uWorld x2 vs uWorld + USMLErx

[Jdp00921]

Hey All,

Just wanted to get an opinion on whether or not one of the options in the title is better than the other. I've seen many posts and heard numerous claims about doing uWorld 2x is very beneficial for step. I've also read things refuting this claim and claiming 2 different question banks are better.

I'm assuming there is not much difference between the 2 strategies but what is the popular opinion here?

I'm currently an M2 in second semester and my plan is to complete USMLErx prior to dedicated and uWorld during - should I just do uWorld twice? uWorld 2x would be the cheaper option as I already have the subscription, however, I really don't mind shelling out the 200 for USMLErx if it would make a significant difference. I've also heard USMLErx is basically FA in question format which I feel would be quite beneficial.

Anyway, thanks in advance for your thoughts!
J

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[DrStephenStrange]

 

[libertyyne]

Unique quality questions> Repeat incorrects uworld>repeat questions.

 

[aldol16]

Two different Qbanks, provided that you thoroughly read every UWorld explanation (not just the ones you get wrong). If you've thoroughly read each UWorld explanation, then going through it a second time won't help you all that much. It might give you more confidence but there's not that much more information that you get. Don't sweat the tiny stuff.

But also use a good quality second Qbank. Nothing really comes close to UWorld but USMLERx I've heard it more rote memorization from First Aid. There are better ones out there that really test your conceptual knowledge.

 

[OnePunchBiopsy]

USMLERx is a good bank to do before Uworld. It's strength is that it hammers home the buzz words needed to make quick and effective associations. This is also a weakness, because I found that many of the questions hinged on just knowing these buzz words, and less on deductive reasoning. Walking away from Step 1, I think it is a test more rooted in deduction and less on slam-dunk buzz words. N=1, just my experience. While Kaplan isn't as good as Uworld and wasn't as FIrst-Aid heavy as Rx, I thought it relied more on deduction. To each their own. If you already bought Rx then it should be fine.

If you do two Qbanks you always run the risk of spreading yourself too thin. You will be the best judge of how quickly and effectively you can do questions and effectively review the content. You may find that you reviewed UWORLD so well the first time that when you start your second pass you are answering every question right just because you've seen it before. This is when you should shift from studying the whole bank a second time, to really focusing on your weakest scoring sections.

TLDR:
Either way is fine, as long as you can adjust your study habits to maximize the utility of either technique: knowing 1 Qbank cold vs. Knowing the majority of both.

 

[Jdp00921]

Thanks all for the replies.

USMLERx is a good bank to do before Uworld. It's strength is that it hammers home the buzz words needed to make quick and effective associations. This is also a weakness, because I found that many of the questions hinged on just knowing these buzz words, and less on deductive reasoning. Walking away from Step 1, I think it is a test more rooted in deduction and less on slam-dunk buzz words. N=1, just my experience. While Kaplan isn't as good as Uworld and wasn't as FIrst-Aid heavy as Rx, I thought it relied more on deduction. To each their own. If you already bought Rx then it should be fine.

If you do two Qbanks you always run the risk of spreading yourself too thin. You will be the best judge of how quickly and effectively you can do questions and effectively review the content. You may find that you reviewed UWORLD so well the first time that when you start your second pass you are answering every question right just because you've seen it before. This is when you should shift from studying the whole bank a second time, to really focusing on your weakest scoring sections.

TLDR:
Either way is fine, as long as you can adjust your study habits to maximize the utility of either technique: knowing 1 Qbank cold vs. Knowing the majority of both.

With regard to USMLErx, I was actually interested in this bank due to the fact that it carried the buzzword associations and from what I've read, matched FA pretty close. I didn't purchase it yet but I'll look into both USMLErx and Kaplan and decide on which I find better.

Either way I understand your point about knowing them well. If my schedule (which starts Feb) actually goes according to plan (it likely won't exactly follow what I have planned), I should be able to finish the first Qbank by the time I begin dedicated and then uWorld during. With how I have everything scheduled, that means about 250 questions per week until dedicated and about 50 per day during dedicated. I think that seems totally do-able, then again, I have no experience so maybe you can speak to that as well.

Either way thanks for the opinion!

 

[4thtimeretaker]

Thanks all for the replies.



With regard to USMLErx, I was actually interested in this bank due to the fact that it carried the buzzword associations and from what I've read, matched FA pretty close. I didn't purchase it yet but I'll look into both USMLErx and Kaplan and decide on which I find better.

Either way I understand your point about knowing them well. If my schedule (which starts Feb) actually goes according to plan (it likely won't exactly follow what I have planned), I should be able to finish the first Qbank by the time I begin dedicated and then uWorld during. With how I have everything scheduled, that means about 250 questions per week until dedicated and about 50 per day during dedicated. I think that seems totally do-able, then again, I have no experience so maybe you can speak to that as well.

Either way thanks for the opinion!

Which QBank did you decide on?