question bank. And before you rip on me for being an SDN douchebag who whines and complains about something that most people consider to be awesome, I'd like to reiterate that this is not my first time through the question bank, and I'm doing tutor mode, and I'm doing Rx first, and I'm going system by system. I don't think I'm nearly as good as that number would indicate. However, I do feel as though I've come a long way since my first time through UWorld, which was 45%.

On the other hand, let's say that I'm really not where I need to be. Right now, I've got enough time to work on my weaknesses.

Has anyone ever felt like they got complacent after taking a practice test and doing well, and then fallen off and underperforming on the real deal?

I'm not usually this neurotic about this sort of thing. Any suggestions?

 

[knuckles]

I bought the two UWorld practice exams, so I should eventually use them, right?

I'm about a month out from the step, and I'm really not sure where I stand. I'm crushing it on World, but it is my second time through, I'm doing tutor mode, and I'm going system by system. I'm also doing it following Rx. That is, I do a system on Rx, then I go immediately to World and do the same system. So I wouldn't say that this is necessarily a great indicator of what all I am retaining, and its more of a learning tool for me than anything else.

I am doing decently on Rx, but I wouldn't say I'm blowing the doors off it.

But what if I am learning this stuff really well? Do I really want to know that right now?

At this point, I'd say the main thing motivating me is the belief that I don't know ****. There is part of me that feels as though I'd fail the exam if I took it right now. Realistically, that probably isn't the case.

I'm right at around 80% on UWorld right now, through about 60% of the question bank. And before you rip on me for being an SDN douchebag who whines and complains about something that most people consider to be awesome, I'd like to reiterate that this is not my first time through the question bank, and I'm doing tutor mode, and I'm doing Rx first, and I'm going system by system. I don't think I'm nearly as good as that number would indicate. However, I do feel as though I've come a long way since my first time through UWorld, which was 45%.

On the other hand, let's say that I'm really not where I need to be. Right now, I've got enough time to work on my weaknesses.

Has anyone ever felt like they got complacent after taking a practice test and doing well, and then fallen off and underperforming on the real deal?

I'm not usually this neurotic about this sort of thing. Any suggestions?

Stop being neurotic and take a damn practice test so you can see where you stand. Why beat around the bush? You can take the Free 150 if you don't wanna use up one of your UWorld ones, plus its only 150 questions, so you'll have your answer in 3 hours.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Stop being neurotic and take a damn practice test so you can see where you stand. Why beat around the bush? You can take the Free 150 if you don't wanna use up one of your UWorld ones, plus its only 150 questions, so you'll have your answer in 3 hours.

When you put it like that, it seems so clear and simple.

I think I will do that, and worry about the rest later.

 

[Tourterm]

It might help if you think of the practice exams as also being learning tools - since they give you the answer and explanation like the qbank does. Just that it also happens to spit out a score and profile as well. Also, it will provide you with 384 new questions, rather then going over old ones that you're doing now (though that is still important of course). If you have any weak areas, best to know about them now, while you have time to work on them.

 

[aashkab]

yeah the uworld isn't even liek a real test man. it sjust four 48 question blocks. you can pause in the middle. don't even treat it like a test. sure it brigns up a score but ir eally think its inaccurate. so just use it to learn

 

[BostonMedicine]

Agreed with previous posters. Unlike the NBMEs, which might be more accurate with prediction but don't give you much feedback, the UW assessments give you explanations for a whole new set of questions. Use them to keep learning. You've got a month to adjust your strategy, take advantage of that time and give yourself a baseline to work from.