What do you do about the stuff you've never even heard of?

[ImNotBritish]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I took an NBME practice test today, and ran across quite a few things that I literally don't think I've ever heard of before (between 1x reading of FA, 50% of DIT, and path class). Things like Kerley B lines, thymidine incorporation values, and Cronkhite-Canada syndrome. Since I'm only 3 weeks away from the test at this point (and only hoping for a 220 or so), should I just try to ignore the fact that some of these littler details are going to escape me, since I don't have time to read RR path or any other more comprehensive sources? It's hard not to freak out seeing this stuff for the first time, especially on a practice test that I can't even review afterward. Thoughts, anyone?

 

[Alvarez13]

I had a question on Gibb's free energy and Keq from UWorld today. I almost punched my computer in the face. Wouldn't have been hard 3 yrs ago, but I've long forgotten all that. Had another UW one on the Kozak sequence. UW is pushing it...

I've seen Kerley B and CC syndrome in board review books, so those are worth knowing.

 

[lemonade90]

I took an NBME practice test today, and ran across quite a few things that I literally don't think I've ever heard of before (between 1x reading of FA, 50% of DIT, and path class). Things like Kerley B lines, thymidine incorporation values, and Cronkhite-Canada syndrome. Since I'm only 3 weeks away from the test at this point (and only hoping for a 220 or so), should I just try to ignore the fact that some of these littler details are going to escape me, since I don't have time to read RR path or any other more comprehensive sources? It's hard not to freak out seeing this stuff for the first time, especially on a practice test that I can't even review afterward. Thoughts, anyone?

If you have listened to Goljan...you know the folks at the NBME can be d-bags. There will always be some question they will come up with that they can use to trip you up and you will not have heard of. Sometimes I feel like the Step is less of a test of knowledge and more of a hazing ritual.

Just worry about remembering what is in FA if you have limited time.

 

[futuredoctor10]

Yeah I kind of wonder about this too. I guess there is no way to prepare for some of those questions.

Except to try to see if there is some underlying concept being tested (not always the case I'm sure)...

 

[tjquinn]

You roll with it... I had a question my step about EEG analysis, no not sleep waves, but the knowledge and differentiation between 5 different seizure disorder wave forms...

 

[Siggy]

If you have listened to Goljan...you know the folks at the NBME can be d-bags. There will always be some question they will come up with that they can use to trip you up and you will not have heard of. Sometimes I feel like the Step is less of a test of knowledge and more of a hazing ritual.

Just worry about remembering what is in FA if you have limited time.

Part of the problem is that the USMLE and COMLEX designed to just be a pass/fail exam, and not a stratifying exam like the SAT or MCAT.

 

[MrBeauregard]

You roll with it... I had a question my step about EEG analysis, no not sleep waves, but the knowledge and differentiation between 5 different seizure disorder wave forms...

We had to do this during our Neuro block in school, so that isn't as much of a wtf-question as some.

 

[rocketbooster]

You roll with it... I had a question my step about EEG analysis, no not sleep waves, but the knowledge and differentiation between 5 different seizure disorder wave forms...

Same as the guy above me said. We had to do this in our neuro unit and were also tested on it.

I don't think you explained it right. It's not having to know 5 distinct EEG patterns to 5 distinct seizure disorders. But there were like 5 different kind of waves and certain waves seen were indicative of a seizure, post-seizure, etc. Don't remember the details, though, and not gonna bother haha.

I've also been told repeatedly that you need to know the distinct wave pattern of absence seizures for Step 1. Don't exactly recall that at the moment, either ha.

 

[tjquinn]

Too much info

 

[NewYorkDoctors]

You will see quite a bit of clinical anatomy that is more fitting on a Step 2 examination at times on Step 1. I know I did. At the time I just did my best. When I started studying for Step 2, I just slapped my forehead because the answers were right there

 

[235009]

I took an NBME practice test today, and ran across quite a few things that I literally don't think I've ever heard of before (between 1x reading of FA, 50% of DIT, and path class). Things like Kerley B lines, thymidine incorporation values, and Cronkhite-Canada syndrome. Since I'm only 3 weeks away from the test at this point (and only hoping for a 220 or so), should I just try to ignore the fact that some of these littler details are going to escape me, since I don't have time to read RR path or any other more comprehensive sources? It's hard not to freak out seeing this stuff for the first time, especially on a practice test that I can't even review afterward. Thoughts, anyone?

when you come across things you've never heard of before you need to do two things
1. use test taking strategies to try and make an educated guess. use process of elimination and parts of the question you do understand to bring it down to 2 or 3 answer choices then take a guess.
2. do not waste too much time on the question, this is precious time you can be using to arrive at the right answer to a question you actually understand! spending 3 minutes on a question you most likely will get wrong anyway is very bad test-taking strategy

 

[MrBigglesworth]

delete

 

[235009]

****ing stab myself with a pencil

you're not allowed to have a pencil during the exam....you're gonna need a plan b

 

[Valadi]

I had a question on Gibb's free energy and Keq from UWorld today. I almost punched my computer in the face. Wouldn't have been hard 3 yrs ago, but I've long forgotten all that. Had another UW one on the Kozak sequence. UW is pushing it...

I've seen Kerley B and CC syndrome in board review books, so those are worth knowing.

Gibb's free energy was my first question on step 1. Lac operon was the last. NBME has a twisted sense of humor. 😛

 

[Alvarez13]

Gibb's free energy was my first question on step 1. Lac operon was the last. NBME has a twisted sense of humor. 😛

One of the NBME authors might have been infected by a radioactive E Coli (O157:H700000!) and weird things started happening when he drank milk shakes. Therefore, it's clinically relevant to future patient care.

 

[bluefaeriedusts]

I had a question on Gibb's free energy and Keq from UWorld today. I almost punched my computer in the face. Wouldn't have been hard 3 yrs ago, but I've long forgotten all that. Had another UW one on the Kozak sequence. UW is pushing it...

I've seen Kerley B and CC syndrome in board review books, so those are worth knowing.

I remember that question! I didn't go to med school to become a chemist...