Using Uworld constantly in the last week of study - viable?

[Phange]

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My exam is in five days and after finishing DIT the only thing I figure I can do is take and re-take Uworld quizzes over and over.

The problem is that I only have 30% unused left, and the quizzes seem to get lower and lower-yield as I eliminate them (I literally got a question about Linezolid being a mild MAOI, what the heck?)

That said, I see tremendous value in doing questions again as a means to re-consolidate prior knowledge. I just don't have the patience to go through the 5000+ flash cards I made for DIT.

 

[Goober11]

The problem is that I only have 30% unused left, and the quizzes seem to get lower and lower-yield as I eliminate them (I literally got a question about Linezolid being a mild MAOI, what the heck?)

This isn't low yield. When you see tough questions like that just tell yourself UW went out of its way to make a toughie because one of their "spies" told them it was on the real deal.

 

[Phange]

This isn't low yield. When you see tough questions like that just tell yourself UW went out of its way to make a toughie because one of their "spies" told them it was on the real deal.

Yep, I go out of my way to learn all that stuff, but if you think about it - it's almost certainly low yield. At best it'll be one question on the test, and most likely none at all. But over time those things add up.

 

[HoboCommander]

The real exam throws some really esoteric stuff at you, as well, including off-label uses of drugs. It sets the mentality so that you don't panic if you see a question you don't know the answer to.

 

[Ary Lall]

The real exam throws some really esoteric stuff at you, as well, including off-label uses of drugs. It sets the mentality so that you don't panic if you see a question you don't know the answer to.

Knowing that minutia, will that really make us better student doctors going into 3rd year? How much of it will we retain by the time we practice?

 

[HoboCommander]

Knowing that minutia, will that really make us better student doctors going into 3rd year? How much of it will we retain by the time we practice?

IMHO, the USMLE could be a test on trivia regarding how to grow potatos in Idaho and still be a good test for separating those who are very dedicated and those who just want to get by with minimum studying. Residency directors (who often give presentations at my school) care about test scores because it shows that the student is willing to put in the hard work to be a doctor.

But you're right, obviously a lot of the material on the USMLE is not relevant to being a doctor.

 

[Wolverines83]

My exam is in five days and after finishing DIT the only thing I figure I can do is take and re-take Uworld quizzes over and over.

The problem is that I only have 30% unused left, and the quizzes seem to get lower and lower-yield as I eliminate them (I literally got a question about Linezolid being a mild MAOI, what the heck?)

That said, I see tremendous value in doing questions again as a means to re-consolidate prior knowledge. I just don't have the patience to go through the 5000+ flash cards I made for DIT.

If your exam is in five days I wouldn't even bother with that remaining 30%. Go through flagged/incorrect questions, read through the notes you took from uworld, and hit the FA mnemonics. I think you'll have higher yield from solidifying what you have seen vs trying to cram new information. In the end, one question is one question.

The test is going to require that you actually understand information, not just memorize it, so make sure you know what you know cold.

 

[survivordo]

Best thing you can do is questions, especially from USMLEWorld. Make sure you internalize the REASON the question was right/wrong.

Keep at it slugger.

Survivor DO