Timed vs. Tutor

[frangeo27]

if you were to take tutor mode but still only take 75 seconds to answer each question...would you think that it would inflate your score? reason I ask is because I like getting immediate feedback after every question (it sticks better that way) but I don't want to give myself a score inflation. thoughts?

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[sebsvenmdc]

if you were to take tutor mode but still only take 75 seconds to answer each question...would you think that it would inflate your score? reason I ask is because I like getting immediate feedback after every question (it sticks better that way) but I don't want to give myself a score inflation. thoughts?

Yes, I would take it timed. Even if you don't take it timed yet you're taking the same amount of time, you might have a psychological advantage...you could be in a more relaxed state. Seriously, I've done a few untimed and taken the same amount of time, and the stress factor hasn't really been there. Stress is important to simulate, you need to get used to it. I strongly discourage rationalizing tutor mode as a learning tool...part of learning is getting desensitized to stress, and if you make yourself do timed UW questions daily, you're going to help yourself cope with stress better. Also, if you're getting reassurance and confidence by seeing that you're getting questions correct as you go along, that can be an unfair advantage. You could argue the other way...if you're getting more wrong...but honestly, MAXIMIZE the exposure to true testing conditions. Take it timed. Good luck.

 

[EBI831]

i disagree. i say if you are doing the entire thing random (all sections and categories selected) and answering in 75 seconds or less you are just fine. The reason I say random is that if you are doing just the stuff you learned, then the explanations in tutor mode can give you the answer for questions farther down the line. Also, I find sometimes that tutor helps with getting the answer right the first time, when you do timed you can always go back and change your answer, tutor lets you know if your gut is right because you only get one shot. but, just to get used to the pressure of the real deal, i might suggest doing a few nbme's etc under the real time constraints to make sure you dont get used to the relaxed mode or having immediate validation.

 

[Instatewaiter]

Yes, I would take it timed. Even if you don't take it timed yet you're taking the same amount of time, you might have a psychological advantage...you could be in a more relaxed state. Seriously, I've done a few untimed and taken the same amount of time, and the stress factor hasn't really been there. Stress is important to simulate, you need to get used to it. I strongly discourage rationalizing tutor mode as a learning tool...part of learning is getting desensitized to stress, and if you make yourself do timed UW questions daily, you're going to help yourself cope with stress better. Also, if you're getting reassurance and confidence by seeing that you're getting questions correct as you go along, that can be an unfair advantage. You could argue the other way...if you're getting more wrong...but honestly, MAXIMIZE the exposure to true testing conditions. Take it timed. Good luck.

I took step 1 last year. Stick to tutor mode.

UW is meant as a learning tool not a score estimator. You want to estimate your score, use an NBME. By reviewing each question after you do it you get immediate feedback and learn more. If you wait until you finish the whole block, after 50 questions you will forget some of your reasoning and UW becomes less useful.

Stress? You are sitting in your house at your computer- hardly an accurate simulation of test day.

Sure, take a few timed. If you are having trouble with timing it may not be a bad idea to intermittently do it on timed to quicken your pace. If not, just tutor mode so you maximize the learning you get out of UW.

 

[frangeo27]

interesting thoughts everyone. I'm glad there are two sides being represented here. well for one, I am doing all random questions. I agree that there is an advantage to feeling the "pressure" even if I'm taking the same amount of time to answer each question. I've never had a time problem when taking NBMEs, but I do feel more pressure obviously. I'm having a hard time deciding what to do because I trully feel that I'm "learning" better with tutor mode, hence the name I supposed. But I feel "tested" more in time mode. I like what was said about using UW to learn and NBME to test myself. Maybe I should do one block timed and one tutor every day to get both experiences?

 

[sebsvenmdc]

I took step 1 last year. Stick to tutor mode.

UW is meant as a learning tool not a score estimator. You want to estimate your score, use an NBME. By reviewing each question after you do it you get immediate feedback and learn more. If you wait until you finish the whole block, after 50 questions you will forget some of your reasoning and UW becomes less useful.

Stress? You are sitting in your house at your computer- hardly an accurate simulation of test day.

Sure, take a few timed. If you are having trouble with timing it may not be a bad idea to intermittently do it on timed to quicken your pace. If not, just tutor mode so you maximize the learning you get out of UW.

Thanks for your input. I definitely disagree. For me, it's important to take all questions under timed mode. Doing UW timed in my house is not as stressful as the real deal, but it's much more stressful than tutor mode, and it's as close as possible to the real thing. I can't exactly sign up and take all of my questions at the prometric center. Additionally, I'm doing CBSEs, NBMEs, Kaplan Q.

Do whatever works for you. For me, it's doing things timed.

 

[BoneNibbler]

Timed is better. OP you said that you are only taking 75 secs per question in tutor mode. SO if a question requires alot of thinking DO you just automatically skip that question and get it wrong? And how are you timing yourself.......a stop watch?

There are so many things wronmg with this. I say do it timed, or you do run the risk of INFLATION.

 

[rahulb]

timed is only necessary if you cannot finish a block in the allotted time

tutor mode is far superior for learning and retaining material in the most time-efficient way possible.

 

[sebsvenmdc]

timed is only necessary if you cannot finish a block in the allotted time

tutor mode is far superior for learning and retaining material in the most time-efficient way possible.

Lol, oh, really? You've done clinical trials with med students and can tell me the confidence intervals for superior learning? Dude, there's no way to know or prove something like that...you can preface it with, "For me, it seems that..."

I could argue that looking at the question again after doing the test strengthens certain synaptic connections as opposed to only utilizing them once. Essentially, people who do this would get 3 views of UW. Doing the test, go over the answers, then going thru the bank again.

 

[sebsvenmdc]

Hey, guys, I just wanted to say...don't be offended by my comments. I'm kind of joking around for the most part. I think it's hard to know what exactly is best...and it probably varies from person to person. Anyhow, good luck with whatever you decide to do!

 

[BoneNibbler]

[/B]

Lol, oh, really? You've done clinical trials with med students and can tell me the confidence intervals for superior learning? Dude, there's no way to know or prove something like that...you can preface it with, "For me, it seems that..."

I could argue that looking at the question again after doing the test strengthens certain synaptic connections as opposed to only utilizing them once. Essentially, people who do this would get 3 views of UW. Doing the test, go over the answers, then going thru the bank again.

What a d-bag. :troll:

 

[pseudoknot]

[/B]

Lol, oh, really? You've done clinical trials with med students and can tell me the confidence intervals for superior learning? Dude, there's no way to know or prove something like that...you can preface it with, "For me, it seems that..."

I could argue that looking at the question again after doing the test strengthens certain synaptic connections as opposed to only utilizing them once. Essentially, people who do this would get 3 views of UW. Doing the test, go over the answers, then going thru the bank again.

I think these are reasonable points. People should use question banks however they feel they are most effective. Different students have different learning styles.