UW average cumulative 50%,with 1.5 months to go, is this ok?

[metalrex]

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Hey guys,
This was a lingering concern for many days now, so here I am ...again.

I have a cumulative of 50% on UW , and have the exam June first week.Is this ok?...im almost 50% thru wid goljan, FA is occassionally for now.
I did not have time for TAUS first run so I have begun the 2nd run.So this is allowing me to take up FA more often WITH Goljan audio n RR.

How adversely will this effect my prep? (skipping the first run that is)

I honestly do not feel all that great bout my prep due to this, I am hopin to ace the exam and looking forward to a great score on the NBME 7 i plan to take May 1st. For someone aiming for a 95+...shouldn't the UW scores be atleast around 70%?

Kinda on tenterhooks now...any feeds will be appreciated !

Thanks!

 

[vicinihil]

It doesn't matter that you get quesitons wrong, what it does matter is if you're learning from it. Make sure you take your time and go through each wrong answer on the questions you miss and why as well as make sure you know the learning objectives. See if doing this helps your most recent averages (last 10 attempts) and see if you see an upward trend. Also look at your overall performance and see what topipc you're weakest on and work on that. UW averages are a reflection of what you know and don't know but inconsequential at the end of the day. Make sure you're learning from it. Someone getting 90% on UW and a 180 on the boards is much worse off than someone that gets 50% on UW and a 250 on the boards!

 

[metalrex]

It doesn't matter that you get quesitons wrong, what it does matter is if you're learning from it. Make sure you take your time and go through each wrong answer on the questions you miss and why as well as make sure you know the learning objectives. See if doing this helps your most recent averages (last 10 attempts) and see if you see an upward trend. Also look at your overall performance and see what topipc you're weakest on and work on that. UW averages are a reflection of what you know and don't know but inconsequential at the end of the day. Make sure you're learning from it. Someone getting 90% on UW and a 180 on the boards is much worse off than someone that gets 50% on UW and a 250 on the boards!

Gee thanx pal! Im gonna take a day off just to do that- ravage all my incorrect responses inside out.
Then resume questions next day, hopefully this will help.

 

[vicinihil]

yes that's a great plan. See how that helps! Make sure as you['re going through it, you're adding to the info already in FA and supplement what they say about the content or may be shy on. A great thing to do is to add the charts and diagrams in UW to first aid. It doesn't matter that FA already has a chart but if you think the uW chart is superior, then add it anyway. This process won't be fast but you'll begin to remember things and it'll def help your score. Good luck!

 

[Macguy86]

how do you print out the charts if its larger than the screen?
i have not tried, but I have a mac and attempted to try to save images as pdf files and it always cuts off because the diagram is bigger than my screen?

 

[metalrex]

how do you print out the charts if its larger than the screen?
i have not tried, but I have a mac and attempted to try to save images as pdf files and it always cuts off because the diagram is bigger than my screen?

I think the problem lies with UW stringent copyright policy, the interface shuts down if it detects any such activity..any right click or save as option will get the smart program behind UW to shut it down.

If u do figure out a way, let us knw!

 

[buckeye12]

I think the problem lies with UW stringent copyright policy, the interface shuts down if it detects any such activity..any right click or save as option will get the smart program behind UW to shut it down.

If u do figure out a way, let us knw!

Mac: command+shift+3 captures screenshot and saves to desktop

Not sure if UW's software blocks this keystroke combo...

And I'm sure on the PC there are plenty of screenshot tools that will take the pics when you press certain keys.

 

[vicinihil]

Digital Camera?

 

[sswang00]

do you guys find it necessary to read and annotate all of the wrong answer choices as well?
Sometimes i feel like some of the choices are of topics that are not high yield...but at other times it is important to see why you picked the wrong answer

What is the best thing to do?
-Stick to the learning objective and read explanation to the right answer/wrong answer choice that you picked
-read every explanation [takes twice as much time!]

 

[Elixir86]

do you guys find it necessary to read and annotate all of the wrong answer choices as well?
Sometimes i feel like some of the choices are of topics that are not high yield...but at other times it is important to see why you picked the wrong answer

What is the best thing to do?
-Stick to the learning objective and read explanation to the right answer/wrong answer choice that you picked
-read every explanation [takes twice as much time!]

I'm currently in the process of going through UWorld. Like vicinihil said, it's important to go through all the explanations. I'm around mid-60s right now with Tutor mode. I haven't really reviewed much and most of the time I'm just pulling things from memory or what I remembered from reading an earlier explanation. I go through all the explanations and annotate my FA accordingly. However, sometimes the question is so easy and I know exactly why the other choices are wrong. In those instances, I'll read the paragraphs that explain the concept, but will usually ignore the sentences where they explain why the other answer choices are wrong (esp. if their explanations are pretty short). But it's important to read and annotate. It takes me ~3 hours to go through a set of 48q (much better than my starting off point of nearly 4 hours). When it comes down to crunch month, everything will be in my FA, so I can focus on FA, Goljan, and BRS Physio for the high-yield stuff.

 

[kryptik]

I'm currently in the process of going through UWorld. Like vicinihil said, it's important to go through all the explanations. I'm around mid-60s right now with Tutor mode. I haven't really reviewed much and most of the time I'm just pulling things from memory or what I remembered from reading an earlier explanation. I go through all the explanations and annotate my FA accordingly. However, sometimes the question is so easy and I know exactly why the other choices are wrong. In those instances, I'll read the paragraphs that explain the concept, but will usually ignore the sentences where they explain why the other answer choices are wrong (esp. if their explanations are pretty short). But it's important to read and annotate. It takes me ~3 hours to go through a set of 48q (much better than my starting off point of nearly 4 hours). When it comes down to crunch month, everything will be in my FA, so I can focus on FA, Goljan, and BRS Physio for the high-yield stuff.

i just started uworld yesterday and i will be doing same

 

[metalrex]

I'm currently in the process of going through UWorld. Like vicinihil said, it's important to go through all the explanations. I'm around mid-60s right now with Tutor mode. I haven't really reviewed much and most of the time I'm just pulling things from memory or what I remembered from reading an earlier explanation. I go through all the explanations and annotate my FA accordingly. However, sometimes the question is so easy and I know exactly why the other choices are wrong. In those instances, I'll read the paragraphs that explain the concept, but will usually ignore the sentences where they explain why the other answer choices are wrong (esp. if their explanations are pretty short). But it's important to read and annotate. It takes me ~3 hours to go through a set of 48q (much better than my starting off point of nearly 4 hours). When it comes down to crunch month, everything will be in my FA, so I can focus on FA, Goljan, and BRS Physio for the high-yield stuff.

That's a very good strategy I have employed as well.

Except for one thing: my FA is almost filled up , so I had to do this:

I got a good spiral notebook and I add in all I that i studied from UW ONLY. Put up the test date and number, with yr % and jot down the key, paraphrased concepts, below yr stem of the question.You don't have to write down everything- just the question stem and answer -and why that's right.One big bonus u should add in, like what's mentioned here is that u actually learn more when u read the other explanations too, just skim through these n write down in points again, just the ones u did not knw.

At end of each day, u should give this lil UW book of yrs a good read.

Having a separate book comes in handy for two things:
1. You have the UW stuff, super HY at hand, it does not get lost in FA.
2. Kinda portable, take it to the loo, in yr car..or whatever, FA kinda gives u a carpal tunnel tinge carryin d thing around ,plus it's heavily loaded with yr annotations anyway.
3. Just before d exam, just pull it out n read through, u might even get through it in a single day cuz ur paraphrasing n writing everything in short hand...kinda like d blue margins from RR Goljan

--------------

Ideally you should plan to go through UW twice..the third time just use yr UW book. This will drill the concepts in soundly.

This is what I do n have found useful.Please do whatever works for u.

Good luck!👍

 

[Elixir86]

Yeah, I heard other people mention taking notes in a separate notebook. At the moment, my FA is not totally filled up. Plus, I'm just kinda anal about having everything in one place. I agree that it's important to read why the other answer choices are wrong. I, too, pick up a lot of new information from these and sometimes their explanations provide a simple description or key word that helps me get a question right later down the road. The ones I tend to skip are the ones where the explanation is pretty much a copy of another question. For example, the flowchart showing Gram+ bacteria and which ones are novobiocin resistant, optochin resistant, etc. I've seen that picture 3 or 4 times already.

 

[golfman]

Mac: command+shift+3 captures screenshot and saves to desktop

Not sure if UW's software blocks this keystroke combo...

And I'm sure on the PC there are plenty of screenshot tools that will take the pics when you press certain keys.

Yeah unfortunately it blocks this keystroke combination.

 

[tin]

That's a very good strategy I have employed as well.

Except for one thing: my FA is almost filled up , so I had to do this:

I got a good spiral notebook and I add in all I that i studied from UW ONLY. Put up the test date and number, with yr % and jot down the key, paraphrased concepts, below yr stem of the question.You don't have to write down everything- just the question stem and answer -and why that's right.One big bonus u should add in, like what's mentioned here is that u actually learn more when u read the other explanations too, just skim through these n write down in points again, just the ones u did not knw.

At end of each day, u should give this lil UW book of yrs a good read.

Having a separate book comes in handy for two things:
1. You have the UW stuff, super HY at hand, it does not get lost in FA.
2. Kinda portable, take it to the loo, in yr car..or whatever, FA kinda gives u a carpal tunnel tinge carryin d thing around ,plus it's heavily loaded with yr annotations anyway.
3. Just before d exam, just pull it out n read through, u might even get through it in a single day cuz ur paraphrasing n writing everything in short hand...kinda like d blue margins from RR Goljan

--------------

Ideally you should plan to go through UW twice..the third time just use yr UW book. This will drill the concepts in soundly.

This is what I do n have found useful.Please do whatever works for u.

Good luck!👍

Thats a very good study tip.........it def helped me and a few of my friends for the exam

 

[kryptik]

nice tip metalrex, i just started uworld and use a unique colored pen to write the objectives into my FA so they stand out, but i think i will get a notebook to add the extra.

 

[metalrex]

nice tip metalrex, i just started uworld and use a unique colored pen to write the objectives into my FA so they stand out, but i think i will get a notebook to add the extra.

Aha! Color pens! Cool idea buddy ...will get mine out now🙂

 

[vicinihil]

Heh speaking of colored pens I really liked

http://www.amazon.com/Triplus-Finel...1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1271762216&sr=1-1-spell

I didn't have the super duper big pack but the 10 pack served me just fine. I wasn't color coordinated but having different colors and having it stand out from the black text was helpful. The pens don't leak and are super fine so writing in the margins is a breeze.

 

[metalrex]

Helpful recommendations that work from helpful people.

That's why I love SDN !

 

[Macguy86]

.

 

[Rabbit Hole]

nice tip metalrex, i just started uworld and use a unique colored pen to write the objectives into my FA so they stand out, but i think i will get a notebook to add the extra.

I had my FA spiral bound so I couldn't add more pages to it.. or else I'd end up with a hybrid FA 3X the original size.

For 1st round of notes I stuck to using pencil only. With UW - I take extra notes or underline with blue or green colored pen. This way I'm reviewing concepts that I'm chronically missing in UW and keeping my note-taking time to a minimum. I think if you have enough self-control to not over do it with note-taking in a separate book - then go for it. But if you're using up too much time then just stick to underlining or writing in FA.

 

[Rabbit Hole]

Random question...how did you guys do subject specific questions with the pharmacology chapter in First Aid? I finished pharm and could not for the life of me find out a way just to do general principles on pharm. i reverted back to Kaplan for these questions, and after doing only 2 sets of UWorld...there is a huuggeeee difference. i cant do kaplan anymore.

First, review all the general principles in FA (first portion of book).
Second, do each system in FA with the corresponding questions from UW. (+Goljan Audio)

For example, in the first column choose "Select ALL Main Divisions". In the second column choose the Sub Division you are working on in FA - Renal System (99Q). This way you review all the biochemistry, genetics, micro..etc for a specific organ system.

You won't be able to just do general pharm questions - it's all scattered throughout the organ systems. You'll also notice that micro pharm questions are not all in one place either. That's why I'm doing the method I described above.

 

[metalrex]

I had my FA spiral bound so I couldn't add more pages to it.. or else I'd end up with a hybrid FA 3X the original size.

For 1st round of notes I stuck to using pencil only. With UW - I take extra notes or underline with blue or green colored pen. This way I'm reviewing concepts that I'm chronically missing in UW and keeping my note-taking time to a minimum. I think if you have enough self-control to not over do it with note-taking in a separate book - then go for it. But if you're using up too much time then just stick to underlining or writing in FA.

Having another notebook for UW does take some space of yr time, I personally use up 4 hrs for complete test and review of 2 blocks in my notes.I am kinda speeding up now though ,with 3 blocks test and reviewed in 3-4 hrs, do u think this is still too much time on review?

Lemme knw how we can best optimize time with UW review,thanks!👍

 

[Rabbit Hole]

Having another notebook for UW does take some space of yr time, I personally use up 4 hrs for complete test and review of 2 blocks in my notes.I am kinda speeding up now though ,with 3 blocks test and reviewed in 3-4 hrs, do u think this is still too much time on review?

Lemme knw how we can best optimize time with UW review,thanks!👍

I'm not quite sure I understand how you described the time you're using.

- I do questions in whatever chapter I'm on in FA - I'm mixing it up sometimes 25Q tutor untimed, followed by 25Q timed.
- I use the highlight option in UW which helps me when I go over the explanations.
- Doing 25-30Q blocks works for me while studying. I'll be doing the NBME's to gauge my performance.
- My note taking consists of underlining or putting a star next to sections in FA and for the questions I miss - I try to only take notes from the "educational objective".
- I mark every question that has pictures/CT/MRI so I can review that at the very end.

I think you know what works best for you - if you feel like you are going at a good pace and on schedule then you should keep doing it. As long as you are actively studying from the questions and not going into robot note-taking mode (which I catch myself doing sometimes) - you are using your time wisely. Don't be obsessed with how many hours you spend "studying" - usually only a fraction of that time is actual studying if you know what I mean. Instead of making a goal of how many hours to study per per day, I make a goal of what section I must finish and how many questions to get done.

 

[Macguy86]

..

 

[vicinihil]

I think the reason why your qbank numbers are higher is because you're doing it after reviewing a specific section. I would recommend just doing random to see a gauge on how you're actually doing.

 

[metalrex]

I think the reason why your qbank numbers are higher is because you're doing it after reviewing a specific section. I would recommend just doing random to see a gauge on how you're actually doing.

That's it.
A sure way to stay away from forgetting all that u learnt is to do random qs,,,kinda keeps ya abreast whilst learnin new fact AND keeps a tab on yr retention power.
Good luck!